US History

CONSTITUTION TEST REVIEW
1.  What was our first constitution?
2.  Why did we need a new constitution?
3.  What are the Bill of Rights?
4.  How many branches of government are there, what are they, what is their function, and who makes up each branch?
5.  How many articles in the Constitution?
6.  How many amendments?
7.  Which house must tax bills be started (revenue)?
8.  What is the term of a Senator, House of Representative, President, Judge?
9.  What are qualifications of Senator, House of Representative, President, Judge?
10.  How many Representatives do each state get?  How many Senators?
11.  How is Speaker of the House chosen?
12.  Who elects the Senators?
13.  What two ways can a bill become a law without the Presidents signature?
14.  Who has power to coin money?
15.  Who can declare war?
16.  What is a writ of habeas corpus?
17.  What is a bill of attainder?
18.  What is an ex post facto law?
19.  How are the number of electoral votes a state gets determined?
20.  Who is next in line for president if the President and Vice President  can’t serve?
21.  Who has power to make treaties, who has to approve the treaties?
22.  Everyone is guaranteed a trial by __________ if they have committed a crime
23.  To propose an amendment, you need how many (%),    to ratify an amendment you need what percent and from whom?
24.  To search a persons property or house they must have what?
25.  The court may not take a man’s life without what?
26.  If there is no majority of electoral votes, who chooses the president?
27.  What is a citizen of the U.S.?
28.  What is the Elastic Clause?
29.  What does amendment #5 guarantee?
30.  What does the sixteenth amendment do?
31.  What does the first amendment do?
32.  Who appoints members of the Supreme Court?
33.  At what age can one vote in the U.S.?
34.  What does the 24th amendment do?
35.  Which amendment is the only one to be repealed? what does it say?  which one repealed it?  what does it say?
36.  Know what popular sovereignty, federalism, checks and balances, limited government, and separation of powers  all mean  (the five principles of government)
37.  How many states had to ratify the Constitution according to article 7?
38.  How many years is the President limited to?  how many terms?
39.  Who becomes president if the President dies?
40.  Who impeaches an official,  who acts as jury?
41.  What did the 19th amendment do?
42.  Which amendment abolished slavery?
43.  What percent must vote in order to convict an impeached official?
44.  What percent can Congress override a President’s veto?
45.  Who is the president of the Senate?
46.  Who gained the right to vote in the 15th amendment?
47.  The 4th article guarantees the people a republican form of government.  what does that mean?

2ND TEST
KNOW THE DEFINITIONS TO THE FOLLOWING WORDS OR TERMS OR WHAT THEY DO

checks and balances            separation of powers                 limited government
Judicial Review                     supremacy of national law         impeach
Popular Sovereignty             federalism                                  amendments

Know the Preamble or the six goals of the Constitution — Be able to use those goals with examples.

Be able to use the five principles of government with examples.

KNOW THE DATES OF  THE FOLLOWING EVENTS (Chronological Order):

Declaration of Independence                       End of the Revolutionary War
Bill of Rights added to the Constitution       Articles of Confederation adopted
The Constitution is written

Know what Enumerated Powers, Reserved Powers, and Concurrent Powers are and what powers belong to each.

ESSAY
Know the 1st Amendment
Know the 2nd Amendment
Know the 4th Amendment
Know the 5th Amendment
Electoral College method of voting for President
Great Compromise (New Jersey & Virginia Plans)
Government’s method of checks and balances

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION — Must be proposed by Congress with 2/3 vote of each house.
RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION — 3/4 State Legislatures must approve.

27 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

1.  Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, petition for redress
2.  Bear Arms
3.  No lodging of troops in homes without consent of owner
4.  Search and Seizure – Protection from unreasonable searches.  A search and seizure is permitted only if a judge has issued a warrant.
5.  Rights of Accused – Must be an indictment (formal accusation) from a grand jury.
Double Jeopardy – cant be tried for the same crime twice unless a legal error.
Person on trial can’t be forced to testify.  All entitled to due process of law, government can not take property unless they show a need and compensate fairly
6.  Speedy trial by jury- An impartial jury is guaranteed to all.
7.  Jury trial in civil cases – Right to a trial by jury if more than $20.00.
Appeals court cannot change a verdict because it disagrees with verdict of jury.
8.  Bail and Punishment — No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment.
9.  Powers reserved to people – People have rights that are not listed in the Constitution.
10.  Powers reserved to states – Powers not given to Federal Government belongs to the states.
11.  Suits against states – citizens from one state can not sue the government of another state in Federal Court, they can sue a state government in a state court.
12.  Election of President and Vice President – Electoral College, House of Rep. decides Pres. if no majority, Senate elects V.P. if no majority.
13.  Abolition of Slavery – Freed all slaves and outlaws involuntary servitude.
14.  Rights of Citizens – Defines citizens, prohibits states from denying rights of citizenship and protection to all, replaces 3/5 Compromise.
15.  Voting Rights – All men over 21 can vote (blacks).
16.  Income tax – Collect taxes on people’s income.
17.  Direct Election of Senators – Senators are now elected by the people.
18.  Prohibition of Alcoholic beverages – Banned making, selling or transporting alcohol in U.S.
19.  Women’s Suffrage – Women gain the right to vote
20.  Presidential terms – President’s term ends the 20th of January at noon.  Senators and House of Rep. terms end on 3rd of Jan. at noon.
21.  Repeal of Prohibition – Alcohol is now legal.
22.  Limit on President’s terms – Pres. can only serve 2 terms.
23.  Presidential electors for District of Columbia – Residents of D.C. have the right to vote in Presidential elections (3 votes).
24.  Abolition of Poll tax in National Elections (poll tax is a tax on voters) – Cannot charge a tax on voters.  Used to keep blacks from voting.
25.  Presidential Succession and Disability – In case of death or resignation of Pres., V.P. becomes Pres.  In sickness, V.P. can act for Pres.
26.  Voting age lowered to 18
27.  Congressional Salaries – Congress cannot give themselves a raise while in office, it would take affect the next session of Congress.

CONSTITUTION NOTES
(Preamble, Principles, & Articles)

The Constitution is the fundamental law of the United States.  It provides an
outline for the organization and for the operation of the National Government.

The Constitution consists of a short Preamble and seven Articles or major parts.

The Preamble states the general goals of the governmental system formed by the Constitution.

PREAMBLE
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.

PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT
1.  Popular Sovereignty – People hold the power and use their power by voting.
2.  Limited Power of Government – The idea that the government is not all powerful and that they must obey the law.  Keeps the government from becoming too powerful.
3.  Federalism – Division of powers between the National and State Government.
A.  Enumerated Powers – Powers held only by the National Government
B.  Reserved Powers – Powers held only by the State Government
C.  Concurrent Powers – Powers held by both the National & State Governments.

4.  Separation of Powers – Each branch has their own responsibilities and powers.
5.  Checks and Balances – The idea that each branch can check the other branches to keep them in check and from becoming too powerful.
6.  Republicanism – People elect representatives to govern for them.
7.  Individual Liberties – All Americans are guaranteed basic rights & freedoms.

ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I –  Describes the Legislative (Congress).
ARTICLE II – Describes the Executive Branch (President).
ARTICLE III – Describes the Judicial (Supreme Court & Courts)
ARTICLE IV – Describes relations among the states.
ARTICLE V – Describes the process for amending the Constitution.
ARTICLE VI – Lists general provisions, Supremacy Clause, and President’s oath of office.
ARTICLE VII – Describes the ratification process of the Constitution.