US Government Structure and Amendments

Questions and Answers

What was the main purpose of the Thirteenth Amendment?

To abolish slavery and give Congress the power to make sure that slavery wouldn't exist in the United States or its territories.

Controls given to one branch of government to limit the power of another are known as?

Checks and balances

What are the three branches of government in the United States?

Executive (President), Judicial (Supreme Court and other courts), and Legislative (Senate and House of Representatives).

The Eighteenth Amendment 'prohibition' was repealed by the ________ Amendment?

Twenty-First Signup and view all the answers

A bicameral legislature features?

A lower and upper house. Signup and view all the answers

The New Jersey plan called for?

Several executives, each with limited authority, and a legislature where each state had a single vote. Signup and view all the answers

What is the separation of powers?

The powers of government divided among three groups. Signup and view all the answers

The right to petition members of the government is contained in the _____ Amendment of the Constitution.

First Signup and view all the answers

The governmental body responsible for interpreting the Constitution are known as?

The Judicial branch. Signup and view all the answers

A Senator's term runs for __ years.

Six Signup and view all the answers

Who were the Anti-Federalists?

Those who opposed the Constitution because they saw themselves as citizens of the state, not the country. Signup and view all the answers

What were the Articles of Confederation?

They gave the government power to declare war and enter treaties but not levy taxes, leading to a weak central government. Signup and view all the answers

In light of Amendment VI, a 1963 Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainwright specified?

A person who can't afford a lawyer must have one provided. Signup and view all the answers

Although it seemed quite important in 1788, Amendment ______, barring the quartering of soldiers in private homes is outdated today.

III (the Third Amendment). Signup and view all the answers

Who proposed the ideas for the compromise that was eventually adopted in drafting the Constitution?

Roger Sherman Signup and view all the answers

Under article ______ of the Constitution, the laws of Congress and all treaties are the laws of the land.

VI (Article Six). Signup and view all the answers

In 1900, how were members of the United States Senate chosen?

They were elected by their state legislatures. Signup and view all the answers

Supporters of the New Jersey Plan called for a legislature in which each state had?

One vote. Signup and view all the answers

The idea that people within a state should determine the laws within that state is referred to as?

Popular Sovereignty. Signup and view all the answers

What is federalism?

The basic idea of federalism is that power is shared between a central government and state governments. Signup and view all the answers

If a bill passes both the Senate and the House of Representatives and is then sent to the President who does not sign the bill within ten days, what happens to the bill?

The bill is vetoed. Signup and view all the answers

The original purpose of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was to?

Revise the Articles of Confederation. Signup and view all the answers

When you buy a U.S. government savings bond, you're doing so under the power given to Congress to?

Borrow money. Signup and view all the answers

Shays' Rebellion encouraged national leaders to?

Seek alternatives to the Articles of Confederation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the age requirement to run for Senate?

30 Signup and view all the answers

What is the age requirement to run for a member of the House of Representatives?

25 Signup and view all the answers

Which Amendment of the Constitution states that we have the right to bear arms?

Amendment II (The Second Amendment). Signup and view all the answers

What was Shays' Rebellion and what did it support?

An uprising in Massachusetts that supported farmers whose land was being unfairly confiscated by the state over debt. Signup and view all the answers

In 1787 delegates from all 13 states met in Philadelphia except for?

Rhode Island. Signup and view all the answers

Which Amendment was the only one to have been ratified by approval of conventions in three-fourths of the states?

Amendment XXI (The Twenty-First Amendment). Signup and view all the answers

Which principle of Amendment V states that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime?

The second principle. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Thirteenth Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States and its territories.
Granted Congress the power to enforce abolition.

Checks and Balances

Mechanism to limit the powers of government branches against one another.

Three Branches of Government

Executive: Led by the President.
Judicial: Comprised of the Supreme Court and other courts.
Legislative: Includes the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Eighteenth and Twenty-First Amendments

Eighteenth Amendment initiated Prohibition.
Twenty-First Amendment repealed the Eighteenth.

Bicameral Legislature

Features both lower and upper houses.
Representatives based on state population.
Upper house elected by lower house, and the president is chosen by the legislature.

New Jersey Plan

Proposed multiple executives with limited powers.
Advocated for a single vote per state in legislature.

Separation of Powers

Division of governmental powers into three distinct branches.

Right to Petition

Enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Judicial Branch

Responsible for interpreting the Constitution.

Senate Term Length

Senators serve a term of six years.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed the Constitution, viewing themselves as state citizens rather than federal.
Concerned about the central government's excessive power.

Articles of Confederation

Allowed the government to declare war and enter treaties but lacked taxing power.
Resulted in a weakened central government.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Supreme Court ruling that mandated provision of legal counsel for those unable to afford it.

Third Amendment

Addresses quartering of soldiers in private homes and is considered outdated today.

Roger Sherman

Proposed ideas for compromises adopted in the drafting of the Constitution.

Article VI of the Constitution

Declares that laws made by Congress and treaties are supreme law of the land.

Election of Senators (1900)

Senators were chosen by state legislatures, not by public vote.

Popular Sovereignty

Principle that the people of a state should have the authority to make local laws.

Federalism

Power distribution between national and state governments.

Bill Process

If a bill is not signed by the President within ten days after passing both chambers, it is effectively vetoed.

Constitutional Convention of 1787

Initially convened to amend the Articles of Confederation.

U.S. Government Savings Bonds

Purchasing bonds reflects Congress's power to borrow money.

Shays' Rebellion

Uprising in Massachusetts highlighting the struggles of indebted farmers.
Prompted national leaders to reconsider the Articles of Confederation.

Age Requirement for Senate

Must be at least 30 years old.

Age Requirement for House of Representatives

Must be at least 25 years old.

Second Amendment

Protects the right to bear arms.

Delegates at Constitutional Convention (1787)

All 13 states participated except Rhode Island.

Ratification by State Conventions

Twenty-first Amendment uniquely ratified through conventions in three-fourths of the states.

Double Jeopardy

Second principle of the Fifth Amendment bars an individual from being tried twice for the same crime.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts in the structure of the U.S. government, including the Thirteenth Amendment, checks and balances, and the three branches of government. It also covers significant amendments such as the Eighteenth and Twenty-First. Test your understanding of these foundational elements of American governance.