Constitution Test Review Guide and Questions



Constitution Test Questions Review Guide

Name________________

Hour___

TEST DATE: Tuesday, November 10th

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR STUDY:

Class Notes—

• The US Constitution and its structure notes--Where would you find it in the Constitution?

• The Constitution’s principles and checks and balances

• The Constitutional Principle of Federalism

• The Constitutional Basis of Federalism—McCulloch v. Maryland

• Interpreting the Constitution

• Amending the Constitution

Class worksheets—

• Chapter 3 Sections 3 and 4 questions

• Federalism: who holds the power?

• Constitution application activity (Will get to use on the test!)

TEST FORM: Fill in the blank and short answer/application questions

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Write out the Preamble to the Constitution. (This will be fill in the blank on the test!)

We the people 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.

2. Fill out the following outline for the structure of the Constitution {remember the Constitution has three main parts}

PART I) _____ The Preamble ___________________

Purpose: Sets the goals for the United States Government

PART II) The Articles

Purpose: Sets the structure of the U.S. government and how it will work.

A. ARTICLE I Purpose: Sets the duties of legislative branch

B. ARTICLE II Purpose: Sets the duties of the executive branch

C. ARTICLE III Purpose: Sets the duties of the judicial branch

D. ARTICLE IV Purpose: Explains state to state and state to nation relationship

E. ARTICLE V Purpose: Sets the amendment process

F. ARTICLE VI Purpose: Supremacy clause (the Constitution is the supreme

Law of the land)

G. ARTICLE VII Purpose: Sets number of state needed for ratification

PART III) ____________ The Amendments ________________________

Purpose: Allows the Constitution to change if needed

3. List and explain briefly the six principles upon which our Constitution is based.

Popular sovereignty --The idea that the government lies with the people

Limited Government --The government can only do what the people allows it to so

Rule of Law --The law applies to everyone, even the governed

Separation of Powers—Government powers should be split between different branches

Checks and Balances—Government divisions check and balance the power of the others

Federalism—Local, State and Federal government work together to provide for citizens

4. What is the concept of checks and balances? Checks and balances is like a

big game of _______ Rock, paper scissors _____________.

Fill in this chart showing the powers involved with checks and balances

| | | |

|Legislative branch |Executive branch |Judicial branch |

| |*Can impeach |*Can impeach |

|Powers over other two |*Can override a veto |*Can reject judicial appointment |

|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX |*Can reject treaties and appointments | |

| | | |

| | | |

| |Powers over other two | |

|Can veto legislation |XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX |Appoints judges |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Can declare actions unconstitutional |Can declare laws and actions unconstitutional |Powers over other two |

| | |XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX |

| | | |

5. Fill in the following chart explaining governmental powers in the United States

| | | | |

| |Name given to powers |Example of the power |Source of the example power |

|Type of powers | | | |

| | | | |

|Powers of the Federal Government|EXPRESSED |Coin money |Article 1 section 8 |

| | | |(CLAUSE #5) |

| | | | |

|Powers of the State Government |RESERVED |Set speed limits |Amendment 10 |

| | | |Amendment 10 |

|Powers of both the Federal and |CONCURRENT |Raise taxes | |

|State Government | | |Article 1 section 8 |

| | | |Clause (#1) |

| | | | |

|Powers of the Federal government| |Create a space program |Article 1 section 8 |

|not state in the Constitution |IMPLIED | |Clause18 |

6. Define federalism. What does it mean to say that federalism allows for diversity, but provides for unity?

Federalism is the sharing of powers between different levels of government. This sharing allows states to make their own unique rules and laws, but also allows the states to be united in order to provide for the unity and support of the United States government

7. Fill in the following outline of how to amend the Constitution.

STEP I) Proposing and amendment

Or

Method - 1) 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress

Method – 2) Constitutional convention called at request of 2/3 of the states

STEP II) Ratifying and amendment

Method – 1) ¾ of state legislatures approve

Or

Method) ratifying convention with ¾ state approval

8. How is the Amendment process an example of federalism?

Amendments are proposed at the federal level and then passed on to the states for ratification. Both governments work together to pass amendments to the Constitution

9. What is the purpose of the “necessary and proper clause”? What is another name given to this clause? Give one example of how this clause works.

The necessary and proper clause (a.k.a. the elastic clause) allows Congress the ability to do what is not written specifically in the Constitution so that it may carry out the powers that are listed. For example, the Congress has the power to coin money, so it is implied that the Congress should be able to charter a bank.

10. What is the purpose of the “wild card” clause? Who does this clause apply to? Give one example of how this clause works.

The “wild card” clause allows the President the ability to carry out powers not listed in the Constitution that may benefit the people. For example, the National Security Agency was created to protect citizens from possible terrorist and security threats.

Also could use an executive order to act on immigration without Congressional approval

11. How do the “elastic” and “wild card” clauses act as informal amendments to the Constitution?

With actually changing or amending the Constitution, both clauses allow the President and Congress to take actions not specifically listed in the Constitution when needed.

12. What two questions were brought before the US Supreme Court in McCulloch v. Maryland? What was the Court’s response to each question? What parts of the Constitution were called into question in this case?

1. Can the Congress charter a bank? The Court said yes it could through the implied power given in the elastic clause of the Constitution.

2. Can a state tax the federal government? The Court said no because the federal government and its laws and Constitution are supreme to any state government, law and Constitution.

The necessary and proper (elastic) clause, the 10th Amendment and the Supremacy clause were all questioned by the court in this case.

13. Describe the two ways of interpreting the Constitution we discussed in class. Use the terms judicial restraint, judicial activism, loose, strict, conservative judges, liberal judges, Originalism and Living Text in your response.

Originalism interpretation is a strict way of viewing the Constitution where the document is interpreted for its original meaning. They use judicial restraint so they do not change policy through their decisions. This view is practiced by conservative justices.

Living text interpretation is a loose way of viewing the Constitution so that the document can be adapted and read for a more modern meaning. They use judicial activism to change policy through their decisions. This view is practiced by liberal justices.

14. What does it mean to say that our Constitution is “living”?

The Constitution is (1) actively used and (2) its meaning interpreted differently for modern times and concerns.

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