U.s. Constitution Flashcards #1

Front 1

An amendment to the Constitution must pass by what minimum margins?

Back 1

A 2/3 majority in the House and Senate and adoption by at least 3/4 of the states - a signature by the president is not required.

Front 2

When the Constitution was first ratified, how were U.S. Senators elected?

Back 2

Senators were chosen by a vote of the legislators at each state's capital.

Front 3

The U.S. Constitution creates what kind of government?

Back 3

a republic (representative democracy)

Front 4

The Constitution requires Congress to be assembled how often?

Back 4

at least once each year

Front 5

The relationship - the distribution of power - between the national government and the states is called

Back 5

federalism

Front 6

Laws which require people to forfeit their freedom, their rights or their property - without a trial - are called bills of ___?___ .

Back 6

attainder

Front 7

Laws which take effect before they are passed by a legislature are called

Back 7

ex post facto laws.

Front 8

As designed by the Constitution, presidents are directly elected by which group of people?

Back 8

the Electoral College

Front 9

The Constitution allows the president to make treaties and agreements with foreign powers, provided that 2/3 of the ___?___ agrees.

Back 9

Senate

Front 10

True or False?
The Constitution has always granted Congress the power to regulate trade between the states (called interstate trade).

Back 10

True. The Constitution also says - in the same sentence - that Congress can regulate trade with foreign nations, and "among the Indian tribes..."

Front 11

Under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, if the President and Vice President die suddenly, which official becomes President?

Back 11

the Speaker of the House

Front 12

If the Electoral College cannot choose a President (it takes a majority vote), which group of people then picks the President?

Back 12

the House of Representatives

Front 13

If the Electoral College cannot choose a Vice President (it takes a majority vote), which group of people then picks the Vice President?

Back 13

the Senate

Front 14

According to the Constitution, who has the right to be leader of that part of the military employed in the service of the United States?

Back 14

the President

Front 15

the head of the U.S. Supreme Court is called the

Back 15

Chief Justice

Front 16

In the United States, what is the "supreme law of the land"?

Back 16

the U.S. Constitution

Front 17

True or False?
Under the Constitution of the U.S., state governments are allowed to pass laws that are completely against the Constitution or federal laws.

Back 17

False. The national government and Constitution is "supreme" over the state governments and state constitutions, so state laws cannot violate the U.S. Constitution or laws passed by Congress.

Front 18

What part of the U.S. Constitution protects people's freedom of speech, their rights when accused of a crime, and prohibits torture?

Back 18

the Bill of Rights

Front 19

The Bill of Rights includes how many constitutional amendments?

Back 19

It is the first 10 amendments

Front 20

The only official duty, or job, of the Vice President is to be the presiding official in the

Back 20

Senate

Front 21

How many U.S. Senators are elected from each state?

Back 21

2 Senators

Front 22

How is the number of Representatives from each state determined?

Back 22

by the population of each state - as determined by the census every ten years

Front 23

Each state is guaranteed a certain (minimum) number of votes in the Electoral College. What is that number?

Back 23

3 electoral votes is the minimum number per state

Front 24

True or False?
The main idea of the Preamble to the Constitution can be summed up as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Back 24

False. The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is a quote from the Declaration of Independence.

Front 25

Who in the United States government has the power to declare war on another country?

Back 25

Congress

Front 26

Who is often called the Father of the Constitution?

Back 26

James Madison

Front 27

Why is James Madison often called the Father of the Constitution?

Back 27

He came to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia prepared with numerous ideas, suggestions, and plans - far more than others had planned for.

Front 28

The officer who presides over the Senate when the Vice-President in not in attendance is called the

Back 28

president pro tempore - he or she is the temporary presiding officer

Front 29

If the President, Vice President, and Speaker of the House all died suddenly, what official would become President of the U.S.?

Back 29

The President Pro Tempore of the Senate becomes President in the line of succession.

Front 30

Who has the sole power to impeach officials of the federal government?

Back 30

the House of Representatives

Front 31

The writ of ___?___ prevents people being held in prison indefinitely without being accused of a crime.

Back 31

habeas corpus

Front 32

The Sixteenth Amendment changed the Constitution by making what kind of taxes possible?

Back 32

income taxes

Front 33

The executive branch's power to refuse to sign a bill into law is called a presidential

Back 33

veto

Front 34

Article II of the U.S. Constitution establishes which branch of the government?

Back 34

the executive branch

Front 35

The term meaning the President is head of all American armed forces is

Back 35

commander-in-chief

Front 36

In the line of presidential succession, the person who is next in line after the President Pro Tempore is the

Back 36

Secretary of State

Front 37

Treaties with other nations must be approved by what "fraction" of a vote in the Senate?

Back 37

a 2/3 vote

Front 38

What clause in the Constitution guarantees that marriages, divorces, wills, and legal contracts made in one state are legal in another?

Back 38

The Full Faith and Credit Clause

Front 39

How long does a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court remain a member of the Court?

Back 39

for life, as long as they maintain good behavior

Front 40

True or False?
All judges of the U.S. federal judicial branch can be impeached by the House of Representatives for bribery or other "high crimes and misdemeanors."

Back 40

True

Front 41

Members of the President's Cabinet are appointed by the President with the "advice and consent" of the

Back 41

Senate

Front 42

The authority of the Supreme Court or any court to be the first to hear certain cases.is called ___?___ jurisdiction.

Back 42

original jurisdiction

Front 43

The power of the Supreme Court to judge the constitutionality of an action by the executive or legislative branches is called judicial ___?___ .

Back 43

judicial review

Front 44

The Fifth Amendment guarantees these rights during legal proceedings.

Back 44

due process, or due process of law - that the laws, and the process by which they are carried out, are fair to all

Front 45

After a federal officeholder is impeached, this group has the sole power to try the case (to hold a trial).

Back 45

the Senate

Front 46

The Second Amendment provides for the right to bear arms and “a well regulated”

Back 46

militia - today's National Guard

Front 47

The Establishment Clause is located where and deals with what?

Back 47

located in the 1st Amendment, deals with religious freedom (prohibits government from establishing an official religion or setting up religious practices)

Front 48

The Congress can grant these protections of intellectual property.

Back 48

copyrights and/or patents

Front 49

Government’s right to take away private property with just compensation is called

Back 49

eminent domain

Front 50

What qualifications did the Constitution ratified in 1787 impose for voting?

Back 50

None - it left voting requirements up to the states.

Front 51

A court order allowing an individual or his property to be searched or seized is called a(n)

Back 51

warrant

Front 52

Which amendment guarantees freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and the right to protest against the government?

Back 52

1st Amendment

Front 53

Every two years, what fraction of the U.S. Senate seats go up for election?

Back 53

1/3 of the seats

Front 54

True or False?
According to the Constitution, rules for naturalization and citizenship are made by the states.

Back 54

False

Front 55

The Constitution requires the Senate and House of Representatives to have at least a simple majority of the members present in order to do official business. This simple majority is referred to as a

Back 55

quorum

Front 56

Bills that propose taxes or government spending must start in the

Back 56

House of Representatives

Front 57

The longest possible time a person could now serve as President is how many years?

Back 57

Ten years

Front 58

In order to be elected to the presidency, a person must have lived in the U.S. at least how many years?

Back 58

14 years

Front 59

True or False?
Nobody holding a United States office shall ever have to pass a religious test.

Back 59

True

Front 60

Invoking the Fifth Amendment means that an accused person

Back 60

refuses to testify against himself/herself.

Front 61

The major department head who is appointed by the President to deal with foreign countries is the

Back 61

Secretary of State

Front 62

Amendment 17 of the Constitution changed the election of Senators from state legislators to whom?

Back 62

the people

Front 63

Congress can pass laws over the President's veto if both Houses vote in a super-majority of at least (what fraction?).

Back 63

two-thirds

Front 64

After a bill has been sent to the President, it becomes a law if he does not send it back within ___?___ days.

Back 64

ten days

Front 65

True or False?
Federalism refers to the relationship between the national government and the states.

Back 65

True

Front 66

True or False?
The number of presidential electors a state gets is the same as the total number of its Senators and Representatives.

Back 66

True

Front 67

At precisely noon on what month and day does the 20th Amendment say a president's term of office begins?

Back 67

January 20th

Front 68

True or False?
The Constitution allows Congress to lay a tax on goods sent from one state to another.

Back 68

False

Front 69

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is chosen during a vote by the

Back 69

membership of the House of Representatives

Front 70

EXTRA CREDIT!
He was Vice President during the Bill Clinton administration. Who was he? (last name)

Back 70

Vice President Al GORE

Front 71

He was Vice President during both terms of the George W. Bush administration. Who was he? (last name)

Back 71

Vice President Dick Cheney

Front 72

EXTRA CREDIT!
He is the supposed "front-runner" in the current race for the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2012. Who is he? (last name)

Back 72

Mitt ROMNEY

Front 73

EXTRA CREDIT!
This is Robert Gates. His job is to offer national defense policymaking advice to President Obama and to implement those policies that are adopted by the President. What is the title of his position in the U.S. Government?

Back 73

Robvert Gates is Secretary of Defense

Front 74

EXTRA CREDIT!
Hillary Clinton's job is to offer advice to the President regarding U.S. relations with other nations, and to implement those policies he adopts. What is the title of her position in the U.S. Government?

Back 74

Hillary Clinton is Secretary of State

Front 75

EXTRA CREDIT!
This man represents people who live in Missouri's Sixth Congressional District, has been a member of the House of Representatives since January 3, 2001. Who is he? (last name)

Back 75

Sam Graves represents the 6th Congressional District - including residents of Clay County.

Front 76

EXTRA CREDIT!
This is the Governor of Missouri. He was elected in 2008, and is expected to run for re-election in 2012. Who is he? (last name)

Back 76

Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon is Governor of Missouri

Front 77

EXTRA CREDIT!
This is Mark Funkhouser. What elective position does he now hold in Missouri?

Back 77

Mark Funkhouser is the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri

Front 78

EXTRA CREDIT!
This is Dan Quayle. He was Vice President during which president's first - and only - term of office?

Back 78

Quayle was Vice President during the first Bush administration - President George H.W. Bush.

Front 79

EXTRA CREDIT!
This is John Boehner. He gets emotional, often in public. What is his current job in the U.S. government?

Back 79

Boehner is a Representative from Ohio, and is the current Speaker of the House

Front 80

EXTRA CREDIT!
This is Vice President George H.W. Bush. During which President's two terms of office was he vice president?

Back 80

Ronald Reagan

Front 81

EXTRA CREDIT!
Eric Cantor, Representative from Virginia's 7th District, is now the #2 most powerful Republican leader in the House. What is his job title?

Back 81

Representative Cantor is now the House Majority Leader

Front 82

EXTRA CREDIT!
Nancy Pelosi is no longer Speaker of the House, but remains #1 most powerful Democratic Party leader, there. What is her current job title?

Back 82

Representative Pelosi is now the Minority Leader in the House

Front 83

EXTRA CREDIT!
In what year was the U.S. Constitution written?

Back 83

1787

Front 84

EXTRA CREDIT!
In what year was the U.S. Constitution ratified?

Back 84

1788

Front 85

EXTRA CREDIT!
This is John Roberts, appointed by President George W. Bush to the Supreme Court. He is the head of the court. What is his job title?

Back 85

Supreme Court Chief Justice

Front 86

At the Constitutional Convention this compromise between northern states and southern states led to this: slaves could be counted for taxes as well as for representation in Congress

Back 86

the Three-Fifths Compromise

Front 87

By September of 1787, this group of political leaders led the argument against ratifying the newly-signed Constitution.

Back 87

the Anti-Federalists

Front 88

By September of 1787, this group of political leaders led the argument in favor of ratifying the newly-signed Constitution.

Back 88

the Federalists

Front 89

This powerful politician from New York state was the leader of the Federalists and one of the three authors of The Federalist Papers.

Back 89

Alexander Hamilton

Front 90

This compromise at the Constitutional Convention led the delegates to agree to a bicameral national legislature - the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Back 90

the Great Compromise, sometimes called the Connecticut Compromise

Front 91

A compromise between the northern and southern states led to the prohibition of WHAT, by 1808?

Back 91

the prohibition of importing more slaves from outside the U.S. after 1808

Front 92

This Article of the Constitution created the Executive Branch of the national government

Back 92

Article Two

Front 93

This Article of the Constitution created the Legislative Branch of the national government

Back 93

Article One

Front 94

This Article of the Constitution created the Judicial Branch of the national government

Back 94

Article Three

Front 95

These members of the Congress are elected to a six-year term of office

Back 95

Senators

Front 96

This collection of essays written anonymously by three prominent politians of the period, and published in newspapers, supported the ratification of the newly-written Constitution

Back 96

the Federalist, or Federalist Papers

Front 97

The Constitution requires that Congress do this every ten years after a census is taken

Back 97

reapportionment of the seats in the House of Representatives

Front 98

After the Congress reapportions the seats among the states every ten years, Missouri's state lawmakers have to do this if the state gains or loses members of the U.S. Congress

Back 98

state legislators redistrict the state's congressional districts to reflect a gain or a loss in the number of Representatives the state has in the U.S. House

Front 99

The term for dividing governmental powers between the national government and the states is called this

Back 99

federalism

Front 100

The term for pitting the three branches of government against each other, so that no one branch becomes super powerful, is called

Back 100

checks and balances