The United States Constitution Review Challenge
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What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
Who was the main author of the Declaration?
What events lead up to the Declaration of Independence?
Why were colonists so upset with the taxes and laws that the British passed in the 1760s and
1770s?
What is the idea of Natural Law?
What does the Declaration say about the purpose and role of government?
Why didn’t America’s first plan of government, the Articles of Confederation, work?
What are the different sections of the United States Constitution?
What is the purpose of the Preamble?
What branch of our government makes laws?
What branch of our government is in charge of enforcing the laws?
What branch interprets or explains the laws?
What is the role of the President’s cabinet?
What are the qualifications of the President?
What is the Electoral College?
What are the powers of the Presidency?
What are the powers of Congress?
What are the qualifications of the Senate?
What are the qualifications of the House of Representatives?
What are the powers of the Supreme Court?
Ho w many “justices” are on the Supreme Court?
How do justices get their job?
What is the lead justice called?
What is the system of checks and balances?
What are the three layers of government in the United States?
What is the Bill of Rights?
What are the major freedoms or protections that come from…
a. First amendment
b. Second amendment
c. Fourth amendment
d. Fifth amendment
e. Sixth amendment
f. Eighth amendment
The United States Constitution Review Challenge KEY
1. What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
a. To declare that the 13 colonies were no longer part of the British Empire
2. Who was the main author of the Declaration?
a. Thomas Jefferson
3. What events lead up to the Declaration of Independence?
a. The British attempted to pass a series of laws and taxes that the colonists thought were
unfaird
4. Why were colonists so upset with the taxes and laws that the British passed in the 1760s and
1770s?
a. They had no say or representation in their making
5. What is the idea of Natural Law?
a. All people are born with certain basic rights
6. What does the Declaration say about the purpose and role of government?
a. Governments are formed by people to protect these rights and that people can abolish
governments that don’t do their job in protecting these rights
7. Why didn’t America’s first plan of government, the Articles of Confederation, work?
a. It gave the national government no power. The states acted liked separate countries.
8. What are the different sections of the United States Constitution?
a. Preamble, Articles, Amendments
9. What is the purpose of the Preamble?
a. To state the goals of the Constitution
10. What branch of our government makes laws?
a. Legislative (Congress)
11. What branch of our government is in charge of enforcing the laws?
a. Executive (President)
12. What branch interprets or explains the laws?
a. Judicial (Supreme Court)
13. What is the role of the President’s cabinet?
a. To help the President enforce federal law
14. What are the qualifications of the President?
a. At least 35 years old; natural born citizen; have lived in country at least 14 years
15. What is the Electoral College?
a. Group that elects the President; President candidates win the election by winning
electoral votes from each state; state’s electoral votes = state’s number of senators plus
number of representatives; electoral votes of a state go to the candidate that gets the
most votes in the state
16. What are the powers of the Presidency?
a. Enforce federal law; commander in chief of armed forces; negotiate foreign treaties;
approve or veto laws; call special law making sessions of Congress; suggest laws to
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Congress (though he can’t vote on them); appoint Supreme Court justices; appoint
members to the federal agencies
What are the powers of Congress?
a. Make laws; coin and borrow money; set up taxes; declare war; impeach federal officials;
approve President appointments and treaties
What are the qualifications of the Senate?
a. 30 years old; 9 years a citizen, resident of the state; elected by entire state
b. Two per state
What are the qualifications of the House of Representatives?
a. 25 years old; 7 years a citizen, resident of the state; elected by Congressional district
b. Number of representatives in state based on state’s population
What are the powers of the Supreme Court?
a. Interpret and explain federal law
b. Strike down unconstitutional laws
c. Settle legal matters between states
Ho w many “justices” are on the Supreme Court?
a. 9 justices
How do justices get their job?
a. Appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate
What is the lead justice called?
a. Chief Justice
What is the system of checks and balances?
a. No one branch has all the power on any one issue
b. Example: President is Commander in Chief of Armed Forces but Congress declares war
What are the three layers of government in the United States?
a. Federal, state, local
What is the Bill of Rights?
a. First ten amendments to the Constitution; describe the basic rights, freedoms, and
protections of the American people
What are the major freedoms or protections that come from…
a. First amendment
i. Free speech, press, assembly
ii. Freedom of religion
b. Second amendment
i. Right to own firearms
c. Fourth amendment
i. Protection against unlawful search and seizure
d. Fifth amendment
i. No double jeopardy
ii. Can’t be forced to testify against one’s self in court
iii. Can’t have life, liberty, or property taken with due process of law (fair
treatment)
iv. Have to be paid fairly if government takes land for public use
e. Sixth amendment
i. Right to a fair and speedy jury trial in criminal cases
ii. Right to have a lawyer defend you in court
f. Eighth amendment
i. Government can’t give out excessive fines or bail
ii. Government can’t use cruel and unusual punishment