US History & Government
Organization of the US Constitution & Preamble
Preamble of the US Constitution:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, 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.
List the six reasons for the writing of the US Constitution as stated in the Preamble
1. ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________________________________________
Why do you think that the founding fathers used the terms?
“We the people….” ______________________________________________________________________
“in order to form a more perfect union” ______________________________________________________
Organization of the US Constitution:
Identify each part of the US Constitution
Preamble
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Article 1
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Article 2
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Article 3
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Article 4
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Article 5
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Article 6
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Article 7
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Bill of Rights ______________________________________
US History & Government
Article I of the US Constitution
What is the purpose of the Legislative Branch of Government?
Compare the House of Representatives and the Senate (Article I, Section 1-7)
Word Bank: 100; Speaker of the House; always elected by the people; 9; 25; 7; districts of approximately
500,000 persons; introduces all revenue bills; 6; 100; determined by the population of the state; tries cases of
impeachment; 33 or 34; 435; Vice-President of the United States; chosen by state legislatures until the 17th
amendment; 30; entire state; approves or rejects presidential appointments; impeachment; 2
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SENATE
Number of Members
Term in Office (years)
Number per state
Age requirement
Citizenship requirement
Percent elected every two years
Method of selection
Size of Constituency
Presiding officer
Special Duties 1
1
2
2
A census is taken every 10 years. What is the relationship between the census and the distribution of seats in
the House of Representatives?
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Why, in 1789, did the House of Representatives reflect the interests of the people more directly than the Senate?
How does this explain why the founding fathers required all revenue bills (taxes bills) to begin in the House of
Representatives?
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Powers of Congress
What are the enumerated (delegated) powers of Congress? (Found in Article I, Section 8)
Clause 1.
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Clause 2.
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Clause 3.
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Clause 4.
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Clause 5.
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Clause 6.
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Clause 7.
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Clause 8.
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Clause 9.
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Clause 10.
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Clause 11.
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Clause 12.
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Clause 13.
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Clause 14.
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Clause 15.
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Clause 16.
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Clause 17.
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Clause 18: To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution
the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the
United States, or in any department or officer thereof.
What is the purpose of the ‘necessary and proper’ clause of Article 1? Why is it also known as the ‘elastic
clause’ or the ‘implied powers’ of congress?
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Powers Denied to Congress (Article I, Section 9)
What is habeas corpus? Under which two circumstances can habeas corpus be suspended?
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What are bills of attainder and an ex post facto laws? Why would these bills be unfair?
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Examine Article I, Section 9, clause 5 & clause 6. What problem are both of these clauses trying to prevent?
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According to Article I, Section 9, clause 7, under what circumstances may congress raise and spend money?
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