Student Nandout
Constitution Reading Guide
Use your copy of the U.S. Constitution to answer the following questions.
Questions
1
Answers
Look here for the answer
How many sections, or articles, Throughout the document
does the Constitution have?
1,
2.
2
List three of the six purposes of First paragraph, also known
as the Preamble
the Constitution.
3
All legislative powers were given Article. I, section 1
to whom?
4
The legislative consists of which Article t, section 1
two groups?
5
How old do you have to be to be Article I, section 2,
paragraph 1
a Representative?
6
How old do you have to be to be Article I, section 3,
paragraph 3
a Senator?
7
Who proposes bills that can
become laws if approved?
8
Who has power in the Executive Article II, Section 1
branch of government?
3.
1~
Article I, section 7,
paragraph 1
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9
How many years can the
president held office?
Article II, Section 1
1. Must be a natural born
What are the qualifications 1o be AllJcle II, section 1,
10 president?
paragraph 5
What does the president
11 promise to defend?
2. At least
years old.
3. Must be a resident of the U.S. for
years.
Article II, section 1,
paragraph 8
I. He shall serve as
AdJcle II, section 2,
12 Fill in the blanks indicating some paragraph 1
of the duties of the president.
in
Chief.
’ 2. Make
Paragraph 2
, appoint
and Supreme
Court judges,
13
How does the president approve
Article I, s#ction7,
laws?
paragraph 2
14 Who has the judicial power of
the United States?
15 Fill in the blank.
A~ticle II1, section1
2. Other federal courts
Adicle III, section 2,
paragraph 3
A criminal is guaranteed a tdal
by
US!N Govemraent
So~al Studies O~ce
PAce George’s County Public Schools
2006-200"/
101
Name:
Date:
SIX PRINCIPLES of the United States Constitution
Directions: Each ~f the following phrases describes one of the Six Principles of the .
Constitution. Next to each statement, state whMI Principle it relates to by using the letters
listed below.
Checks and Balances
Popular SovereignlT
D.
A.
E.
Judic~hl Review
Limited Government
B.
’
F.
Federalism
Separation
of
Power~
C.
__
1. The people are the source of all government authority.
2. tiresident is responsible for the executing, erd’orcing, and administering th~ law.
3. Congress must have a two-thirds vote in each house to override a veto.
__
4. This practice was establist~ed in Mm?bury vs. Madison, 1803.
5. "Congress shall make no law" denying individual freedom~s of the 1st Amendment
6. Educational requirements vary state to state.
__
7. Only Congress has the power to declare war.
__ 8. Presidential appointees ~re subject to approval by the Senate.
__
9. "We the people of the United States..."
10. The Rule of Law
11. In Pennsylvania, people pay both a State and Federal Income Tax.
12.. Govermnent may exercise only those powers delegated to it.
13. Federal courts may declare illegal any gover~maent action yiolating the
Constitution.
14. Govet~nent can govern only with the oonse}~t oftbe governed.
15. "All leglslatlve powers herein granted shall be vested in Congress..."
16. All treaties made by the President must be ratified by the Senate.
17. The Supreme Court has voided more thau 900 state laws as uncoustitutioual.
__ 18. Powers not specifically given to the federal goverrmaent by the Constitution are
retained by the States.
System of Checks and Balances
1. What does it mean to Confirm a
nomination? How does this power
of Congress check the President?
2. What is an .Unconstitutional act?
Give an example of a law in the
past that was unconstitutional.
Whywas it unconstitutional?
3. What does it mean to ~each
someone? Where does the
process start?
Background Summa 7 &-Questions (o,)
Thomas Jefferson, a member of the Republican Party, won the election of 1800. Before Jefferson took office, John
Adams, the outgoing President who was a Federalist, quickly appointed 58 members of his own party to fill government
jobs created by Congress. He did this because he wanted people from his politigal party iu office.
It was the responsibility of Adams’ Secretary of State, John Marshall, to finish the paperwork and give it to each of the
newly appointed officials. Although Marshall signed and sealed all of the papers, he failed to deliver 17 of them to the
appointees. Marshall thought his Successor would finish the job. But ~,)hen Jeffersou became 4~resident, be told his new
Secretary of State, James Madison, not to deliver some of the papers. Those iudividuals couldn’t take office until they
actually had their papers in hand.
Adams had appointed William Marbury to be justice of the peace of the District of Columbia, Marbury was one of the last
-minute appointees who did not receive hls papers. He sued Jefferson’s Secretary of State, James Madison, and asked
the Supreme Count of the United States to issue a court order requiring that Madison deliver his papers.
Marbury argued that he.was entitled to the job and that ¢he JudiCiary Act of 1789 gave the Supreme Count of the United
States original jurisdiction to issue a writ ofmandamgs, which is the type of coart order he deeded, When the case
came before the Court, John Marshall -- the person who had failed to deliver the commission in the first place -- was
the hew Chief Justice. The Court had to decide whether Marbu~y was entitled to his job, and if so, whether the Judiciary
Act of 1789 gave the Court the authority it needed to force the Secretary of State to appoint Marbury to his position.
Background Summary & Questions (oo)
In 1791, the U.S. government created the first national bank for the country. During this time, a national bank was
controversial because people had different opinions about what powers the national government should have. Alexander
i4amilton believed that the national government had the power to create a new national bank. Thomas Jefferson
believed that the national government did not have such a power. When Thomas Jelferson was president, he dld not
renew the national bank’s charter. Aflcer the War of 1812, President James Madison decided that the country needed a
national bank, and he asked Congress to create a Second Bank of the Unlted States in 1816.
After President Madison approved the batik, many branches were opened throughout the country, Many states did not
want the new bank branches to open. There were several reasons why the states opposed these national banks. They
competed with the state banks, many n~tional bank managers were thgught to be corrupt, and the states believed that
the national government was getting too powerful.
Maryland tried closing down the Baltimore branch of the national bank by passing a law that forced all banks that were
c.reated outside of the state pay.a $15,000 tax each year. James HeCullech, who worked at the Baltimore Branch,
refused to pay the tax.
The State of Maryland look McCulloch to count saying that Maryland had the power to tax any business In Its state.
Luther Flartin, a lawyer for Maryland, said that if the national government had the power to regulate state banks, then
Maryland had the power to regulate national banks. He also said that the Constitution does not give Congress the power
Lo create a national bank.
After McCulioch was convicted of violating the tax statute and fined $2,500, he appealed the court’s decision to the
Maryland Court of Appeals. His lawyer argued that creating a national bank was a "necessary and proper" job of
Congress. He stated that many of the powers of the national government are not written in the Constitution, but are
necessary for the national government to do its job. Also, he claimed that Maryland could not place a tax on the national
bank because the tax would not let the national bank do its job.
The Maryland Court 8f Appeals agreed with the lower court’s decision. McCulloch then appealed to the Supreme Court of
the United States, led by Chlef Justice John Marshall.
Marbury v Madison: Judicial Review
1, Identify the following people and explain their roles:
a. John Adams
b. Thomas jefferson
c. John Marshall
d. James Madison
e.. William Marbury
2, Why did Marbury sue Madison?
a. What law did he use as the basis for his suit?
b. Whatwas he requesting?
Supreme
Court Decision: ludiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional;
3.
Marbury did NOT get the job.
a. WHY?
McCullough v Maryland: Supremacy Clause (Federalism)
1. Identify and explain the roles of the following people:
a. Alexander Hamilton
b. ;Phomas Jefferson
c. James Madison
d. James McCullough
2. Why didn’t the states approve of national banks?
3. Why did Maryland try to prevent banks from their state? W
a. What did they implement to hurt the banks?
4. What was McCullough’s reaction and argument against Maryland’s new law?
5. What did the lower courts decide?
6. Supreme Court Decision: Established the Supremacy Clause that states
Federal Laws are supreme over the state laws; therefore what ever Congress
decides overrules what the states want/decide.
a. What is an example of a law or laws that National and State
governments fight over today7
The Three Branches of American Government
Extension Activity
Student Handout
Fill in the boxes using the words and pictures in the Word Bank below.
Executive
Judicial
[ L_e~slative
Purpose
(What?)
Offices
(Who?)
Building (Where?)
How Chosen?
Word Bank:
Carries out taws
Appointed
Supre~e Court and other c~ud officials
Elected
Interprets laws .
Elected.;"
President and Cabine~ members
Makes laws
Senators, Representatives
PictureA
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Sociaf Studies Of~ce
Prince George’s County pu b~¢ Schools
2008-2007
Extension Activity
Student Handout
identifying the Branches of Government and the
The Branches of Arnerican government are explained in the first three arlicles of the Constitution. Use the
Censtitutbn Reading Guide to the adicles that describe the three branches of govemmen.t. Match ’’~
Branch of government that is described in the Articles !, 11, and III.
A~ticlel
Ailicle 11
A. JudiciaIBrancb..~ ¯
Aiticle 111
C. Legislative Branch.
B. Executive Branc!’,
Which branch? Use the letters from above to match eachjob with the branch of government.
1. This branch proposes (or writes) bills that may become laws.
¯ 2. This branch has one main leader, the president.
3. This branch hears court cases.
4. This branch also includes the duties of the vice president.
5. This branch vetoes laws.
6. This branch appoints ambassadors.
7. This branch appoints Supreme Coud judges.
Extra Challen.qe!!
Find a news
this paper and write a summary
branch.
¯
~ranches of government in
~ below. Be sure that your
USIN Government
Social Studies Office
George’s Count~ Public Schools
2006-2007
Attach the article to
includes the name of the
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