Unit 3- The Constitution (Notes) Flashcards
(17 cards)
What does the constitution do
Sets out the line of basic principles upon which the government in the U.S was built
Why is the Constitution a “fairly brief document”
The framers left it vague to allow flexibility to meet changing times
How is the constitution organized
Into Eight sections:
- The Preamble
- The Seven Articles
- Followed by the 27 Amendments
What is Article one about and what does it do
The legislative branch; It creates a bicameral congress and a House of Reps. and a Senate, and it MAKES LAWS
What is Article two about and what does it do, who is it run by, and what does it include
The executive branch; It ENFORCES LAWS; the President runs it; and it includes all federal law enforcement agencies (FBI, CIA, FDA, etc.)
What is Article three about and what does it do and who is the head of it
The judicial branch; It INTERPERETS LAWS; headed by the supreme court; it is the national court system
What are the six basic principles in the constitution
- Popular Sovereignty
- Limited Government
- Separation of Powers
- Checks and Balances
- Judicial Review
- Federalism
What quote demonstrates Popular sovereignty
“Government can only exist with the consent of the governed”
The principle of popular sovereignty asserts that…
The people are the source of any and all government power
The principle of limited government states that…
The government is restricted in what it may do, and each…(?)
What is the Rule Of Law
The government and its officers are not above the law and must obey it
Separation of powers is the…
Principle in which the executive and legislative and judicial branches of government are three independent and co-equal branchs of government
Checks and Balances is the…
System that allows the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to check, or restrain, the actions of one another
The principle of Judicial review consists of…
The power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action
Federalism is…
A system of government in which powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments
Does the Constitution provide for its own amendment?
Yes
Explain how the written works of the Constitution can be changed
Article V sets up the proposal and ratification of formal Amendments- changing the written works of the constitution
