Grade 12
Unit 2
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY 1202
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
CONTENTS
I. U.S. CONSTITUTION AND RIGHTS ......................
United States Constitution ......................................
Bill of Rights................................................................
States’ Rights and Responsibilities .......................
II. THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT ....
Executive Branch .......................................................
Judicial Branch ..........................................................
Legislative Branch .....................................................
III. BILLS AND LAWS.......................................................
How a Bill Becomes Law: Part 1.............................
How a Bill Becomes Law: Part 2.............................
Author:
Editor:
Illustrations:
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Brad Zockoll
Brian Ring
Alpha Omega Staff
804 N. 2nd Ave. E., Rock Rapids, IA 51246-1759
© MM by Alpha Omega Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
LIFEPAC is a registered trademark of Alpha Omega Publications, Inc.
All trademarks and/or service marks referenced in this material are the property of their respective owners. Alpha Omega Publications, Inc.
makes no claim of ownership to any trademarks and/or service marks other than their own and their affiliates’, and makes no claim of affiliation to any companies whose trademarks may be listed in this material, other than their own.
HISTORY 1202
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
Some magnificent documents were written in the 1700s. One of the most treasured documents in
American history is the “unanimous Declaration of Independence” which Congress presented on July 4,
1776. It states “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness.” With the Declaration of Independence, America announced its intention to become
a free and self-supporting nation. It took until 1783 to finally win that treasured independence—now,
what should a young government do? When the leaders of the country met in Philadelphia in 1781, they
were already dealing with the problems of collecting taxes, enforcing the laws, and establishing trade
between the states. Through arguing and agreeing, debating and deliberating, these brilliant minds
assembled what is considered one of the best governmental writings in the history of nations. Even the
opening statement shows the intent of these leaders to create an honorable government: “We the people
of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
OBJECTIVES
Read these objectives. The objectives tell you what you will be able to do when you have successfully
completed this LIFEPAC ®.
When you have finished this LIFEPAC, you should be able to:
1.
Explain the purpose of the United States Constitution and the First Amendment.
2.
Explain the history and purpose of the Bill of Rights and give a brief summary of its
amendments.
3.
Explain the state’s responsibilities and rights in our union.
4.
Explain the Executive Branch of our government, its responsibilities and function.
5.
Explain the Judicial Branch, its law-making function and the limit to its power.
6.
Explain the Legislative Branch and the functions of the House and Senate.
7.
Explain how a bill becomes law; from initial idea to passing at the Senate level.
8.
Explain how a bill becomes law; from a House Committee to approval by Congress.
Survey the LIFEPAC. Ask yourself some questions about this study. Write your questions here.
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I. U.S. CONSTITUTION AND RIGHTS
“The Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible
Union composed of indestructible States.”
– Salmon P. Chase
SECTION OBJECTIVES
Review these objectives. When you have completed this section, you should be able to:
1. Explain the purpose of the United States Constitution and the First Amendment.
2. Explain the history and purpose of the Bill of Rights and give a brief summary of its
amendments.
3. Explain the state’s responsibilities and rights in our union.
VOCABULARY
Study these words to enhance your learning success in this section.
abridge
Bill of Rights
currency
endowed
neutrality
parochial
persecuted
petition
redress
tranquility
unalienable
Reducing or cutting short
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, based strongly on the personal freedoms of the citizen
A medium of exchange for purchases
To be equipped with a talent or a quality
The state of not belonging to either side in a dispute
A school usually supported by or located in a church or parish.
To harass or annoy
A request
To set right; a reparation for a wrong that was done
Calmness; peacefulness (note: the early American spelling has two “L’s”)
That which cannot be lost or transferred away
Note: All vocabulary words in this LIFEPAC appear in boldface print the first time they are used. If you are unsure of the meaning when you are
reading, study the definitions given.
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
What exactly does the Constitution do? The Constitution lays down the fundamental
laws of the United States. The rights and freedoms of the individual citizen are defined, as
well as the goals of the government. There are some restrictive guidelines as well. The first
ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, limit the powers of the Federal government. For example, the Supreme Court has decided that neither the Federal government nor the states can deprive any individual of his freedom of religion, speech, press,
petition, assembly, or of several other rights that pertain to the fair treatment of the
accused person.
The Constitutional Convention met in 1787 to create a more unified nation. Some of the
signers of the Constitution included George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James
Madison and Alexander Hamilton. As George Washington presided over the Convention, he
knew there were many obstacles to overcome. The initial assembly in Philadelphia looked
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like little more than a gathering of 13
independent little countries. There was
scant unity among the states, with problems like trading between each other and
the printing of state currency instead of
federal money. By the end of the convention,
39
delegates
signed
the
Constitution. Many people are not aware
that there were actually some delegates
who refused to sign! Elbridge Berry,
George Mason, and Edmund Randolph
all refused to sign the Constitution
because they felt it still gave too much
power to the federal government.
“CONGRESS CANNOT START A GOVERNMENT RELIGION OR STOP PEOPLE FROM WORSHIP”
Freedom of religion is granted in
the Constitution. The First Amendment, adopted in 1791, states: “Congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for
a redress of grievances.” The granting of
such freedoms has been a closely guarded right that has been challenged and
supported through the years of growth of
our country.
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A 1922 POSTER PROTESTING
LYNCHINGS IN AMERICA
The First Amendment of the Constitution is important to Christians. All believers in Jesus Christ should be aware of this passage in the Constitution. The First
Amendment to the Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof....” The third section of Article
VI of the original Constitution also provides that “no religious test shall ever be required
as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” Freedom of religion,
as defined in the First Amendment, is two-fold. First, the government is forbidden to establish a religion, either directly or indirectly. The England of the 1700s had a government that
would imprison those who did not join the Church of England. The government would
infringe on the citizens’ religious liberties. In the days of the Soviet Union, the government
had established a state-run church, even to the point of approving the sermons that were
to be preached; that would be in violation of this amendment. These examples remind us of
the phrase “separation of church and state.” Secondly, the government is forbidden to interfere with or to regulate religion. Individuals have the right to assemble and pray or build
a church without fear of being persecuted by the government.
The First Amendment has been under scrutiny in the courts for years. The
“establishment of religion” clause of the First Amendment came into question in 1947 concerning the use of public funds for pupil transportation in parochial schools. By a five to
four vote, the Supreme Court ruled such aid improper, as Judge Hugo Black asserted, “No
tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice
religion.” Another Supreme Court ruling which further separated church and state
occurred in 1962. It had long been customary in many public schools to offer prayers or to
read passages from the Bible; this practice was exercised on every possible basis, ranging
from wholly voluntary and intermittent action by individual teachers to a uniform requirement prescribed by state authorities. For years the Supreme Court avoided a direct decision on the constitutionality of these practices, but in 1962 the justices invalidated a
school prayer requirement and any requirement in public schools of Bible reading or recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, stating, “In the relationship between men and religion, the State
is firmly committed to a position of neutrality.” Although the “neutrality” rulings succeeded in banning public funds for parochial school use and banning prayer and Bible reading from public schools, Supreme Court rulings have generally remained neutral.
The Bill of Rights also guarantees that “Congress shall make no law ... abridging the
freedom of the press.” The newspaper publishing companies, television networks, and radio
stations enjoy the rights to broadcast news and information that will not be edited and controlled, as they were in the days of the Mussolini-led country of Italy. The government of
the United States does not have the right to interfere with the freedom of the press.
The Constitution has been a hard-working document through the years. It has
been a vital cog in the workings of the American government. The Constitution gives the general method for electing a president. It also lays out the rules for organizing Congress and the
guidelines for the potential members of Congress. The Constitution explains such diverse
subjects as making laws, establishing copyrights for inventors and extraditing criminals back
to states for trials. The Constitution is a magnificent framework for forming our government.
The British statesman William Gladstone appropriately called the Constitution “the most
wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.”
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Matching.
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
persecute
currency
petition
redress
parochial
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
a request.
a medium of exchange for purchases.
to set right; a reparation for a wrong that was done.
to harass or annoy.
a school usually supported by or located in a church or parish.
In your own words, tell what the First Amendment protection of religion is about.
1.6
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fill in the blanks.
1.7
The first ten Amendments to the Constitution are called the __________________________ .
1.8
When the leaders of the country met in Philadelphia in 1781, they were already dealing with
the problems of collecting __________________________ and __________________________ the laws.
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1.9
Ensuring “domestic tranquillity” means ensuring __________________________ or
__________________________ .
1.10
The Constitution deals with extraditing a __________________________ back to a
__________________________ for trial.
1.11
The government is not allowed to harass or annoy a church in their worship. To harass or
annoy is to __________________________ .
1.12
The First Amendment includes the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right of
the people peaceably to __________________________ .
1.13
The First Amendment also gives the citizen the right to “petition the government for a
redress of grievances.” Redress means ____________________________________________________ .
1.14
The number of delegates who signed the Constitution was __________ in the year __________ .
Choose one.
1.15
In 1962 the Supreme Court took a stand of neutrality towards:
______ free speech among students in parochial schools.
______ a prayer requirement in public schools.
______ funding for transportation to parochial schools.
Check the statements which describe the work of the Constitution.
1.16
______
______
______
______
It
It
It
It
lays out the general method for electing a president.
deals with the guidelines for bankruptcy among corporations.
deals with establishing copyrights for inventors.
deals with anti-trust laws.
True/False.
1.17
_____ “Abridging” is the term used for combining efforts in order to get a unified and agreedupon result.
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“God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always
ready to guard and defend it.”
– Daniel Webster
VOCABULARY
Study these words to enhance your learning success in this section.
adoption
compensation
constituents
delegated
enumeration
immunities
infringed
quartered
ratified
search and seizure
warrant
To receive and make one’s own
Earnings; wage
A citizen of a district that elects representatives to government
Authorized or assigned; allowed
A list; a number of
Exemptions; protections
Disobeyed or violated
Housed; supplied with home-like arrangements
Authorized; put into legislation
Gives authority to the officer to seize certain designated items for evidence
of a crime
An official judicial writing that authorizes a search
BILL OF RIGHTS
The United States did not want any abuse of the central government. They battled for the right for independence and were not about to let it slip away into an abuse of
power that trampled on the citizens’ rights. Hot debates occurred during the adoption of
the Constitution, with fears expressed that the Constitution did not assure enough freedom
for the individual. The group of men could remember the tyranny imposed upon them by
the British government. The assembly called for a “bill of rights” that would list immunities and freedoms of the individual American.
On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed an
important step in our country’s demand for freedom. The state legislatures were presented with 12 amendments to the Constitution which would answer many questions concerning the strength of that document. The first proposed amendment had to do with the
number of constituents for each Representative in Washington. It was not ratified. The
second amendment concerned the compensation of Congressmen. It, too, failed ratification. However, articles 3 to 12 were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures and
make up the first ten amendments of the Constitution. This list of ten is still known today
as the Bill of Rights.
One of the powerful influences in the writing of the Bill of Rights was George
Mason. The Virginia delegate was highly disappointed with the Constitution, feeling it did
not go anywhere near protecting the citizens as it should. Mason’s earlier writing on freedoms had influenced Thomas Jefferson’s writing of the first part of the Declaration of
Independence, and Mason’s influence was there once again when James Madison drafted
the amendments to the Constitution that were to become the Bill of Rights.
So what are the Bill of Rights? The first 10 amendments to the Constitution speak
of the protection of freedoms of the individual citizen. Some amendments may seem odd,
but they were relevant to the nation at the time of their writing. These amendments were
ratified December 15, 1791.
Amendment I “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or
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the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.” This amendment guarantees freedom of religion and gives us the
right to worship where and how we want. Freedom of speech and of the press give us openness in the fields of communication to express our displeasure with the government without feeling we must be in fear of imprisonment. We also have the right to gather peaceably
and to ask the government for justice.
Amendment II “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” This amendment reflects the early colonists’ hostility toward the standing armies that had occupied
their land; they guarantee the people’s right to bear arms to prevent those armies from
making America submissive to another government.
Amendment III “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.”
This amendment also shows the colonists’ desire to eliminate the threat of any army taking advantage of the citizens. The colonists had been forced to house British soldiers in
their own homes, and many of the citizens were treated poorly. For this reason, Amendment
number 3 states clearly that no soldier can be housed in an American’s home without the
owner’s consent.
Amendment IV “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” This
amendment was added to prevent the abuses the colonists had suffered from general warrants. It protects the citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures and also requires
warrants to be specific and issued only upon probable cause.
Amendment V “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in
the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public
danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of
life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor
be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” The Fifth Amendment requires
grand jury indictments in major criminal prosecutions and keeps a person from being tried
twice on the same charge or requiring that person to testify against himself. It forbids the
taking of private property for public use without just compensation to the owner, and disallows the removal of life, liberty, and property without due process of law. The “due
process” part of this amendment was highly important. It has been a foundation and main
constitutional weapon for the protection of rights not defined in the Bill of Rights.
Amendment VI “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime
shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law,
and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to
have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.” This amendment protects defendants in
criminal cases and guarantees the accused that he will receive a speedy public trial by jury
and gives him the rights to be informed of the accusation. An important part of this amendment includes the right to be confronted with the witnesses against them, to use compulsory process to secure witnesses and to have the assistance of counsel.
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Amendment VII “In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall
be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of
the common law.” The Seventh Amendment guarantees jury trials in civil cases.
Amendment VIII “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” This amendment prevents excessive bail or
fines or cruel and unusual punishments to the individual.
Amendment IX “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” This amendment states that
the list of rights in the Constitution does not deny other rights retained by the people; in
other words, just because there are a list of rights in this document does not mean “if it’s
not listed here, you don’t have the right.” Americans still have their other freedoms.
Amendment X “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
The Tenth Amendment upholds the fact that all powers not given to the United States government itself belong to the states or the people.
True/False.
1.18
_____ When you delegate someone to do something, you authorize them to do it.
Describe the Eighth Amendment in your own words.
1.19
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Fill in the blanks.
1.20
One of the most powerful influences on the writing of the Constitution was a Virginia delegate by the name of ______________________ .
1.21
The assembly called for a “bill of rights” that would list the ______________________ and
______________________ of the individual American.
1.22
The Second Amendment states, “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be
infringed.” Infringed means ______________________ .
1.23
Amendment Six assures the accused the right to a speedy ______________________ .
1.24
Amendment Nine talks about the enumeration of rights. Enumeration means a
______________________ .
1.25
Much careful thought went into Amendment Nine. This amendment tells us that the presence of the list of freedoms doesn’t mean “if it’s not ______________________ here, you don’t have
the ______________________ .” Americans have other freedoms than those in the Bill of Rights.
1.26
The Tenth Amendment lets us know that the rights not delegated to the federal government
are given to the ______________________ or the ______________________ .
1.27
The actual number of amendments that the leaders first proposed was ________ but two were
not ratified.
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Choose one.
1.28
The Second Amendment gives the citizen the right to
______ face his accuser in court.
______ have a jury trial in civil cases.
______ keep and bear arms.
Check the statements that do NOT apply to the Fourth Amendment.
1.29
______
______
______
______
Soldiers may not be improperly quartered in a citizen’s home.
The people should not be subjected to unreasonable search and seizures.
School shall not be mandatory for children under the age of fifteen.
Warrants are only issued upon probable cause.
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“A star for every State, and a State for every star.”
– Robert C. Winthrop
VOCABULARY
Study these words to enhance your learning success in this section.
electoral college
jurisdiction
licensing
prohibited
public safety
public works
state bar exam
technology
treaty
welfare
Group of electors chosen to make the decision of electing the president and
vice president of the U.S.
The extent of authority; the range of control
Official and legal authorization for a specific ownership or practice
Prevented; forbidden
Creation and maintenance of state fire and police departments, hospitals
and other citizen needs
The creation and maintenance of state roads, dams, building and other similar projects
The state testing of potential attorneys in order to see if they qualify for
active legal practice
Scientific methods and practices
A formal agreement between two or more governments
Government financial aid to assist people in need
STATES’ RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY
It is not all the federal government’s responsibility. You’re driving out of town on
a Saturday afternoon, heading for a festival in another city. You turn off of Main Street and
head out of town on County Road 210. You then merge onto State Highway 60 after a few
miles. Then you turn onto Interstate 17. You have experienced the benefit of four different
levels of government: road construction and repair from departments of your town, your
country, your state, and your federal government. Most people forget that in the creation of
government projects and improvements, many levels of government are at work. Not all
parks are run by the federal government, neither are all the police forces. The state plays
an important part in the running of our everyday lives.
There is a wide range of jurisdiction that is given to a state. It is a jurisdiction
allowed the states of the Union through the wisdom of the founding fathers of our country
and set forth in the Constitution. Jurisdiction means the power of making laws and enforcing them. If a state is not in conflict with the U.S. Constitution or acts of Congress, it can
work in a fairly wide-range of areas. Certain treaties must be honored by the state as well.
For example, Arizona must honor the Indian Reservation treaties that were drawn up by
the American government for the Indian Nations.
National elections are conducted by the states. The electoral college, which is
used to decide who will be America’s next president, is organized and completed by the
states. The two houses of Congress are populated by the elected officials of the states of the
Union. The House of Representatives and the Senate are both comprised of the members
who have been sent to Washington by the voters of their home state.
You may have traveled this country and have seen Iowa’s state parks or enjoyed the
results of the forestry preserved by their Department of Conservation. You might have a
relative who was a graduate of a state university in Texas or Louisiana. You may have read
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of the state’s increase in spending for the welfare of the poor in New Hampshire. All of
these services are the right and responsibilities of the states of the Union, and public safety also fall under the umbrella of the state’s service to its citizens.
Many professions must undergo licensing in the state. Doctors and dentists will
display their certificates on their office walls. Real estate brokers must apply for a state
license. Lawyers must pass a state bar exam. Licensing and fees are regulated for licenses as different as automobiles and marriages!
The federal government allows the states to act on their own in many areas.
The Constitution is clearly supportive of state’s right as it states in the 10th Amendment,
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited to it
by the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” This freedom is wise
because it not only allows individual states to exercise their uniqueness and local technology, it also helps the government to avoid being overburdened with “micro-management”—having to see to every street sign, driver’s license, and policeman’s salary in the
nation. The states are able to handle responsibilities on a more local level.
Matching.
1.30
1.31
1.32
1.33
1.34
1.35
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
public safety
public works
technology
state bar exam
licensing
prohibited
a. scientific methods and practices.
b. prevented; forbidden.
c. the state testing of potential attorneys in order to see if they
qualify for active legal practice.
d. official and legal authorization for a specific ownership or practice.
e. the creation and maintenance of state fire and police departments,
hospitals and other citizen needs.
f. the creation and maintenance of state roads, dams, building, and
other similar projects.
Fill in the blanks.
1.36
Lawyers must pass a _____________________ .
1.37
_____________________ means the power of making laws and enforcing them.
1.38
Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada must honor the Indian Reservation _____________________
that were drawn up by the American Government for the Indian Nations.
1.39
The creation and maintenance of a state reservoir falls under the title of ____________________ .
1.40
The number of the Constitutional Amendment giving the states freedoms and control is
Amendment number _________ .
Check the one thing that is NOT true about the Electoral College.
1.41
_____
_____
_____
_____
The college is made up of people selected by the states.
Those designated to perform this task are known as the electors.
The state of Pennsylvania oversees the inner workings of the electoral college.
The college makes the decision of electing the president of the United States.
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Check the one thing that is true about a state’s public safety service.
1.42
_____
_____
_____
_____
A library would be included in the public safety service.
State elections are performed under this jurisdiction.
A hospital would be included in the public safety service.
Treaties are created under the public safety’s scrutiny.
Select all that apply.
1.43
State licensing involves:
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
marriages
dental practices
auto registration
real estate brokers
senators
lawyers
Adult Check
_______________________
Initial
Date
Review the material in this section in preparation for the Self Test. The Self Test will check
your mastery of this particular section. The items missed on this Self Test will
indicate specific areas where restudy is needed for mastery.
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SELF TEST 1
Match the phrases that best fit each other (each answer, 2 points).
1.01
1.02
1.03
1.04
1.05
1.06
_____ George Mason
_____ Ben Franklin
_____ problems between the states
_____ petition
_____ reasons for not signing
_____ George Washington
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
a signer of the Constitution
presided over the Constitutional Convention
trading with each other, printing state currency
“too much power given to the federal government.”
a request
refused to sign the Constitution
True/False (each answer, 2 points).
1.07
______ The Constitution was completed in 1776.
1.08
______ By the end of the Convention, 39 delegates signed the Constitution.
1.09
______ “Abridging” is the term used for combining efforts in order to get a unified and
agreed-upon result.
1.010
______ The right to peaceably assemble is found in the First Amendment.
1.011
______ A hospital would be included in the public safety service.
Fill in the blanks (each answer, 3 points).
1.012
The Constitution deals with extraditing a __________________ back to a state for trials.
1.013
The First Amendment also gives the citizen the right to “petition the government for a
redress of grievances.” Redress means ________________________________________________ .
1.014
“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
__________________ by their Creator with certain __________________ rights, that among these
are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
1.015
Ensuring __________________ means ensuring peacefulness or calmness.
1.016
The first ten Amendments to the Constitution are called the __________________ .
1.017
The number of the Constitutional Amendment giving the states freedoms and control is
Amendment number________ .
1.018
A dentist would apply for a license with the __________________ .
1.019
The electoral college makes the decision of electing the __________________ of the United
States.
1.020
The First Amendment includes the freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right of
the people peaceably to __________________ .
1.021
If Mr. Smith takes a case all the way to the Supreme Court concerning his being unlawfully
jailed, he is trying to see that a wrong be righted. The word for “correcting a wrong that was
done” is __________________ .
1.022
The Eighth Amendment deals with __________________ .
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1.023
The assembly called for a “bill of rights” that would list the __________________ and
__________________ of the individual American.
1.024
“Search and seizure” restrictions are listed in the __________________ Amendment.
1.025
The __________________ Amendment gives a citizen of the U.S. a right to a speedy trial.
1.026
Amendment Nine tells us that the presence of the list of Amendments does not mean “if it’s
not __________________ here, you don’t have the __________________ .” Americans have other
freedoms.
1.027
Jurisdiction means the power of __________________ .
1.028
If a state is not in conflict with the U.S. __________________ or acts of Congress, it can work in
a fairly wide-range of areas.
1.029
The state of New Mexico must honor all of the Indian Reservation __________________ that
were drawn up by the American Government for the Indian Nations.
Check which one is TRUE about the First Amendment of the Constitution (2 points).
1.030
_____ Congress may call for an Act of War.
_____ Congress may not cancel the rights of the states.
_____ Congress may not prevent a religion from free exercise
The Supreme Court ruling of neutrality concerning public school prayer occurred in:
(2 points)
1.031
_____ 1961.
_____ 1962.
_____ 1963.
Mark the phrase below which is true concerning the Constitution (2 points).
1.032
_____ It helps establish county boundary lines within states according to census results.
_____ It gives a general outline of information in electing the president of the United States.
_____ It sets the law for the rights of public highways and waterways.
Choose the statement that is NOT correct (2 points).
1.033 _____ In 1947 the Supreme Court ruled against public funding for transportation
to parochial schools.
_____ “Abridging” means reducing or cutting short.
_____ Congress has the right to limit the free practice of religion.
Choose one (2 points).
1.034
The Second Amendment gives the citizen
_____ the right to a speedy trial.
_____ the right to keep and bear arms.
_____ the right to keep freedoms not listed in the Constitution.
Score
Adult Check
76
95
15
_______________________
_______________________
Initial
Date