US Constitution

Question 1

What is the supreme law of the land?

Answer 1

The United States Constitution.

Question 2

How is a vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives filled?

Answer 2

A special election is held in the state.

Question 3

By what means has the U.S. Constitution been changed since its adoption?

Answer 3

By amendment, court decisions, and presidential practices.

Question 4

What are two ways in which amendments to the U.S. Constitution may be proposed?

Answer 4

• Two-thirds vote of each house of Congress
• Convention called by two-thirds of the State Legislatures.

Question 5

Why are the first ten amendments to the Constitution collectively known as the ‘Bill of Rights’?

Answer 5

They guarantee certain personal rights that cannot be infringed upon.

Question 6

What basic freedoms are protected in the First Amendment?

Answer 6

• Freedom of religion
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of press
• Peaceable assembly
• Right to petition the Government.

Question 7

What is the purpose of the Amendments XIII, XIV, and XV?

Answer 7

These are considered the Civil War Amendments.

Question 8

What does the Thirteenth Amendment accomplish?

Answer 8

It abolished slavery.

Question 9

What does the Fourteenth Amendment achieve?

Answer 9

It grants citizenship to all persons born in the United States.

Question 10

What does the Fifteenth Amendment protect?

Answer 10

The right of citizens to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Question 11

What three restrictions on voting are forbidden in the Constitution?

Answer 11

• Race
• Color
• Sex.

Question 12

What is meant by naturalization?

Answer 12

The process by which a citizen of another nation becomes a citizen of the United States.

Question 13

What form of government is guaranteed to each state by the Federal Constitution?

Answer 13

A Republic form of government.

Question 14

How are new states admitted?

Answer 14

Congress has the authority to admit new states into the union.

Question 15

Where does a power reside when it is not delegated or prohibited by the Constitution?

Answer 15

These powers are reserved to the States or to the people.

Question 16

What are five powers forbidden to the states?

Answer 16

• Coining money
• Making treaties with foreign nations
• Declaring war
• Granting titles of nobility
• Passing ex-post facto laws.

Question 17

What is an ex-post facto law?

Answer 17

A law that inflicts a penalty or declares an act illegal after it has occurred.

Question 18

What are the functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government?

Answer 18

• Legislative – creates laws
• Executive – enforces laws
• Judicial – interprets laws.

Question 19

Which two bodies make up the Congress of the United States?

Answer 19

• U.S. House of Representatives
• U.S. Senate.

Question 20

When does Congress regularly meet?

Answer 20

On the third day of January each year.

Question 21

How are special sessions of Congress called?

Answer 21

By order of the President.

Question 22

What are the qualifications to be a member of the House of Representatives?

Answer 22

• At least twenty-five years of age
• U.S. citizenship for seven years
• Resident of the state from which chosen.

Question 23

What are the qualifications to be a member of the U.S. Senate?

Answer 23

• At least thirty years of age
• U.S. citizenship for nine years
• Resident of the state from which chosen.

Question 24

Who prescribes the times, places, and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives?

Answer 24

The legislature of each state.

Question 25

Who is the judge of the election returns and qualifications of members of Congress?

Answer 25

Each house of the U.S. Congress.

Question 26

How many senators are provided by the Constitution?

Answer 26

Two senators from each state.

Question 27

What are the terms of office for the House of Representatives and the Senate?

Answer 27

* House – two years * Senate – six years.

Question 28

Who presides over the House of Representatives?

Answer 28

The Speaker of the House.

Question 29

What are the specific powers vested in the Speaker of the House of Representatives?

Answer 29

* Assigns bills to committees * Controls debate in the House.

Question 30

What major powers are assigned to Congress by the U.S. Constitution?

Answer 30

* Laying and collection of taxes * Borrowing money * Regulating commerce * Coining money * Establishing post offices * Granting patents * Declaring war.

Question 31

What limits of powers have been placed on Congress?

Answer 31

* Suspending privilege of a writ of habeas corpus * Passing bills of attainder or ex-post facto laws * Granting titles of nobility * Giving commercial preference to any state * Taxing exports of any state.

Question 32

What is the 'implied powers clause' of the U.S. Constitution?

Answer 32

It gives Congress the authority to make laws necessary and proper for executing powers.

Question 33

What is the foundational basis for membership in the Presidential Cabinet?

Answer 33

Principal officers in each executive department appointed by the President.

Question 34

What are the President's legislative powers?

Answer 34

* Veto legislation * Present messages to Congress * Convene Congress in special sessions.

Question 35

What is meant by 'overriding' the President's veto?

Answer 35

Both Houses passing the vetoed measure by a two-thirds vote.

Question 36

What are three powers of the U.S. Senate not possessed by the U.S. House?

Answer 36

* Conduct impeachment trials * Ratify treaties * Approve presidential nominations.

Question 37

What is impeachment?

Answer 37

The process to remove an unfit government official from office.

Question 38

What penalty may be inflicted by the U.S. Senate during impeachment?

Answer 38

Removal from office and disqualification from holding office.

Question 39

Under what condition does the Vice-President of the United States have the power to vote in the Senate?

Answer 39

When the Senate is equally divided.

Question 40

How is money provided to carry on the business of the federal government?

Answer 40

Appropriations must be passed by Congress.

Question 41

Who is the head of the executive branch?

Answer 41

The President of the United States.

Question 42

What are the qualifications of the President?

Answer 42

* At least thirty-five years of age * Natural born citizen.

Question 43

Who elects the President?

Answer 43

Electors chosen by each state.

Question 44

How many members does each state have in the Electoral College?

Answer 44

Equal to the number of members in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Question 45

Who counts the votes for President and Vice-President?

Answer 45

The U.S. Congress.

Question 46

What is the term of office for the President and Vice-President?

Answer 46

Four years.

Question 47

What limit is set on the number of terms a President may serve?

Answer 47

A limit of two terms.

Question 48

When do the President and the Vice-President take office?

Answer 48

On January 20th following their election.

Question 49

What is the term for each Congress?

Answer 49

Two years, consisting of two sessions.

Question 50

What is the general method by which major appointments to federal offices are made?

Answer 50

Nominated by the President with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate.

Question 51

How may the President fill vacancies by appointment if the U.S. Senate is in recess?

Answer 51

By granting commissions that expire at the end of the next session.

Question 52

Who is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces?

Answer 52

The President.

Question 53

What are the President's Messages to Congress?

Answer 53

Annual advice regarding the state of the union and budget issues.

Question 54

What is the veto power of the President?

Answer 54

The power to nullify a bill passed by Congress.

Question 55

What emergency legislative power rests with the President?

Answer 55

The power to call special sessions of Congress.

Question 56

What judicial power is held by the President?

Answer 56

The power to grant reprieves and pardons.

Question 57

What is the right of eminent domain?

Answer 57

The power to take private property for public use with compensation.

Question 58

What does the judicial branch consist of?

Answer 58

The Supreme Court and inferior courts established by Congress.

Question 59

What positions constitute the members of the Supreme Court?

Answer 59

One Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.

Question 60

What power does the judicial branch have?

Answer 60

Interpreting the law.

Question 61

What is the term of office for a federal judge?

Answer 61

Appointments for life unless removed for cause.

Question 62

How could a justice of the Supreme Court be removed from office?

Answer 62

Through the impeachment process.

Question 63

What are six types of cases over which the federal courts have jurisdiction?

Answer 63

* Cases under the U.S. Constitution * Cases affecting ambassadors * Cases involving the United States * Cases between states * Cases between citizens of different states.

Question 64

In the event no candidate receives a simple majority vote in the Electoral College, how does Congress select the winner?

Answer 64

The House selects the President; the Senate selects the Vice-President.

Question 65

What is meant by original and appellate jurisdiction?

Answer 65

* Original jurisdiction applies to cases initially tried in court * Appellate jurisdiction applies to cases from lower courts.

Question 66

In what types of cases does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

Answer 66

* Cases affecting ambassadors * Cases involving two or more states.

Question 67

What is meant by a law being 'unconstitutional'?

Answer 67

A law deemed contrary to the provisions of the Constitution.

Question 68

What constitutes treason?

Answer 68

An act of war against the United States or aiding an enemy.

Question 69

If the President is tried for impeachment, who will preside?

Answer 69

The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Question 70

What freedoms are guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to a person accused of a crime?

Answer 70

* Indictment by a grand jury * No double jeopardy * No self-incrimination * Due process of law.

Question 71

In what cases is the right to trial by jury assured?

Answer 71

In all criminal prosecutions.