U.S Constitution cram

Identify which branch of government the powers below belong to under the U.S. Constitution.

  • Appoints federal judges / Executive Branch

  • Approves treaties / U.S Senate

  • Can grant pardons / Executive Branch 

  • Can impeach federal officials / Senate

  • Can veto legislation / Executive Branch

  • Controls all of the departments of the government / President of United States

  • Declares laws unconstitutional / Federal and Supreme courts

  • Declares presidential actions constitutional / Judicial

  • Enforces laws  / Executive Branch

  • Interprets laws / Judicial Branch  

  • Overrides vetoes / Legislative Branch

  • Writes laws / Legislative Branch

  • Can you identify the following powers as a state power, national power, or shared power?

  • Collecting taxes / Shared Power

  • Negotiate treaties with foreign countries / National Power

  • Protect the rights of citizens / Shared Power

  • Regulating interstate commerce / National Power

  • Set up a post office / National Power



Review how each branch of government provides a check/balance to the other 2. Be able to provide examples.



Legislative : Executive / overrides vetoes , controls national budget and can impeach the president.   Judicial / Must confirm federal judge nominations , change the size of supreme court , and can impeach judges.



Executive : Legislative / Vetoes bills passed by congress , can call special sessions of congress.   Judicial / Nominates all federal and supreme court judges , can issue presidential pardons to people convicted of crimes.



Judicial : Legislative : Declare laws passed by congress unconstitutional through the power of judicial review.  Executive / declare executive actions , orders , and decrees unconstitutional or unlawful.



Other Topics

  • How can the courts influence the meaning of the Constitution? / Through the power of judicial review

  • What does federalism mean? / Power in gov is divided between central authority and constituent units

  • Which principle of the Constitution means that the government can govern only with the consent of the governed? / Popular sovereignty 

  • Presidents sometimes send forces into combat without a formal declaration of war from Congress.  Presidents do this under what constitutional authority? / Commander in Chief

  • The system that allows each branch of the Federal Government to restrain the other two branches is called / Checks and Balances

  • Putting the legislative, executive, and judicial functions in different branches of government is known as what? / Separation of powers

  • A change in our constitution is called a what? An amendment

  • Which of the following rights are guaranteed by the First Amendment? Speech , religion , press , assembly

  • The legislative branch of the national government is called Congress



Extra Info

State Power : Issuing driver's licenses, running public schools, and regulating local businesses.

Shared Power : Collecting taxes, building infrastructure, making laws, and operating court systems.

National Power : Printing money, declaring war, managing the military, and making foreign treaties.