Chapter 3

Question 1

What is the constitution

Answer 1

Nation’s Fundamental law - “supreme law of the land,” Rules book we as a country live by

Question 2

What is the constitution’s greatest strength?

Answer 2

Its flexibility - Ability to adapt and change over time

Question 3

Make up - 3 parts

Answer 3

• Introduction (preamble)
• 7 Articles
• 27 formal amendments

Question 4

7 articles/chapters:

Answer 4

• Creates the legislative branch
• Creates the Executive branch
• Creates the Judicial branch
• Relationship among states and the federal government - federalism
• Amending the Constitution
• Supremacy Clause
• Ratifying the Constitution

Question 5

The Constitution is built on 6 basic principles:

Answer 5

• Popular sovereignty
• Limited Government
• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances
• Judicial Review
• Federalism

Question 6

Popular sovereignty

Answer 6

people are the source of its power “We the people…”

Question 7

Limited government

Answer 7

government is not all powerful

Question 8

what is our limited government based on?

Answer 8

The rule of law

Question 9

the rule of law:

Answer 9

that everyone is subject to and never above the law including the government

Question 10

Separation of Powers

Answer 10

The power that is granted to the government is shared by 3 branches

Question 11

Checks and Balances

Answer 11

Each branch is subject to restraints and checks of the other two

Question 12

judicial review

Answer 12

power of the courts to determine whether what the government is doing is according to the Constitution

Question 13

Federalism

Answer 13

division of power between the Federal/National government and the local/state governments

Question 14

Process of constitutional change: 2 ways

Answer 14

• Formal amendment
• Informal amendment

Question 15

Formal Amendment:

Answer 15

change in the written wording of the constitution (permanent)

Question 16

What must happen always for a formal amendment to be adopted?

Answer 16

1. Proposed
2. Ratified
3. Always proposed on a national level (2/3 majority)
4. always ratified on a state level (3/4 majority)

Question 17

Why is the process of ratifying a formal amendment so difficult

Answer 17

because if it wasn’t then it would happen all the time

Question 18

what are the 11th-27th amendments?

Answer 18

11th: Immunity of states to certain lawsuits
12th amendment: Changes in how president/vice president are chosen
13th amendment: abolished slavery
14th amendment: states every person born in USA is a US citizen with equal protection under the law (to incorporate former slaves)
15th amendment: no denial of the right to vote - gave right to vote to African Americans
13th 14th and 15th - Civil War amendments
16th amendment: Federal income tax
17th amendment: popular (people) election of senators
18th amendment: prohibition of alcohol - “noble experiment”
19th amendment: women’s suffrage (right to vote)
20th amendment: date changes in congressional and presidential terms (from march to january)
21st amendment: repeal of prohibition (only amendment repealed)
22nd amendment: Presidential term limits (2)
23rd amendment: D.C. gets votes in the Electoral College
24th amendment: ban on poll taxes
25th amendment: sets up presidential succession and disability
26th amendment: 18 year olds get voting rights
27th amendment: congressional pay change (one of the original bill of rights proposed by Madison in 1789)

Question 19

11th amendment

Answer 19

immunity of states to certain lawsuits

Question 20

12th amendment:

Answer 20

Changes in how president/vice president are chosen

Question 21

13th amendment:

Answer 21

abolished slavery

Question 22

14th amendment:

Answer 22

states every person born in USA is a US citizen with equal protection under the law (to incorporate former slaves)

Question 23

15th amendment

Answer 23

no denial of the right to vote - gave right to vote to African American

Question 24

13th 14th and 15th

Answer 24

Civil War amendments

Question 25

16th amendment

Answer 25

Federal income tax

Question 26

17th amendment:

Answer 26

popular (people) election of senators

Question 27

18th amendment:

Answer 27

prohibition of alcohol - “noble experiment”

Question 28

19th amendment:

Answer 28

women’s suffrage (right to vote)

Question 29

20th amendment:

Answer 29

date changes in congressional and presidential terms (from march to january)

Question 30

21st amendment:

Answer 30

repeal of prohibition (only amendment repealed)

Question 31

22nd amendment:

Answer 31

Presidential term limits (2)

Question 32

23rd amendment:

Answer 32

D.C. gets votes in the Electoral College

Question 33

24th amendment:

Answer 33

ban on poll taxes

Question 34

25th amendment:

Answer 34

sets up presidential succession and disability

Question 35

26th amendment:

Answer 35

18 year olds get voting rights

Question 36

27th amendment:

Answer 36

congressional pay change (one of the original bill of rights proposed by Madison in 1789)

Question 37

Informal amendments:

Answer 37

Day to day changes made over time (not written) - mostly temporary

Question 38

Five basic ways to bring about informal amendments:

Answer 38

• Basic Legislation
• Executive Action
• Courts decisions
• Party Practice
• Custom

Question 39

Basic Legislation:

Answer 39

Everytime Congress passes a law

Question 40

Executive Action:

Answer 40

Powers granted to the president (executives’ agreements)

Question 41

Courts decisions:

Answer 41

the nations courts determine the constitutionality of cases

Question 42

Party Practice:

Answer 42

ideas brought forth by political parties

Question 43

Custom:

Answer 43

unwritten traditions

Question 44

only amendment to be repealed:

Answer 44

21st amendment repealed the 18th