TH E LIV IN G

C O N S TITU TIO N
* A SS ESS M EN T

U.S.Constitution
Constitution in your book, page 82
Assessment, page 106

Article 1 Legislature
National legislature is called

Congress
Two houses
Senate equal representation, 2 members
from each state
House of Representatives proportional
representation, now for about every
600,000 people (Texas has 35
representatives)

Article 1 Legislature
1. Why does the legislative branch

more directly represent the people?

A. Think of how branches are
selected
B. Senate is now directly elected,
every
6 years
C. House of Representatives is
directly
elected whole House,
every 2 years

Article 1 Legislature
2. Why more Representatives than

Senators?
Answer House is proportional,
based on population, while each
state has only 2 senators.

Article 1 Legislature
3. Name four powers of Congress.

Answer See Section 8 of Article I

(page 88) it lists 18 enumerated
powers of Congress.
List 4.
. Tax, borrow money, regulate
commerce, coin money, establish
post offices, create federal courts,
declare war, raise an army, make
laws

Article 1 Legislature
4. What powers are denied to

Congress?
. Cant suspend habeas corpus,
illegally punish people, levy direct
taxes, levy export taxes on goods
from any state, take money from
treasury illegally, issue titles of
nobility (no kings in America)
. Denied to states? States cannot
enter treaties, coin money, levy

The Constitution
Article II The Executive Branch
(President)

Article II-Executive
5. Main function of the executive

branch?
Answer: To carry out the laws made
by Congress
Also to conduct foreign policy
Must follow the Constitution

Article II-Executive
6. Who officially elects the president?

Explain
Answer: The Electoral College
selects the president, by vote of the
states electors (see Article II,
section 1, paragraph 2 page 90)
Electors are elected by people in the
states

Article II-Executive
7. How can the president lose her/his

job before the next election?

Answer: Impeachment, as listed in
the Constitution.
Also death (which the Constitution
anticipated) or resignation (which
the Constitution does not mention)
Two other ways, in elections: Does
not run for re-election, or defeated
for re-election

Article III-Judiciary
8. How are Supreme Court Justices

appointed?
Answer: See Article II, Section 2,
Treaties and Appointments (page
91)
The president nominates federal
judges, with the advice and
consent of the Senate
In practice, president nominates,
Senate confirms

Article III-Judiciary
9. What kinds of cases does the

Supreme Court hear? Why is their

decision to hear a case important?
Answer: Generally, they hear
appeals of cases from the lower
federal courts a decision not to
hear a case means the lower courts
ruling stands, with no further appeal

Article IV The States

10.Extradition, means to send a

prisoner to another state for trial.

Why is this an example of state
relations?
It exemplifies (is a good example of)
cooperation among the states
Other ways states cooperate: State
compacts on river management;
State cooperation on commercial
laws

Article V -Am endm ent

11.How many states does it take to

ratify an amendment? Why that

many?
It takes of the states (we have 50
states; is 75%, or 38 states when
rounded to the whole number)
So many states are required to
make amendment difficult, to show
the gravity of amendments
(gravity=seriousness or

Article VI-Suprem acy

12.How does Article VI establish

supremacy of the Constitution?

ANSWER: It makes the Constitution
the supreme law of the land
All laws at every level of
government must uphold the
Constitution
Nota bene: Article VI also contains a
ban on religious tests for any office

Am endm ents
13.Does the First Amendment allow

complete freedom of speech, the

right to say anything you want, any
time, any where? Explain
ANSWER: No, there are limits you
cant yell FIRE! in a crowded
theatre, for example, because that
causes panic and people could die.
We do not have the right to slander
or libel freely, either

Am endm ents
14.What is the newest amendment?

What protection does it give to the

American people?
ANSWER: The 27th Amendment is
the latest amendment; it prevents
members of Congress from using
taxpayers money for their own gain

The Constitution
A few further notes on Amendments

CivilW ar Am endm ents

Amendment 13 abolishes slavery
Amendment 14 Civil Rights

expands rights of citizens to

everyone native or natural born,
including rights against states;
expands due process rights
Amendment 15 Expands protection
of right to vote to all citizens
regardless of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude

Prohibition and repeal

18th Amendment gave states the

right to ban the manufacture and

sale of liquor and alcoholic
beverages ratified in 1919
21st Amendment repealed
Prohibition, repealed the 18th
Amendment, December 5, 1933
This is the only amendment to have
been repealed

W om ens Suff
rage (Right to
Vote)
19th Amendment says no state nor

the federal government may prohibit

women from voting because they are
women
Note suffrage means right to
vote, and has nothing at all to do
with suffering

The end. Thank you

TH E LIV IN G
C O N S TITU TIO N
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