AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICSName______

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

Review the Constitution in your text or on your Constitution app and complete the following outline:

  1. ARTICLE I – THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

CONGRESS = ______MEMBERS


2.ARTICLE II – THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

3.ARTICLE III – THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

4.Identify and explain the purpose of each of the following Articles:

Article IV –

Article V –

Article VI –

Article VII –

5.The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are LIMITS on the power of the federal government and are known as the BILL OF RIGHTS. Describe the rights protected by each of these amendments below.

1st Amendment –

2nd Amendment –

3rd Amendment –

4th Amendment –

5th Amendment

6th Amendment –

7th Amendment –

8th Amendment –

9th Amendment –

10th Amendment

6.a)How many total amendments are there to the Constitution?

b)What is the oldest amendment to the Constitution?

7.Identify and describe the later amendments that grant suffrage.

8.What is the only amendment to ever be repealed and which amendment repealed it?

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS Name______

Date ______

ARTICLE V – THE AMENDING PROCESS; AMENDMENTS

Read the section of the Constitution below and answer the following questions.

Article V

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all Intents an Purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress: Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article, and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage.

1.What are the two methods in Article V of proposing constitutional amendments?

a.

b.

2.What are the two methods in Article V of ratifying constitutional amendments?

a.

b.

3.What is the role of the President in amending the Constitution?

4.What is the role of the Supreme Court in amending the Constitution?

5.Explain, in your own words (and not just by reference to the constitutional cite), the areas in which the Constitution cannot be amended according to Article V.


CHECKS & BALANCES

Listed below are specific checks by which one branch of government can exert some

control – a check – over another branch. Write who is applying the check on who

in the space provided. Write “E” for executive, “J” for judicial, & “L” for legislative.

For example, E over J (executive over judicial).

1. Remove judges from office______

2. Veto bills______

3. Appoint judges______

4. Override veto______

5. Control the budget______

6. Declare a law unconstitutional______

7. Grant a pardon or reprieve______

8. Propose an amendment______

9. Replace some existing Courts______

10.Confirm appointments;______

ratify treaties

11.Declare the President’s actions

unconstitutional______