Question | Answer |
What was the name of the US first form of government? | Articles of Confederation |
Why was America's first form of government a failure? | The states had too much power, and the federal government did not have the power to tax |
What was the goal of the Constitutional Convention? | To write the Constitution and to make sure the powers of both state and federal government are fair |
What was the New Jersey plan? | An idea for a government where the smaller states get more power |
What was the Virginia plan? | The idea for a government of 2 houses |
What was the Great Compromise? | That Congress would have 2 houses |
What was the 3/5th Compromise? | Each slave would only count as 3/5ths of a person |
Who was the main author of the Constitution? | James Madison |
What is the Preamble | The introduction to the Constitution, that states what is wrong with the old government and how they will change it to be better |
What does the word "bicameral" mean? | Having 2 branches of congress |
What is the primary role of the Legislative Branch? | To make laws |
What is the primary role of the Executive Branch? | To carry out laws |
What is the primary role of the Judicial Branch? | To follow the Constitution through Supreme Court cases |
What are the requirements to be a member of the House of Representatives? | You must have been a citizen for 7 years and must be over 25 |
What are the requirements to be a Senator? | You must have been a citizen for 9 years and must be over 30 |
What are the requirements to be President? | You must have been born in the US and must be over 35 |
What are the powers of the President? | To be Commander in Chief of the armed forces, to enforce laws, and to approve or veto laws |
What are the powers of Congress? | To make laws and to collect taxes |
How long is a member of the House of Representative's term? | 2 years |
How long is a Senator's term? | 6 years |
How long is the President's term? | 4 years |
How many Supreme Court Justices are there? | 9 |
How long is a Supreme Court Justice's term? | for life, but many resign |
What is the main job of the Supreme Court? | To interpret the laws |
Why are Supreme Court Justice's terms so long? | To avoid the pressure of getting re-elected because of an unpopular decision |
Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? | John G. Roberts |
What are the 3 levels of the federal court system? | US District Courts
Court of Appeals
Supreme Court |
What does the word "Appeal" mean? | apply to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court. |
What part of government has to approve all Supreme Court Justices? | Senate |
What is "Judicial Review"? | the power of the Supreme Court to rule laws Unconstitutional |
What does the 1st amendment protect? | Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition |
What does the 2nd amendment protect? | The right to bear arms/own guns |
What does the 3rd amendment protect? | restricts soldiers from quartering in your home/property |
What does the 4th amendment protect? | unreasonable searches and seizures |
The 5th, 6th, and 7th amendments protect your rights in... | Court |
What does the 8th amendment protect? | no cruel or reasonable or unusual punishments |
What does the 9th amendment protect? | rights of the people that are not specified by the Constitution |
What type of government does the 10th amendment protect? | State government |
What is the Bill of Rights? | A document stating the first 10 amendments to the Constitution |
Who is the president of the US? | Barack Obama |
Who is the vice president of the US? | Joe Biden |
Who represents MA in the US Senate? | Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren |
Who represents Wellesley (district 4) in the House of Representatives? | Joseph Kennedy |
Who is the governor of MA? | Deval Patrick |
What are the 2 ways to amend the Constitution? | 2/3 majority vote from both houses of Congress and approval from 3/4 of the states |
What does it mean to "amend" the Constitution? | to make changes |
What are the 3 levels of government in the US (hint: our President is the Chief Executive of one of the levels)? | federal, state, and local |
The 1st amendment protects freedom of speech unless... | it will cause clear, and present danger |
What is another name for the Executive Departments? | cabinet |
What is the main job of the Executive Departments? | to advise the president |
What does the Department of Defense oversee/in charge of? | military |
What does the State Department oversee? | foreign affairs |
What does the Treasury Department oversee? | taxes/money |
What does the Department of Interior oversee? | natural resources (that are owned by the government) |
What does the Department of Homeland Security oversee? | protects against terrorists |
What does the Department of Justice oversee? | crime and the federal court system |
Explain Congress's Commerce Clause | The clause that say Congress has the power to regulate trade with other states, foreign countries, or Native American tribes |
Explain Congress's Elastic Clause | The clause that says Congress has the power to make all laws that are necessary and proper |
What is Federalism? | Is a type of government where the territory is controlled by 2 levels of government/congress |
What is the President in charge of a Commander in Chief | Controls the federal armed forces |
What is the President in charge of as Chief Diplomat? | decides the diplomats and ambassadors |
What is the President in charge of as Chief Economic Adviser? | manages the money and the economy |
What is Double Jeopardy and what amendment protects against it? | Double Jeopardy is when you get punished twice for the same crime. It is protected by the 5th Amendment |
What does it mean to plead the 5th? | to refuse to speak words of self-incrimination |
What is eminent domain? | the power of the Government to TAKE private property and convert it in to public property |