US Constitution Test, Elm Middle School
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- How many members in the House of Representatives?
- 435
- How many members in the Senate?
- 100
- What are the Senate and the House known as together?
- The Congress
- In what branch of the government is the Congress?
- Legislative
- How many Senators represent Illinois?
- 2
- Which came first, the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution?
- Declaration
- What was the purpose of the Articles of Confederation
- to describe our first government
- How many representatives are there for Illinois in the House?
- 19
- How many years does a Senator serve in one term?
- 6
- How many years does a representative serve in one term?
- 2
- How old does a Representative have to be?
- 25
- How old does a Senator have to be?
- 30
- How many times can a Representative or Senator be reelected?
- Unlimited
- Which amendments are known as the Bill of Rights?
- 1-10 (the first 10)
- Which amendment protects free speech, religion, assembly, press and right to complain to the government?
- 1
- Which amendment gives 18-year-olds the right to vote?
- 26
- Which amendment says Congress can collect income tax?
- 16
- Which amendment gives women the right to vote?
- 19
- Which amendment guarantees trial by jury?
- 7
- Which amendment limits the President's terms to 2?
- 22
- Which amendment established a new date for the President to take office?
- 20
- Which amendment outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcohol?
- 18
- Which amendment made alcohol legal again?
- 21
- Which amendment says you don't have to testify against yourself and you can't be tried for the same crime twice?
- 5
- Which amendments outlawed slavery and protected the right to vote among races?
- 13-15
- Which amendment protects the right to own weapons?
- 2
- Which came first, the Constitution or the Articles of Confederation?
- Articles of Confederation
- Which came first, the Bill of Rights or the Constitution?
- Constitution (the Bill of Rights are added at the end.)
- What article of the Constitution talks about the Legislative Branch?
- Article 1
- What article of the Constitution talks about the Executive Branch?
- Article 2
- Where in the Constitution would you find the Preamble?
- at the beginning (the first paragraph)
- What is the Preamble to the Constitution?
- the first paragraph listing the goals of the document
- Which article of the Constitution describes the Judicial Branch?
- Article 3
- Which branch of the government contains the President, Vice President and Cabinet?
- Executive
- Which branch of the government contains the Supreme Court?
- Judicial
- Which branch makes the laws?
- Legislative
- Which branch carries out or enforces the laws?
- Executive
- Which branch can declare a law "unconstitutional"?
- Judicial
- Which branch has control over the military?
- Executive
- Which branch handles foreign policy (except the approval of treaties)?
- Executive
- Which TWO branches have control over the coining and printing of money?
- Legislative and Executive
- Which TWO branches can invalidate a law after it has been passed by Congress?
- Executive and Judicial
- Who elects or appoints Senators?
- the people of a whole state
- Who elects or appoints Representatives to the House?
- the people in a district of a state
- Who elects or appoints the President and Vice President?
- the Electoral College
- Where does a bill begin its journey towards becoming a law?
- in Congress (in a committee); either the House or the Senate
- After both houses of Congress approve a bill, where does it go immediately?
- to the President for signing (or vetoing)
- If a President vetoes a law, how can it still become a law?
- If 2/3 of Congress vote to override the veto.
- What other title does the Vice President hold?
- President of the Senate
- What is the title of the person who presides over the House of Representatives' meetings?
- Speaker of the House
- Who elects or appoints Cabinet members?
- The President (with Senate approval)
- Who elects or appoints Supreme Court Justices?
- The President (with Senate approval)
- Who is the first in line to take over if a President dies in office?
- The Vice President
- If a President is suspected of committing a crime, who brings the impeachment charge against him/her?
- The House of Representatives
- Who serves as the jury during a President's impeachment trial?
- The Senate
- Who presides over a President's impeachment trial (as a judge)?
- The Chief Justice (of the Supreme Court)
- What Cabinet Department would mediate a strike or suggest legislation about worker's rights?
- Department of Labor
- What Cabinet Department handles foreign affairs?
- Department of State
- What Cabinet Department is in charge of issues involving gasoline or nuclear power?
- Department of Energy
- What Cabinet Department is in charge of the National Park System and Indian affairs?
- Department of the Interior
- How many Supreme Court Justices are there?
- 9
- How many years does a President serve in one term?
- 4
- What is the maximum number of years an elected President can serve?
- 8
- What is the minimum age to be President?
- 35
- How many electoral votes does Illinois have?
- 21
- What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
- To state the reasons we broke from England
- What is the purpose of the Constitution?
- To describe our laws and government
- Why did the framers of the Constitution want to have 2 houses in the Legislative Branch?
- To compromise between the large states and small states.
- What is the main duty of the Executive Branch?
- To enforce or adminster the laws
- What is the main duty of the Legislative Branch?
- To make the laws
- What is the main duty of the Judicial Branch?
- To interpret or judge the laws
- What branch contains the Senate and the House?
- Legislative
- What branch contains the Cabinet?
- Executive
- What document begins, "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union..."?
- The Constitution
- What document includes the phrase, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..."?
- The Declaration of Independence
- Who used to choose Senators before the 17th amendment was passed?
- State Legislatures
- What was the main weakness under the Articles of Confederation?
-
No power to tax
(There are other weaknesses, but this is the one that will be a choice on the test.) - What are two reasons the Constitution has lasted so long?
-
1. vague language
2. the amendment process - If the Congress wants to override a Presidential veto, how many of them need to approve the bill?
- 2/3
- What is another job of the Senate besides passing laws?
-
Approving Presidential appointments
OR approving treaties - What determines how many Representatives each state gets in the house?
- population
- What determines how many Electors a state has in the Electoral College? (it isn't directly population)
- Adding the number of Representatives to the number of Senators in that state.
- Where does the Congress meet (specifically)?
- the Capitol Building
- What part of the Constitution allows Congress to pass laws about things that didn't exist in 1787 (like air travel)?
- the Elastic Clause
- When the government spends more than it takes in (a deficit), what is the usual action taken to raise money?
- Increase taxes
- Which President was most recently impeached?
- Bill Clinton
- Who is the only President to have resigned?
- Richard Nixon
- What position does Robert Gates currently hold?
- Secretary of Defense
- What position does Hillary Clinton currently hold?
- Secretary of State
- Who is currently President of the United States?
- Barack Obama
- What position does Joe Biden currently hold?
- Vice President
- What position does John Roberts currently hold?
- Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
- Name the Illinois Representative in the House of Representatives who represents the fifth district (your district)?
- Rahm Emmanuel's replacement (special election on April 7)
- Who are our two Illinois Senators?
-
1. Richard Durbin
2. Roland Burris -
Is this power ENUMERATED or DENIED to Congress?...
Making rules about immigration - Enumerated
-
Is this power ENUMERATED or DENIED to Congress?...
Establishing schools or school rules - Denied
-
Is this power ENUMERATED or DENIED to Congress?...
Declaring war - Enumerated
-
Is this power ENUMERATED or DENIED to Congress?...
Honoring someone with a title like "Sir" or "Baron" - Denied
-
Is this power ENUMERATED or DENIED to Congress?...
Protecting inventions and artistic works with patents and copyrights - Enumerated
-
Is this power ENUMERATED or DENIED to Congress?...
Controlling business within a state - Denied
-
Identify who is checking whom in the following example:
A bill must be approved by both houses of Congress. - Legislative Branch checking itself (the House and Senate checking each other)
-
Identify who is checking whom in the following example:
Declaring laws unconstitutional - Judicial Branch checking the other two branches
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Identify who is checking whom in the following example:
Overriding a veto - Legislative Branch checking the Executive Branch
-
Identify who is checking whom in the following example:
Vetoing bills - Executive Branch checking the Legislative Branch
-
Identify who is checking whom in the following example:
The Electoral College chooses the President - A check on the people
- What happens to someone who is impeached?
-
1. They are accused of a crime
2. They are put on trial
3. IF (and only IF) they are found guilty, they are removed from office - What are the two biggest political parties in the U.S. and which animals unofficially represent them?
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Republican -- Elephant
Democrat -- Donkey