8th Grade Study Guide for Big Constitution Test
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In what year did the constitution go into effect?
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September 1787.
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What is judicial review?
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Review by the supreme court of the constitutional validty of the legeslative branch.
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How many us senators are there in the united states?
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100.
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What does Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 of the constituition say?
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gives congress power to make laws as needed to carry out the first 17 laws. aka \"elastic clause\" cuz lets congress stretch meaning of it's power.
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What powers does the constitution provide to congress? which article and section lists those powers?
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power to: deal w/all $ stuff, regulate trade w/foreign counties, establish post offices and roads, deal with schools and education, declare war, and deal with government rules.
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Which branch of government interprets the laws?
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The Judicial branch.
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How can the president reject a bill?
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He/she can veto it.
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What are the qualifications to be the president?
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you have to be: 35-years old, be a natural-born citizen, and you had to have lived in the u.s. for at least 9 years.
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Is congress allowed to place a tax on exports?
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No.
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What is the supremacy clause?
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Laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land.
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What happens to a bill that the president allows to sit on his desk (unsigned) for 10 days?
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the bill becomes dead.
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What does the due process clause of the constitution do?
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It enforces laws and judicial processes that are applied in a way that protects and preserves the defendant's rights in a trial.
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What is the necessary and proper clause?
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It states that congress has the power to make all laws to cary out all powers in the constitution or government.
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What is the purpose of a writ of habeas corpus?
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It gives citizens the right to trial by jury.
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What does the phrase inalienable rights mean?
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They're the rights you would expect everybody to have, including the most important 1st amendment rights.
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What is a democracy?
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It's a representative government, typically with the people as the electors.
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What is a bureaucracy?
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It means that the government's most important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
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Who presides over the impeachment trial of a president?
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The chief justice of the Supreme court.
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What is the function of the U.S. senate in an impeachment hearing?
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The senate is the trial court and jury.
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How are U.S. senators elected?
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The senators are elected by people of state elections.
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How many people are currently serving in the House of Representatives?
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55
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Who is the current vice president of the United States? What are his responsibilities?
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Joseph Biden. commander in chief, diplomat, legislative leader, leader of political party.
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Who is the current speaker of the house?
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Who is the current speaker of the house? What are his responsibilities?
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Who is chief justice of the supreme court?
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John G. Roberts.
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How does one become a member of the supreme court?
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They are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate.
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Is congress allowed to place a tax on exports?
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No.
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What are the 5 freedoms of the first amendment?
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Speech, assembly, petition, religion, and press
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Who is the presiding officer of the U.S. senate?
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Joe Biden.
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What was the great compromise?
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The resolution between the clashing views regarding representation in government based on population.
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What is the electoral college? How does the election process work?
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The people who count as the votes for the president. The people vote, and the college count as the votes based on popular decisions.
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What is another word for congress?
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House & senate.
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Who enforces the laws?
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The legislative branch.
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How many years does a member of the house serve before they face re-election?
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2.
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Who advises the president?
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The cabinet.
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How many votes does congress need to override a president's veto?
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2/3.
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What type of political system does the U.S. have?
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Checks and balances.
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What is the Bill of Rights?
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The first 10 amendments of the Constitution.
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With respects to rights, what is the main purpose of government?
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To keep and preserve people's rights.
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What is the purpose of the separation of powers within our government?
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To make sure that one branch doesn't have more power than the other.
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Can congress issue marriage licenses?
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No.
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What are the A of C?
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They were our constitution before the constitution.
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What was wrong with the A of C?
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They gave the states to much power.
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What is the function of the elastic clause of the constitution?
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It adresses the necessary and proper rights or enumerated rights.
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How many justices serve on the supreme court?
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9.
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What is the line of succession to the presidency? Which amendment(s) explain how a prez is elected and what to do in the event of a vacancy?
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The Vice President. Amendments 14 & 20.
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How is a state's number of electoral votes determined?
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By population.
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What is the function of article 1?
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Explains the legislative branch.
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Article 2?
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Explains the executive branch.
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Article 3?
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Explains the judicial branch.
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Article 4?
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Explains: outlines and duties that states have to each other, fugitive slave proceedings, and admission of new states and changing of boundaries.
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Article 5?
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Amending the constitution.
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Article 6?
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Explains that the federal laws and treaties are more important than state ones.
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Article 7?
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Explains how many ratifications were made before the constitution could take affect and how the state should ratify it if necessary.
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What are the requirements and length of term for a supreme court justice?
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You have to have been a citizen and living in the state for 9 years, and you have to be 30 years old.
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Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
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Thomas Jefferson
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What are the three options a president has once a bill has been passed by both parts of congress?
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They can sign it, veto it, or have it become dead.
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What did the 3/5 compromise do?
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Each slave would be counted as 3/5th a white male person in representation.
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What is the supreme law of the land?
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The U.S. Constitution.
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What are the goals of the constitution?
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To establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our prosperity.
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Which amendments deal with prohibition?
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Amendments 18 & 20.
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Which amendments deal with suffrage?
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Amendments 13, 15, and 19.
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Which amendment will provide you with the right to vote upon reaching the age of 18?
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Amendment 26.
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Which amendments deal with slavery?
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Amendments 13, 14, & 15.
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What is the function of each amendment of the Bill of Rights?
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To ensure that citizen's rights are carried out and understood.
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What is the meaning of equal protection under the law?
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To ensure that everybody, regardless of race or color, has equal protection under the constitution.
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Which house of congress tries an individual who has been impeached?
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The House.
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What are the age and citizenship requirements for the senate?
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30 y/o and 9 years.
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What are the age and citizenship requirements for the House of representatives?
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25 y/o and 9 years.
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What is the preamble? And can you recite it?
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Lists the goals of the constitution in the first paragraph.
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What fraction of the senate is required to ratify a treaty?
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2/3.
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What is the structure of the constitution?
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The preamble, the articles, and then the amendments.
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Who is the current speaker of the house? What are his responsibilities?
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John Boehner. Imposes taxes. Impeaches people. Provides laws of the land and does all congress duties.
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What is the function of the US senate in an impeachment hearing?
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They're the trial and jury court.
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What are the principals of the constitution?
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Popular sovereignty. individual rights. republican government. checks and balances. separation of powers. judicial review. federalism.
