Chapter 3: Constitution (Study Guide) (Mr. Edington) – Flashcards
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When the Constitution is amended, that action represents the expression of
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the people's sovereign will.
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When Congress proposes an amendment, who chooses the method of ratification?
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Congress
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What is the main informal method of modifying the Constitution over time?
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changing interpretations
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How does Congress fill in the blanks left by the Framers of the Constitution?
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through basic legislation
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In what way is the formal amendment process an example of federalism at work?
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Proposal is at the national level; ratification is State-by-State.
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How is the Constitution organized?
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a Preamble, 7 articles, and 27 amendments
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The system that allows each branch of the Federal Government to restrain the other two branches is called
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checks and balances.
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Which is a method by which an amendment to the Constitution can be ratified?
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by three fourths of the State legislatures
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The Bill of Rights is a list of
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basic freedoms and rights.
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Which amendment gave African American men the right to vote?
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15th Amendment
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What does federalism mean?
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that power is divided among a national government and the states
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How is the Constitution organized?
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a Preamble, 7 articles, and 27 amendments
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Which principle means that government is bound by the rule of law?
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limited government
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What principle is reflected when state legislatures or conventions vote on a constitutional amendment?
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federalism
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Which method of ratification was used for almost all the amendments to the Constitution?
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three-fourths of state legislatures
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How has Congress clarified the meaning of the Constitution?
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by passing laws to help explain it
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How can the courts influence the meaning of the Constitution?
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through judicial review
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Which unwritten custom did the 22nd Amendment establish as law?
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limiting a President to two terms
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What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
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Preamble
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Which amendment ended slavery after the Civil War?
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13th Amendment
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In what way is the formal amendment process an example of federalism at work?
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Proposal is at the national level; ratification is state-by-state.
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What happens to most proposals for amendments made in Congress?
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Most never make it to the states.
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Which is a pact made by the President directly with the head of a foreign country and without the approval of the Senate?
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an executive agreement
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Which of the following is not mentioned in the Constitution and yet has affected the meaning of the Constitution?
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political parties
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What is the subject of the first three articles of the Constitution?
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Congress, the presidency, and federal courts
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Each branch of the federal government can limit the power of the other two branches. What is this system called?
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checks and balances
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Which basic principle of the Constitution means that government can govern only with the consent of the governed?
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popular sovereignty
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Which is a method that can be used to add amendments to the Constitution?
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proposal by Congress; ratification by state legislatures
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When Congress proposes an amendment, who chooses how it will be ratified?
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Congress
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When the Constitution is amended, what does that action represent?
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the people's sovereign will
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Some people think that delegates at ratifying conventions would do a better job of considering an amendment than state legislatures. Why do they think so?
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Convention delegates would better represent the people's will.
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What happens if a state rejects a proposed amendment?
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The state may later reconsider and ratify the proposal.
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What did some people fear might happen if a Bill of Rights was not added to the Constitution?
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A too-powerful government might abuse its citizens.
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Which is an example of how Congress has used its powers to help explain the meaning of the Constitution?
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It created the federal court system.
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Which of the following is part of the role of the judicial branch?
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to interpret and apply the Constitution
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Presidents sometimes send forces into combat without a formal declaration of war from Congress. Presidents do this under what constitutional authority?
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through their power as commander in chief
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Through their actions, Presidents have expanded which type of power that is basically outlined in the Constitution?
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executive
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How did it come about that the President's Cabinet is made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments?
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Custom and tradition have made it so.
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The 22nd Amendment was passed in reaction to what unwritten custom that was broken?
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the no-third-term tradition
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What do the first three articles of the Constitution address?
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the organization of the National Government
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In what way can the executive branch check the power of the legislative branch?
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by vetoing legislation
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What principle holds that no government is all-powerful and that a government may do only those things that the people have given it the power to do?
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limited government
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A constitutional amendment may be proposed by
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a two-thirds vote of Congress.
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The introduction to the Constitution is called the
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Preamble
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Most resolutions calling for amendments that are proposed in Congress
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never make it to the States.
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Why did the Framers leave some sections of the Constitution without detail, like an outline?
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They wanted to keep the Constitution flexible, allowing for changing times.
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Which of the following choices has been a major agent of government change, even though it was not mentioned in the Constitution?
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political parties
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What is the subject of the first three articles of the Constitution?
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Congress, the presidency, and federal courts
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What is federalism?
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It means the division of power among a central government and the States.
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Which basic principle of the Constitution means that government can govern only with the consent of the governed?
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popular sovereignty
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Which method has been used the most often to add amendments to the Constitution?
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proposal by Congress; ratification by State legislatures
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Why do some think it would be better for a proposed amendment to be considered for ratification by delegates at a ratifying convention rather than by State legislatures?
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Delegates would better represent the people's will.
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Which of the following describes a proposed amendment that was not ratified?
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regulation of child labor
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Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18 in all elections in the United States?
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26th Amendment
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Under what Constitutional authority do Presidents use military forces in combat without a formal declaration of war from Congress?
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through their power as commander in chief
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What power that is not specifically stated in the Constitution did the Supreme Court claim for itself in the case of Marbury v. Madison in 1803?
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judicial review
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The Cabinet, which advises the President, is made up of the 15 executive department heads because
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custom and tradition have made it so.
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The 22nd Amendment was passed in reaction to what unwritten custom that was broken?
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the no-third-term rule
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Describe the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Why are these ten amendments so important?
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These first ten amendments are the Bill of Rights, which ensure the basic rights and freedom of all citizens in the United States. They outline the value of freedom in the U.S. such as with the first amendment, which presents freedom of press, religion, speech, and assembly to all, while other amendments grant further freedom. They are important to the popular sovereignty in the U.S. Through freedom to citizens comes greater power to citizens, which limits the government from abusing power and instead requires government to derive its power from the consent of the governed. The ten amendments embody American values of freedom, liberty, and human rights, while also championing the American political ideology of popular sovereignty and limited government.
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Consider this question. Think about what you have learned about the Constitution from your textbook, class work, and other sources. You may wish to include information from current events to support your arguments. How has the Constitution endured through changing times?
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The Constitution initally generated controversy as demonstrated through the formation of the Anti-Federalist and Federalist parties that respectively represented the detractors and proponents of the Constitution. Regardless, the Constitution proved to prevail amongst criticism and provide the United States with a new political identity separated from Britain's monarchical political system. The Constitution serves as representation of the American ideals of democracy and human liberty, which have not wavered but only been solidified with every generation of Americans. Of course, the Constitution has undergone change whether that be through immediate action of the installation of the Bill of Rights or the 1992 amendment that was "recently" ratified. While the Constitution can be and has been interpreted from various perspectives, the lack of consensus on interpretation has not hindered the effectiveness of the Constitution. Rather, it presents the general application the Constitution is suited for, which perfectly allows for changes to be made and a document that can adjust to modern and eventually future America. The Constitution has endured well through changing times.
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What is outlined in the first three articles of the Constitution?
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the federal government structure
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How can the executive branch check the power of the legislative branch?
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veto legislation
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Which is a criticism of the practice of sending proposed amendments to State legislatures rather than to conventions?
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Conventions better represent the people.
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Six constitutional amendments have been proposed and sent to the States but not ratified. Which issue was addressed by an unratified amendment?
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equal rights of women
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Congress has clarified provisions of the Constitution by
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passing laws to flesh out sections.
