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Constitution Test
8th Grade Constitution Test
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| where was a convention held? | Philadelphia |
| when did the convention began? | 1787 |
| who was the chairman of the convention? | George Washington |
| why are the powers of government separated into three branches of government? | to prevent abuses of power |
| list the three branches of government | executive, legislative, judicial |
| what are checks and balances? | powers each branch has over other branches to protect against abuses of power. Designed to balance the powers of government |
| what is federalism? | a system dividing powers between a central authority and smaller state and local governments |
| who is known as the father of the Constitution? | James Madison |
| what part of the Constitution list the six goals for purposes of the Constitution? List the six. | preamble, 1. in order to form a more perfect union 2. Establish justice 3. Insure domestic tranquility 4. Provide for the common defense 5. Promote the general welfare 6. Secure the blessings of liberty |
| what part of the Constitution states that the people of the United States are the authority for the Constitution? What three specific words are used? | preamble, we the people |
| who has the power to make laws? | legislative branch |
| name the two houses of Congress | House of Representatives, Senate |
| who presides over the Senate? | the vice president |
| who has the power to try those who have been impeached and remove them from office? | Senate |
| who has the power to introduce a bill to raise taxes? | House of Representatives |
| who has the power to raise or lower taxes? | Congress |
| who governs the District of Columbia? | Congress |
| who has the power to enforce or carry out laws? | the executive branch, the president |
| who is the head of the executive branch? | Pres. |
| who becomes president if the president cannot carry out his duties? | VP |
| who is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces? | Pres. |
| who has the power to pardon criminals? | the president |
| where does judicial power reside? | Supreme Court |
| who can declare a law unconstitutional? | Supreme Court |
| how are new states added to the union? | by Congress |
| what are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called? When were they passed? | Bill of Rights, 1791 |
| after a bill passes both houses of Congress, who must sign it? | the president |
| how many amendments have there been to the Constitution? | 27 |
| who has the power to declare war? | Congress |
| how many states are needed to ratify the Constitution for it to become law? | 9/13 |
| who has the power to make treaties and appointments? | the president |
| what is the term used to describe the president's top advisors? | cabinet |
| what is the supreme law of the United States? | Constitution |
| who has the power to coin money, borrow money, and regulate the Postal Service? | Congress |
| who has the power to order an immediate attack on another country if our security is threatened? | the president |
| how many articles are there in the Constitution? | seven |
| which branch of government interprets or judges the laws? | judicial |
| list two ways amendments to the Constitution can be proposed | 1. 2/3 vote of each house in Congress 2. Request of 2/3 of state legislators |
| how many presidents have been impeached? How many have been removed from office? | two, none |
| what was the purpose of the constitutional convention? | for the sole and express purpose to revising the articles of Confederation |
| who presides over the House of Representatives? | speaker of the house |
| how many members must be present in the House of Representatives or Senate to hold a vote? | a quorum, a simple majority. 218 in-house, 51 senators |
| who has the power to impeach a high public official, including the president? | house of Representatives |
| how can Congress override a presidential veto? | by a 2/3 vote in both houses |
| who becomes vice president if the vice president can't carry out his duties? | president appoints and Congress approves |
| who becomes president is the president and the vice president are unable to carry out their duties? | speaker of the house |
| what is the main job of the Supreme Court? | interpret laws and uphold the Constitution |
| what did some states feel was lacking in the Constitution? | Bill of Rights |
| How do citizens know what goes on each day in Congress? | Congressional record |
| how does somebody get to be on the president's cabinet? | president appoints and Senate confirms |
| who has the power to set wages and give raises to members of the government, including Congress? | Congress |
| if there is a tie vote in the Senate? Who votes to break the tie? | VP |
| name at least five positions on the president's cabinet | 1. Secretary of State 2. Defense 3. Education 4. Treasury 5. Atty. Gen. |
| name one way the executive branch checks the judicial branch | appoints judges |
| name two ways the legislative branch checks the executive branch | 1. impeach and remove 2. Override vetoes |
| describe how a bill can become a law with out a presidential veto | passed both houses of Congress by majority vote, then signed by Pres. |
| list 18 powers reserved to Congress | 1taxation2Borrowing3Commerce4Naturalization/bankruptcy5coins/measures6Counterfeiting7USPS8Copyrights/patents9Crts10Piracy11Declaring war12Army13Navy14Military regs15Militia16militia regs National Guard17national capital18 nec. laws/elastic clause |
| what did the great compromise provide for? | A bicameral, to house, legislature with one house based on population and one house based on equal representation |
| what is a quorum? | a majority, over half of the total number possible. This is the minimum number necessary to conduct official business. |
| what do patents and copyrights protect? | inventions and authors' words |
| what is the elastic clause? What is the official name of this clause? What number clause is it listed under in the powers delegated to Congress? | Congress can stretch its powers as the needs of the country change. Necessary laws. Clause 18. |
| who officially elects a president and vice president? | electoral college |
| how long a term of office to Justices serve on the Supreme Court? | life |
| how does somebody get on the Supreme Court? | appointed by the president, approved by Senate |
| how many Supreme Court justices does it take to declare a law unconstitutional? | a simple majority, five out of the nine justices |
| name three ways there can be a vacancy on the Supreme Court | death, impeach and remove, or resign |
| list two ways amendments to the Constitution can be ratified | three fourths of the state legislatures or three fourths a special state conventions |
| what is the state of the union address? | a report or speech given by the president to Congress and the public concerning the status of the nation and suggestions for the up coming year |
| does state law or federal law have the final power? | federal law |
| who wrote a series of essays called the Federalist papers? Why did they write them? | Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. To support the ratification of the Constitution |
| what is a veto? Who has the authority to veto a bill passed by Congress? | preventing a bill from becoming law. President |
| name one way the judicial branch "checks" the legislative branch and the executive branch | can declare laws unconstitutional |
| name one way the executive branch "checks" the legislative branch | Pres. can veto bills or sign them into law |
| name one way the legislative branch "checks" the judicial branch | impeach and remove judges or approve judges appointed by the president |
| describe how a bill can become a law with a presidential veto | repass both houses of Congress by two thirds vote |
| how long of a term does a member of the House of Representatives serve? | two years |
| what are the three requirements to be a representative? | age 25, citizen for seven years, officially live in the state |
| how many representatives are there in the House of Representatives? | 435 |
| how long is termed as a senator serve? | six years |
| what are the three requirements to be a senator? | age 30, citizen for nine years, officially live in the state |
| how many senators are elected from each state? How many total do we have? | two from each state, 100 total senators |
| what is naturalization? Who determines what must be done in order to be naturalized? | the process by which a person can become a citizen. Congress |
| what are the three requirements to be president? | age 35, natural born citizen, live in the country for 14 years |
| how long is the term of office of the president? | 4 years |
| how many terms can president serve? when was this added to the Constitution? | 2terms, 22nd amendment |
| how old must a citizen be to vote? Which amendment change this? When was this amendment passed? | 18 years old, amendment 26, 1971 |
| when is election day? | Congressional elections are held on even numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November |
| what does the third amendment guarantee? | No soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner |
| what does the Fifth Amendment guarantee? | No one can be forced to say anything that would help convict him or herself of a crime. Rights of the accused. |
| What does the seventh amendment guarantee? | Trial by jury in civil cases involving $20 or more |
| what amendment abolished slavery? When was it passed? | 13th amendment, 1865 |
| what amendment prohibits discrimination concerning the right to vote? When was it passed? | 15th amendment, 1870 |
| which amendment gave American women the right to vote? When was it passed? | 19th amendment, 1920 |
| what is prohibition? When was it repealed? How long did that. The prohibition last | banned alcohol, 1933, 14 years |
| which amendment gives a person the right to call reluctant witnesses and to question or cross-examine, witnesses who testified against them? | Sixth amendment, right to a fair trial |
| name the five rights guaranteed by the First Amendment | freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition |
| which amendment gives citizens the right to own a weapon? | Second Amendment, right to bear arms |
| which amendment gives you the right to remain silent if questioned by authorities? | Fifth Amendment, rights of the accused |
| which amendment guarantees that a warrant is required to search your house or property if you don't give consent? | Fourth amendment, rights against unreasonable search and seizure |
| what is double jeopardy? What amendment protects citizens from this? | Being tried twice for the same crime. Fifth Amendment. |
| Which amendment gives citizens the right to a lawyer even if they can't afford one? | sixth amendment, right to a fair trial |
| what is bail? | Bill is money that the accused leaves with the court as a guarantee that he or she will appear for trial. |
| Which amendment prohibits a judge from ordering and criminals hands cut off? | Eighth amendment, no cruel or unusual punishment |
| which amendment allows states to make their own laws if not prohibited by the Constitution? | 10th amendments, rights reserved to the states |
| which amendment guarantees a citizens right to do something if there isn't a law against it, it doesn't interfere with somebody else's rights, and it is not a specific right listed in the Bill of Rights? | Ninth amendment, rights reserved to the people |
| why must the police officer have probable cause to search somebody? | Fourth amendment, right against unreasonable search and seizure |
| what part of the Bill of Rights is a issue concerning school dress codes in uniforms? | First Amendment |
| Which plan favored small states? | New Jersey Plan |
| Which plan favored larger states? | Virginia Plan |
| what is habeas corpus? When can it be suspended? Where is it listed in the Constitution? | charge a person in jail with a particular crime or let the person go within 72 hours. Can be suspended in the cases of rebellion or invasion. Article 1 section 9, clause 2, Powers denied to Congress |
| what is ex post facto law? Where is it listed in the Constitution? | a law that make something illegal that was not illegal at the time it was done. Article 1, section 9, clause 3, Powers denied to Congress |
| what two factors determine treason? | where a crime is defined as carrying on war against the US or helping enemies of the US |
| what kind of tax is prohibited by amendment? When was this past? | poll tax 1964 |
| what kind of tax is allowed by amendment? When was this past | income tax 1913 |
| what is a poll tax? When did it become illegal? | pay a tax to register to vote. Illegal in 1964 |
Created by:
traciemw
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