Test on Notes for US Constitution

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Questions and Answers

Who acts as the commander in chief of the military?

The Vice President

The Supreme Court

The President (correct)

The Congress

Article 3 of the Constitution establishes the Legislative Branch.

False (B)

What guarantees the right to bear arms?

2nd Amendment

The _____ Amendment abolished slavery.

13th Signup and view all the answers

Match the amendments to their descriptions:

1st Amendment = Right to bear arms 4th Amendment = Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures 6th Amendment = Right to a fair trial 10th Amendment = Powers to states not delegated to the federal government Signup and view all the answers

Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

26th Amendment (A) Signup and view all the answers

The Bill of Rights consists of the first 15 amendments to the Constitution.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Article 5 of the Constitution?

To establish the process for amending the Constitution Signup and view all the answers

The federal government is considered _____ to the states when laws conflict.

superior Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following amendments granted women the right to vote?

19th Amendment (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason for creating the Articles of Confederation?

To establish a weak central government and prioritize state autonomy (A) Signup and view all the answers

The original Articles of Confederation proved effective in addressing challenges faced by the young nation.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What were the three key principles incorporated into the Constitution to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful?

Separation of powers, checks and balances, and the Bill of Rights Signup and view all the answers

The first part of the Constitution, known as the _____, outlines the document's purpose and the goals of the government.

Preamble Signup and view all the answers

Match the following Articles of the Constitution with their descriptions:

Article 1 = Establishes the legislative branch, Congress Article 2 = Establishes the executive branch, the presidency Article 3 = Establishes the judicial branch, the Supreme Court Article 4 = Outlines the relationships between states Article 5 = Describes the process for amending the Constitution Article 6 = Ensures the Supremacy Clause, making the Constitution the supreme law of the land Article 7 = Describes the ratification process for the Constitution Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of the legislative branch?

Appointing federal judges (A) Signup and view all the answers

The House of Representatives provides equal representation to all states, regardless of population.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the system of government where legislative power is divided between two chambers, like in the U.S. Congress?

Bicameral Signup and view all the answers

The President, as head of the ______ branch, enforces the laws passed by Congress.

Executive Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Bill of Rights?

To ensure individual freedoms and rights that the government cannot take away (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Articles of Confederation

Initial governing document of the US
Created a weak central government due to fear of tyranny
Ineffective in coordinating the states, protecting freedoms, and maintaining a strong economy

United States Constitution

Established a stronger federal government
Implemented separation of powers and checks and balances to prevent concentration of power
Includes individual rights through the Bill of Rights
Three main parts: Preamble, Articles, and Amendments

Preamble

Outlines the purposes of the Constitution and government
Emphasizes a stronger union and protection of liberty

Articles

Define the structure of the government
Article 1: Legislative Branch
- Creates a bicameral (two-house) legislature: House of Representatives (representation based on population) and Senate (equal representation for each state)
- House members serve 2 years, Senators 6 years
- Congress makes laws, manages finances, conducts foreign affairs, and sets up courts
Article 2: Executive Branch
- Establishes the President and Vice President as the executive power
- Presidential duties include commanding the military, negotiating treaties, and appointing officials
Article 3: Judicial Branch
- Creates federal courts to interpret laws
- Courts review lower court decisions and ensure laws comply with the Constitution
Article 4: State Relations
- Ensures cooperation and mutual respect among states
Article 5: Amending the Constitution
- Defines the process for altering the Constitution
Article 6: Supremacy Clause
- Establishes the federal government's supremacy over state laws if there's a conflict
- Acknowledges prior national debt
Article 7: Ratification
- Outlines the process for approving the Constitution

Amendments

Changes to the Constitution
Bill of Rights (first 10 Amendments):
- Protects fundamental rights like freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to bear arms, a fair trial
- Ensures protections against governmental intrusion on individual liberties
Subsequent Amendments:
- Expanding individual freedoms and rights (e.g., abolishing slavery, granting voting rights to women and lowering the voting age)(13th, 19th, 26th)

Key Concepts

Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Bicameral legislature
Bill of Rights

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Description

This quiz explores the foundational documents of the United States, including the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of these documents, the structure of government they established, and the importance of the Bill of Rights. Test your understanding of key concepts such as separation of powers and the legislative process.