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The U.S. Constitution:Breaking It DownFor assistance, see the text of the Constitution in your textbook and/or consult “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.”Explain the meaning or significance of the underlined words above:“We the people” _________________________________________________________“a more perfect union” _____________________________________________________“domestic tranquility” ______________________________________________________“common defense” ________________________________________________________“general welfare” ________________________________________________________“liberty” ________________________________________________________________“posterity” ______________________________________________________________Identify a term or concept in the Preamble related toindividualism and individual rights ____________________________________________community and the common good _____________________________________________Which of the two concepts above do you think is dominant in the preamble? Explain. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Article I: Legislative BranchWhy do you think the founding fathers describe the powers of the legislative in the very first article of the Constitution? _______________________________________________Sec. 1: The duty of the legislative branch is to _________ the lawSec 2: The lower house of Congress is called the _________________________________Sec. 2: How were slaves (“other persons”) counted for purposes of Congressional apportionment? ___________________________________________________________Sec. 2: How frequently is a census taken to reapportion seats in this house? ____________Sec. 2 What is this house’s role in impeachment of judges and the president? __________ ________________________________________________________________________Sec. 3: The upper house of Congress is called the ________________________________Sec. 3: What is this house’s role in impeachment of judges and the president? __________ ________________________________________________________________________Sec. 7: Why is it often said that Congress, especially the House, has the “power of the purse”? _________________________________________________________________Sec. 7: How can Congress override the president’s veto of a bill? ____________________Sec. 8: In general, what differences do you see in the powers granted to Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution versus the powers granted to Congress under the Articles of Confederation? __________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________Sec. 8: Why do you think that Congressional powers of taxation, foreign trade and interstate commerce are enumerated before its other powers in Section 8? ____________ ________________________________________________________________________Sec. 8: What is the role of Congress in war and national defense? ___________________ ________________________________________________________________________Sec. 8: Why do you think the “necessary and proper” clause is sometimes called the “elastic clause”? __________________________________________________________Sec. 9: What is the first year allowed under the Constitution in which Congress may ban the importation of slaves? ________. Roughly how long after the drafting of the Constitution was this year? _____________________Sec. 9: Research and explain the concept of habeas corpus. ________________________ ________________________________________________________________________Sec. 9: Under what circumstances may habeas corpus be suspended? ________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Sec. 9: Research and explain the concept of a bill of attainder. _____________________ ________________________________________________________________________Sec. 9: Research and explain the concept of an ex post facto law. ___________________ ________________________________________________________________________Sec. 9: May states impose tariffs on each other’s goods? __________________________Sec. 9: Why do you think that Congress is prohibited from bestowing titles of nobility and accept such titles from foreign countries? _______________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________Article II: Executive BranchWhy do you think the powers of the executive branch are outlined in Article II rather than in Article I? ______________________________________________________________Sec. 1: The chief executive of the United States is the ______________; the second in command is the _________________Sec. 1: Briefly explain the Electoral College: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Sec. 1: When the president takes the Oath of Office, he is primarily pledging to protect and defend the _____________________ of the United States.Sec. 2: What is the role of the president with regard to the military? _________________ ________________________________________________________________________Sec. 2: With which house of Congress must the president work to approve treaties? _____ How many votes from that house are required to ratify a treaty? ___________________Sec. 3: What is the name of the speech given by the president inform Congress and recommend new legislation? _________________________________________________Sec. 3: Give an example of an “extraordinary circumstance” in which you think the president might convene an emergency session of Congress. ________________________ ________________________________________________________________________Sec. 4: What are the three legal grounds for impeachment of the president? __________ ________________________________________________________________________Article III: Judicial BranchSec. 1: What is the name of the highest court in the United States? ___________________Sec. 2: What term describes cases which are first heard in the nation’s highest court (without having been appealed from lower courts)? ______________________________Sec. 3: How is treason defined? ______________________________________________Sec. 3: Why do you think that a conviction of treason requires the testimony of more than one witness, even though conviction for other crimes have no such requirement? _________ ________________________________________________________________________Article IV: The StatesSec. 1: Research and explain the meaning of “full faith and credit” in the relationships between states. ___________________________________________________________Sec. 1-Sec. 2: Give an example of a state action or grant of “privileges and immunities” that might require full faith and credit elsewhere. ________________________________Sec. 2: Research and explain the concept of “extradition” in relation to fleeing criminals and fugitive slaves. ________________________________________________________Sec. 3: Which branch of government controls the admission of new states to the United States? _________________________________________________________________Article V: Amendment ProcessWhat are the two ways to propose a constitutional amendment?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What are the two ways to ratify a constitutional amendment?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Article VI: National SupremacySec. 1: What event do you think had sent U.S. into debt prior to 1787? _______________Sec. 2: What are the two supreme “laws of the land”? ____________________________Sec. 3: When the congressmen, the president and judges take the Oath of Office, they must swear to protect and defend the _________________ of the United States.Sec. 3: Why do you think the Constitution forbids a “religious test” in order to hold office? ________________________________________________________________________Article VII: Ratification ProcessHow many states (out of original 13) had to approve the Constitution before it could take effect? 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