Analysis of the Constitution

Analysis of the Constitution

1. List the six purposes of the delegates in making a constitution (Preamble)

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2. The Constitution is divided into ____ Articles; each article is divided into______; and each of these is divided into paragraphs. There is also another division at the end for there are ______Amendments. The purpose of this department is to make______.

Article I

1. All legislative power is vested in______which consists of a ______and a ______.

2. The House of Representatives:

A How are the candidates in the House elected? ______

How often? ______

The word “electors” means ______.

B What regulations govern the election of the members of the House?

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C What is their term of office? ______

D Representation is based on ______. The House has ______

members fixed by law. In order to determine the population a census is taken every ten years. Why? ______When was the first census taken? ______; the last census? ______; the next census? ____

The Speaker of the House is the ______.

E What does the phrase “all other persons” mean in Article 1, Section 2, Paragraph 3? ______

F How is the Speaker of the House chosen? ______

G What power over civil officers is given to the House? ______
______H What is a synonym for “impeach”? ______

I Who may be impeached? ______For what crimes? ______

3. The Senate:

A What is the total number of senators in the Senate? ______

B How are they chosen and how long is their term of office? ______

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C What qualifications are required to be a candidate for the Senate?

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D What official is always head officer of the Senate? ______

E The Senate shall have sole power to try all cases of ______

but it can never sentence a person. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of what percentage of the senators? ______Who presides when the president of the United States is tried? ______Why?______
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4. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the ______Why? ______

5. After a bill has passed both housed by a majority vote, and is sent to the President, what three possibilities are there for its becoming a law? (Article 1, Section 7, Paragraph 2)

(1) ______

(2) ______

(3) ______

Explain: plurality ______

simple majority ______

6. What is a “pocket veto”? ______

7. What does the word “veto” mean? ______

8. List the powers given to the Congress (enumerated powers):

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9. What is the exact wording of the implied powers clause? ______

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Another word for “implied powers clause” is ______

10. What does the Constitution say about?

A habeas corpus ______

B Bill of Attainder ______

C Ex post facto ______

D Export tax ______

E Titles of nobility ______

11. List five specific prohibitions on the states:

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Article II

Article II deals with the ______. The purpose of this department is to ______the laws.

1. Executive poser is vested in the______and his/her ______

2. Compare the original method of electing the President and Vice-President with that provided by Amendment XII. ______

3. What is the meaning of “electoral college”? ______

When are the electors chosen? ______

When do they vote? ______

4. List the qualifications of the President as specified in the Constitution.

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5. List the powers given to the President:

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6. What are the President’s duties?

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Article III

Article III deals with the______. The purpose of this department is to______the laws.

1. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one ______Court. The personnel of this court consists of one______and eight______, appointed by the ______and confirmed by the ______.

2. Who creates the inferior courts? ______

3. All judges shall hold office during ______.

4. Define the word “jurisdiction”: ______

5. The Supreme Court has two kinds of jurisdiction:

A ______which means it can try all cases dealing with such subjects as ______.

B ______which means it may try (if the judge so decides) all cases that rightfully appealed to it; for example, with cases dealing with such subjects as:

______.

6. Why does the Constitution carefully define treason?

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A How is treason defined in the Constitution? ______

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B How may persons be convicted of treason? ______

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Article IV Relations of the states to one another

1. What dose the Constitution say about a fugitive from justice? (extradition)

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2. What does the Constitution say about persons “held in service or labor” who escapes into another state? ______

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3. The Constitution provides that new states may be admitted on what terms? ______

4. What would happen if any state attempted to set up a government adverse to our republican form? ______

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Article V Amending the Constitution

What are the four possible methods by which the Constitution may be amended?

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Article VI Supremacy of National Law

1. What does the Constitution say about debts contracted before the adoption of the Constitution? ______

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2. What does the Constitution say will constitute the supreme law of the land?

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3. By what device was the Constitution made binding upon the officials of the various states? ______

Article VII Ratification of the Constitution

1. How many states had to ratify the Constitution and by what method? ______

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2.What was the first state to ratify and on what date? ______

3. What was the ninth state to ratify and on what date? ______

4. What was the last state to ratify and on what date? ______

5. How was the public opinion in New York state changed? ______

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6. What three men deserve special credit for this? ______

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7. What was the chief reason for the reluctance in many states before they would ratify the Constitution? ______

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8. Name each state in the order in which they ratified the Constitution and give the date each ratified it:

1.______8.______

2. ______9. ______

3. ______10. ______

4. ______11. ______

5. ______12. ______

6. ______13. ______

7. ______

Amendments

1. The first ten amendments are known as the______. They were collectively added to the Constitution in what year? ______

2. Amendment I guarantees what civil liberties? ______

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3. What are the two provisions governing the quartering of troops in private homes?

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4. What provision is made against another possible “writ of assistance” menace?

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5. What does Amendment X say? ______
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It is also called the ______amendment.

6. Amendments 13, 14, and 15 were passed, in part, as a result of the Civil War. Briefly state what each provides and record the date it was ratified.

13______

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14______

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15______

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7. Amendments 16, 17, 18, and 19 were ratified during the Progressive Period. State the provisions and dates of these changes in the Constitution.

16 ______
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17 ______

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18 ______

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19 ______

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8. The 20th Amendment provides for the term of the President and Vice President shall begin on______and the term of a member of Congress shall start on______. This is the so-called “Lame Duck Amendment”. Why? ______

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9. State the provisions of the following amendments:

21st ______

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22nd ______
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23rd ______

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24th ______

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25th ______

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26th ______

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27th______

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