Name ______Date ______Block _____

Pre-Diploma 10 – AP U.S. Government

U.S. Constitution Study Guide

Summer Assignment – 2017

The U.S. Constitution Website =

Directions: Answer each of the following questions by reading the U.S. Constitution on the website provided above. Write your answers directly on this handout.

PART I: THE PREAMBLE

We the ______of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect ______, establish ______, insure domestic ______, provide for the common ______, promote the general ______, and secure the Blessings of ______to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this ______for the United States of America.

PART II: THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION

  1. Outline the general purpose of each article of the Constitution.

Article I
Article II
Article III
Article IV
Article V
Article VI
Article VII
  1. Compare Article I with Article II. Which article is longer and more detailed? ______
  1. List the three qualifications for a member of the House of Representatives. (Article I, Section 2) ______
  1. List the three qualifications for a member of the Senate (Article I, Section 3) ______
  1. List two powers denied to Congress in the Constitution. (Article I, Section 9) ______
  1. List two powers denied to the states in the Constitution. (Article I, Section 10) ______
  1. List the three qualifications for the president of the United States. (Article II, Section 1) ______
  1. The powers of the Constitution that are specifically granted to the branches of government or to office holders are called expressed powers.
  1. List four expressed powers granted to Congress. (Article I, Section 8)

______

  1. List two expressed powers granted to the president. (Article II, Section 2) ______
  1. List one expressed power granted to the Vice President of the United States. (Article I, Section 3) ______
  1. According to the principle of checks and balances, each branch of the government must have some control over the other branches. Look at the first three articles of the Constitution and identify one of each type of checks and balances. Indicate where each power is listed in the Constitution.
  1. A power that the executive branch has over the legislative branch: ______

This power can be found in what article and section of the Constitution? ______

  1. A power that the executive branch holds over the judicial branch: ______

This power can be found in what article and section of the Constitution? ______

  1. A power that the legislative branch holds over the executive branch: ______

This power can be found in what article and section of the Constitution? ______

  1. A power that the legislative branch holds over the judicial branch: ______

This power can be found in what article and section of the Constitution? ______

  1. A power that the judicial branch holds over the executive branch: ______

This power can be found in what article/section of the Constitution? ______

  1. A power that the judicial branch holds over the legislative branch: ______

This power can be found in what article/section of the Constitution? ______

  1. The court of original jurisdiction is the first court that hears a case. Appellate courts hear cases on appeal from lower courts. Although the Supreme Court functions primarily as an appellate court, it is the court of original jurisdiction in certain kinds of cases. In what three cases does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction? (Article III, Section 2)

______

  1. According to Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, who has the power to declare war?

______

  1. According to Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, who is Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States?

______

PART III: IMPORTANT CLAUSES

  1. Describe the “commerce” clause. (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) ______
  1. Describe the “necessary and proper” clause. (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) ______
  1. Describe the “supremacy” clause. (Article VI, Clause 2) ______
  1. Do the commerce, necessary and proper, and supremacy clauses EXPAND or RESTRICT the federal government’s power? ______
  1. Article I, Section 9 prohibits Congress from suspending the privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require. What is a writ of habeas corpus? ______
  1. Article I, Section 9 prohibits Congress from passing bills of attainder and ex post facto laws. What is a bill of attainder? ______What is an ex post facto law? ______
  1. Describe the “full, faith, and credit” clause. (Article IV, Section 1) ______
  1. There are two “due process” clauses located in two separate amendments. List the two amendments with “due process” clauses. ______
  1. The “equal protection” clause is located in what amendment? ______

PART IV: MAJORITY AND SUPERMAJORITY

The Constitution requires a simple majority for some actions and a supermajority for others. A simple majority means more than half (over 50%), while supermajority requirements can involve a 2/3 majority or a 3/4 majority. Most elections in the United States require a plurality, or the most votes, but not necessarily a majority.

  1. Overriding a Presidential Veto (Article I, Section 7)
  2. What two bodies have the power to override a presidential veto? ______
  3. What margin is required to override a presidential veto? ______
  1. Ratifying Treaties (Article II, Section 2)
  2. What body has the power to ratify (formally approve) treaties? ______
  3. What margin is required to ratify treaties? ______
  1. Impeachment (Article I, Sections 2 and 3)
  2. What body has the sole power of impeachment? ______
  3. What margin is required to impeach? ______
  4. What body has the power to try all impeachments? ______
  5. What is margin is required to convict? ______
  1. Judicial Nominations (Article II, Section 2)
  2. What body has the power to accept or reject a president’s nominations to the Supreme Court? ______
  3. What margin is required to accept a president’s nominee to the Supreme Court? ______
  1. Amending the Constitution (Article V)
  2. How can Congress propose an amendment to the Constitution? ______
  3. How is an amendment ratified? ______

Part V: THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Some parts of the Constitution require a simple majority, others a supermajority, while still others protect citizens from the will of the majority. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights protect citizens from the will of the majority. In other words, no majority could vote to take these rights away. Read each amendment to the Constitution and answer the questions below.

1. Outline the general purpose of all 27 Amendments.

Amendment 1
Amendment 2
Amendment 3
Amendment 4
Amendment 5
Amendment 6
Amendment 7
Amendment 8
Amendment 9
Amendment 10
Amendment 11
Amendment 12
Amendment 13
Amendment 14
Amendment 15
Amendment 16
Amendment 17
Amendment 18
Amendment 19
Amendment 20
Amendment 21
Amendment 22
Amendment 23
Amendment 24
Amendment 25
Amendment 26
Amendment 27

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