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19 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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1. Why is the Constitution called a "living document"? |
because it the architects of the document intended for it to be adapted by future generations |
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2. Why did the delegates start the Preamble to the Constitution with the words "We, the people"? |
without the people lending that power, the United States Constitution would not have been able to become the guideline for the Republican government we have today. |
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3. What is the primary work of Congress? |
The most important responsibility of Congress is that of making the laws of the United States. |
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4. What is the final step before a national bill becomes a law? |
If the president vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to "override the veto." If both the Senate and the House pass the bill by a two-thirds majority, the president's veto is overruled and the bill becomes a law. |
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5. Why does each state have two senators? |
“The Senate shall be composed of two senators from each state” appears to be a single provision, the designated number of senators per state. Delegates agreed to this number, however, only after they had considered a larger matter: legislative representation. |
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6. What is the purpose of the system of checks and balances? |
The system of checks and balances is an important part of the Constitution. With checks and balances, each of the three branches of government can limit the powers of the others. This way, no one branch becomes too powerful. |
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7. What are the duties of the executive branch? |
The executive branch of the U.S. government is responsible for enforcing laws; its power is vested in the President. |
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8. What are the responsibilities of the judicial branch? |
The Supreme Court's role is to interpret the Constitution and limit the powers of the other branches of government. The Supreme Court's power to do this is its power of judicial review, where it determines which laws and policies are constitutional, or allowable, and which are not. |
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9. How can the US population directly participate in government? |
we vote |
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10. Which powers are shared by state and national governments |
Collect taxes Build roads Borrow money Establish courts Make and enforce laws Charter banks and corporations Spend money for the general welfare |
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11. What refers to the sharing of power between national and state governments? |
People also take part in government indirectly through interest groups. There are interest groups for almost any issue that people might care about. Some interest groups represent businesses, industries, and workers. Some represent groups of people, such as churchgoers, women, or minorities. Some are organized around issues, such as the environment or health care. |
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12. An amendment to the Constitution can be ratified by three-fourths of who? |
The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures. |
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13. Who can propose an amendment to the Constitution? |
The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures. |
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14. What is the "supreme law of the land"? |
Constitution |
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16. How does the president balance the power of Congress? |
The President checks Congress when he vetoes a bill. Congress can check him if a 2/3 majority votes to override his veto. The President decides what money is needed for each government department. He prepares a budget and shows it to Congress. |
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17. How does the Supreme Court prevent the president and Congress from abusing their power? |
reject treaties and laws that are unconstitutional |
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18. How does Congress check the power of the president? |
override vetoes |
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19. How has or has not the Constitution created a more perfect union? |
freedom |
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20. What is democracy? Do we really live in a democratic society? Why or why not? |
It is a form of society which favors equal rights, freedom of speech and a fair trial and tolerates the views of minorities. |
