Constitution Bowl Flashcards
(137 cards)
1
Q
How were delegates to the Constitutional Convention chosen?
A
They were appointed by the legislatures of the different States.
2
Q
Which State did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
A
Rhode Island.
3
Q
Where did the delegates of the Constitutional convention assemble (city and state)?
A
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4
Q
True or False: the delegates kept the proceedings of the Constitutional convention secret?
A
True.
5
Q
What was the average age of the deputies to the Constitutional Convention?
A
About 44.
6
Q
Who was the oldest member of the Constitutional Convention?
A
Benjamin Franklin
7
Q
Were there any members of the Constitutional Convention who never attended any of its meetings?
A
Yes. (There were nineteen who were never present. Some of these declined, others merely neglected the duty.)
7
Q
How many members of the Constitutional Convention had been members of the Continental Congress?
A
Forty, and two others were later members.
8
Q
Who was called the “Sage of the Constitutional Convention”?
A
Benjamin Franklin, of Pennsylvania.
9
Q
Who was called the “Father of the Constitution”?
A
James Madison, of Virginia.
10
Q
Was Thomas Jefferson a member of the Constitutional Convention?
A
No. Jefferson was American Minister to France at the time of the Constitutional Convention.
11
Q
Who presided over the Constitutional Convention?
A
George Washington.
12
Q
How long did it take to draft the Constitution?
A
It was drafted in fewer than one hundred working days.
13
Q
Who presented the Virginia Plan?
A
Edmund Randolph.
14
Q
What is the name of the first great compromise of the Constitutional Convention, whereby it was agreed that in the Senate each State should have two members, and that in the House the number of Representatives was to be based upon population?
A
The Connecticut Compromise.
15
Q
What is the name of the compromise made by the delegates of the Constitutional convention that determined that three out of every five slaves was counted when determining a state’s total population for legislative representation and taxation?
A
The three-fifths compromise.
16
Q
How many delegates refused to sign the Constitution?
A
Three. Randolph and Mason, of Virginia, and Gerry, of Massachusetts.
17
Q
How many delegates signed the Constitution?
A
Thirty-nine.
18
Q
The vote of how many States was necessary to ratify the Constitution?
A
Nine (Art. VII).
19
Q
What year was the Constitution written?
A
1787
20
Q
About how many of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional convention owned slaves?
A
25
21
Q
In the course of ratification, how many amendments were proposed by the different State conventions?
A
124
22
Q
Name all three authors of the Federalist Papers.
A
James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton.
23
Q
What was the pen name the three authors of the Federalist Papers used?
A
Publius.
24
What was the first state to ratify the Constitution?
Delaware.
25
How is membership in the House of Representatives determined?
State population.
26
How long after the signing of the Constitution was it ratified by 9 of the 13 states?
10 months.
27
Were there any anti-federalist papers published?
Yes (but they were not a unified series like the federalist papers).
28
According to the National Archives, which book influenced the Framers of the Constitution the most?
Montesquieu's Spirit of Laws
29
Name one significant right or principle established in Magna Carta.
No new taxes unless a common counsel agrees; All free men have the right to justice and a fair trial with a jury (due process); The Monarch doesn’t have absolute power. The Law is above all men and applies to everyone equally (the rule of law); All free citizens can own and inherit property; Widows who own property don’t have to remarry; Church rights are protected
30
Which philosopher argued that people possessed the fundamental rights to life, liberty and property and that it was the government's duty to protect these rights?
John Locke.
31
Which philosopher argued that the natural state of humans was conflict and anarchy and a powerful monarchy was the best form of government?
Thomas Hobbes.
32
Which philosopher argued that the best form of government was one in which the legislative, executive, and judicial powers were separate and kept each other in check?
Montesquieu.
33
According to the preamble, what do the people hope to form?
A more perfect union.
34
According to the preamble, what do the people hope to establish?
Justice.
35
According to the preamble, what do the people hope to insure?
Domestic tranquility.
36
According to the preamble, what do the people hope to provide for?
The common defense.
37
According to the preamble, what do the people hope to promote?
The general welfare.
38
According to the preamble, what do the people hope to secure?
The blessings of liberty.
39
According to the preamble, for whom do the people hope to secure the blessings of liberty?
Themselves and their posterity.
40
Which article of the Constitution deals with the legislative branch?
Article 1.
41
How many senators is each state entitled to have?
2
42
How many senators currently serve in Congress?
100
43
How many representatives currently serve in Congress?
435
44
What is the minimum age requirement for a senator?
30
45
What is the minimum age requirement for a representative?
25
45
What's the nickname of Article 1, section 8, clause 3?
The Commerce clause.
45
How long is the term of a representative?
2 years.
46
Who has the power to declare war?
Congress.
46
How many years must a senator be a citizen before taking office?
Nine years.
46
How long is the term of a senator?
6 years.
47
Name both chambers of Congress.
The House of Representatives and the Senate.
48
How can Congress overcome a presidential veto?
Congress can pass bills over a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote in both chambers.
48
Which chamber of Congress tries all impeachments?
The Senate.
49
Before the introduction of the 17th Amendment, how were members of the Senate elected?
Direct vote by the state legislature.
50
Which article of the Constitution deals with the executive branch?
Article II.
50
What is the nickname of Article I, section 8, clause 18?
The necessary and proper clause, a.k.a. the elastic clause.
51
Who was the first president of the United States?
George Washington.
51
What is a presidential veto?
An action by which the president prevents an act passed by Congress from becoming law.
52
Who is the commander-in-chief of the U.S. military?
The President of the United States.
53
Who appoints ambassadors, federal judges, cabinet members, and specified officers in cabinet-level departments, independent agencies, the military services, the Foreign Service, and uniformed civilian services, as well as U.S. attorneys and U.S. marshals?
The President of the United States.
53
Who has the power to approve or deny presidential appointments?
The Senate.
54
What must the president give Congress information about "from time to time"?
The state of the union.
54
The president has power to grant pardons and reprieves for federal crimes except in cases of what?
Impeachment.
55
Who is the current president of the United States?
Joe Biden.
55
Name the impeachable offenses listed in Article 2, section 4.
Treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors.
56
How long is a president's term in office?
Four years.
57
How is the president elected?
By the electoral college.
57
How long must a president have been a U.S. citizen?
From birth.
58
What is the minimum age requirement of a U.S. president?
35
58
Who becomes president if the president can no longer serve?
The vice president.
59
In the oath of office, what does the president swear to "preserve, protect, and defend"?
The Constitution of the United States.
60
How long do supreme court justices serve in the supreme court?
"On good behavior." In other words, until they die, retire, or are removed from office.
60
What is the only court created by Article III of the Constitution?
The Supreme Court.
60
How many witnesses are required to convict someone of treason against the United States?
Two.
61
In the absence of witnesses, how else can an individual be convicted of treason?
Through confession in open court.
62
All crimes must be tried by jury except which cases?
Impeachment
63
If a person commits a crime in one of the 50 states, where must their trial be held?
In the state wherein the crime was committed
64
The power of the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of acts of the national and state governments is known as what?
Judicial Review
64
How many justices currently serve on the supreme court?
Nine.
64
How many justices must agree to hear a case before it can be argued before the Supreme Court?
At least four
65
Which article of the Constitution deals with relationship between the states?
Article IV.
65
What's the nickname of Article IV, section 1, clause 1?
The privileges and immunities clause.
66
What's the nickname of Article IV, section 2, clause 3?
The fugitive slave clause.
67
Which amendment rendered the fugitive slave clause null and void?
The thirteenth.
68
Name the six branches of the U.S. military (not including reserve forces or National Guard).
The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.
69
Who is the current vice president?
Kamala Harris.
69
How many executive departments are there?
15
69
Which article of the Constitution deals with the judicial branch?
Article III.
69
Which amendment rendered the fugitive slave clause null and void
The thirteenth.
69
What form of government does the Constitution guarantee to every state?
A republican form of government.
70
Who has to approve the formation of a new state within another state's boundaries?
Congress and the state legislatures of the states involved.
70
If a criminal flees the state in which they committed a crime and is found in another state, what must occur?
The state in which they are found must deliver them back to the state in which they committed the crime.
71
Which article of the Constitution contains the names of the delegates who signed it?
Article VII.
72
According to Article VII, what day was the Constitution signed?
September 17, 1787.
72
What state did George Washington represent at the Constitutional convention?
Virginia.
72
What state did Alexander Hamilton represent at the Constitutional convention?
New York.
73
What state did Benjamin Franklin represent at the Constitutional convention?
Pennsylvania.
73
What state did James Madison represent at the Constitutional convention?
Virginia.
73
Which state did Gouverneur Morris represent at the Constitutional convention?
Pennsylvania.
74
According to Article VII, how were the states supposed to ratify the Constitution?
Through ratifying conventions. (Nine states were required to ratify it in ratifying conventions.)
74
Which article of the Constitution deals with process of amending the Constitution?Which article of the Constitution deals with process of amending the Constitution?
Article V.
75
What fraction of votes is necessary to pass a Constitutional amendment in Congress?
Two thirds.
75
What fraction of the states is necessary to ratify a Constitutional amendment?
Three fourths.
76
Article V declared that Congress couldn't abolish the slave trade until what year?
1808
76
Besides Congress, who can propose amendments to the Constitution?
A convention (called by two thirds of the state legislatures).
77
Besides the state legislatures, who can ratify amendments to the Constitution?
Ratifying conventions (in three-fourths of the states).
77
Which article of the Constitution deals with debts, supremacy, and oaths of office?
Article VI.
77
Did the United States government still have to pay debts they entered into under the Articles of Confederation?
Yes.
77
What's the nickname of Article VI, clause 2?
The supremacy clause.
78
What does the supremacy clause do?
It establishes that the federal constitution and federal laws take precedence over state laws and constitutions. It prohibits states from interfering with the federal government's exercise of its constitutional powers, and from assuming any functions that are exclusively entrusted to the federal government.
79
What must all U.S. officers swear to do?
Support the Constitution.
79
What kind of test for officers of the U.S. is forbidden by Article VI?
A religious test.
79
What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution known as?
The Bill of Rights.
79
Which amendment protects religious freedom and the separation of church and state?
The first.
79
Which amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms?
The second.
79
Which amendment establishes eminent domain?
The fifth.
80
The Seventh Amendment protects the right to a trial by jury in civil cases where the amount in question is worth a certain amount of money. What is that amount?
Twenty dollars.
80
Which amendment says powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states?
The tenth.
80
How many Constitutional amendments are there in total?
Twenty-seven.
81
Before the twelfth amendment was ratified, how was the Vice President chosen?
Before the Twelfth Amendment, electors each had two votes - but they didn't specifically vote on who they wanted for Vice President. Instead, they chose their top two candidates for president, and the runner-up would become Vice President.
81
Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?
The thirteenth.
82
Which amendment declares that all people born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens?
The fourteenth.
82
Which amendments protects the voting rights of citizens regardless of race?
The fifteenth.
82
Before the seventeenth amendment was ratified, how were Senators elected?
Senators were chosen by the state legislatures.
82
Which supreme court decision established the principle of judicial review in the U.S.?
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
83
Which supreme court decision held that the state cannot hold prayers in public schools, even if participation is not required and the prayer is not tied to a particular religion?
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
84
Which supreme court decision held that religious schools couldn't receive government funding and also established the "Lemon test"?
Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
84
Which supreme court decision held that the burning of the flag is protected by the First Amendment?
Texas v. Johnson (1989)
84
Which supreme court decision held that states had no authority over Cherokee land ?
Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
84
Which supreme court decision held that it was unconstitutional to bar Mexican-Americans from serving on juries?
Hernandez v. Texas (1954)
85
Which supreme court decision held that denying couples the right to marry based on race is unconstitutional?
Loving v. Virginia (1967)
86
Which supreme court decision held that minors have the right to due process?
In re Gault (1967)
86
Which supreme court decision held that placing Japanese-Americans in internment camps was constitutional?
Korematsu v. United States (1944)
86
Which supreme court decision held that police must ensure defendants are aware of their rights before interrogating them?
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
87
Which supreme court decision held that illegally obtained material cannot be used in a criminal trial?
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
87
Which supreme court decision held that those who can't afford a lawyer must be provided with one for free in a criminal trial?
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
