Name: ______Date: ______Period:______
Constitution Quiz Review - KEY
Directions: Fill in the blank with one of the seven principles of government.
1. Popular Sovereignty - This idea supports a government by the people.
2. Limited Government - This requires all U.S. citizens, including government leaders, to obey the law.
3. Individual Rights - The Bill of Rights is how this system is reflected in the Constitution.
4. Checks and Balances - This system gives each branch some ability to limit or check the actions of the other branches.
5. Republicanism - In this form of government, citizens elect representatives to make laws.
6. Separation of Powers - This is the basis for dividing the government into three branches.
7. Federalism - This system assigns some powers to the national government and other powers to the states.
Term? / Minimum Age? / Citizen? / How many? / Article? / Laws?House of Representatives / 2 years / 25 / For at least 7 years / 435 / 1 / Create
Senate / 6 years / 30 / For at least 9 years / 100 / 1 / Create
President / 4 years / 35 / Must be natural born / 1 / 2 / Enforce
Supreme Court / Life / None / No / 9 / 3 / Interpret
Directions: Choose between the Senate, the House of Representatives, Both (Congress), and the President.
Who has the power to…
8. … make treaties with foreign governments? President
9. … nominate candidates for the Supreme Court? President
10. … approve Presidential nominations? Senate
11. … approve or veto (reject) bills passed by Congress? President
12. … command the armed forces (Commander-in-Chief)? President
13. …make/pass laws? Congress
14. …declare war? Congress
15. …act as jury in an impeachment trial? Senate
16. …impeach the President? House of Representatives
Checks and Balances
17. How can the legislative branch check the power of the executive branch?
- Approve Presidential nomination
- Impeach the President
- Override a veto (with 2/3 vote in both houses)
18. How can the legislative branch check the power of the judicial branch?
- Approve judicial appointments (made by the President)
- Impeach judges
19. How can the executive branch check the power of the legislative branch?
- Can sign or veto bills
20. How can the executive branch check the power of the judicial branch?
- Nominates judges
21. How can the judicial branch check the power of the legislative branch?
- Can declare judicial acts unconstitutional
22. How can the judicial branch check the power of the executive branch?
- Can declare Presidential acts unconstitutional
Federalism
Directions: Choose between the national (federal) government, the state, or both (shared powers).
23. Establish Schools – state
24. Build Roads– both
25. Levy/Collect Taxes – both
26. Create a postal system – national government
27. Establish local governments – state
28. Print and coin money – national government
29. Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
30. Describe the “elastic clause”:
Also known as the “necessary and proper clause,” allows Congress to pass laws necessary to do its job.
Example: Laws regarding the internet. The founding fathers could never have predicted the invention of the internet and therefore, the “elastic clause” would enable the government to make laws regarding the internet and still maintain the guidelines of the Constitution.