Study Guide for the Constitution Test
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1. The original body of laws in the United States of America was the:
Articles of Confederation
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2. Which violent event proved that the document from #1 was ineffective? Shay’s Rebellion
3. Name the THREE parts of the Constitution:
Preamble, Articles and Amendments
4. Define ‘amendment’: A change to the Constitution
5. The first ten Amendments are called the: Bill of Rights
6. Write the FIVE freedoms listed in the First Amendment:
1. freedom of religion
2. freedom of speech
3. freedom of the press
4. freedom to peaceably assemble
5. freedom to petition the government for a redress of grievances
7. The Second Amendment discusses a well-regulated militia for the security of a free state using the right to bear arms.
8. Explain what it means when the 3rd Amendment says soldiers can’t be quartered in a house without owner’s consent.
You don’t have to let a soldier stay in your home if you don’t want to.
9. According to the Fourth Amendment, officials need this to conduct searches & seizures: they need a warrant
10. Summarize the 5th Amendment, including details on all 3 clauses.
THESE ARE THE MAIN POINTS BELOW
A person doesn’t have to testify against him/herself.
The government can’t take private property for public use without fair compensation.
A person has the right to a trial by jury.
11. List the SEVEN parts of the Sixth Amendment:
1. speedy and public trial
2. impartial jury
3. trial held in the state and district where the crime was committed
4. you have to be informed of the crime
5. you can confront witnesses
6. you can gather witnesses
7. you must have a lawyer
12. The Eighth Amendment bans these two practices:
1. cruel & unusual punishment
2. excessive bail
13. The Tenth Amendment says powers not given or denied to the Federal Government are given to: the states
14. Tell what the Thirteenth Amendment banned: slavery
15. According to the Fourteenth Amendment, who is a citizen? Anybody born in America is a citizen with all the rights
of a citizen.
Study Guide for the Constitution Test
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16. The Fifteenth Amendment gave the right to vote to this group of people: all men
17. The Sixteenth Amendment created the: income tax
18. Women finally got the right to vote with this Amendment: 19th
19. The Twenty Second Amendment limits a President to this many terms: two terms of four years each
20. The Twenty Fourth Amendment said people no longer had to do this to vote: pay a poll tax
21. The Twenty Sixth Amendment made this the new & current voting age: 18
22. The US government is based on a system called federalism. Explain what this means: The federal and state
governments share power, but the federal has a little more.
23. Explain what it means that the 3 branches of government practice checks & balances. They check on each other to
ensure there’s a balance of power so nobody gets too powerful.
24. Write the following details about the Executive Branch:
The people who comprise it: President, Vice President & Cabinet
Its role regarding the laws: enforces the laws
Its role regarding pardons: offers pardons when it feels necessary
25. Write the following details about the Legislative Branch:
The two houses that comprise it: House of Representatives & Senate
Its role regarding the laws: makes the laws
Its role in impeachment: acts as the jury
26. Write the following details about the Judicial Branch:
Its role regarding the laws: explains the laws
The two courts that comprise it: Supreme & Federal
Its role regarding a law’s constitutionality: practices judicial review
27. Congress is a bicameral legislature, meaning it has this many houses: 2
28. The Senate is led by the President of the Senate; this person is also the: Vice President
29. The House of Representatives is led by the: Speaker of the House
30. The Supreme Court is led by the: Chief Justice
31. Tell what it means that a President can veto an entire bill: He can reject it.
32. Fill in the correct answers regarding Senators:
Number of Senators per state: two
Term length: six years
Role during impeachment: acts as the jury
Total Number of Senators: 100
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Study Guide for the Constitution Test
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33. Fill in the correct answers regarding the House of Representatives:
How is the number of Representatives per state decided? By state population
Term length: two years
Role during impeachment: begins the charges
Total Number of Representatives: 435
34. Fill in the correct answers regarding the President:
Term length: 4 years
Role in the military: Commander in Chief
Status as a citizen: must be born in America
35. The Supreme Court is made up of this many judges: nine
36. An idea for a new law is called a: bill
37. List Congress’ powers regarding:
Federal taxes: collects them
Trading with other countries: approves it
Declaring war: must approve it
Giving titles of nobility: they are not allowed to give noble titles
Post offices: help create and manage post offices
38. Explain what judicial review is. The Supreme Court decides which laws are constitutional or not.
39. A Supreme Court Justice holds that position for this long: LIFE
40. The President’s team of people in charge of different government jobs is called the: Cabinet
41. The current Illinois Constitution was adopted and ratified in the year: 1970
42. Illinois’ legislative body, similar to the US Congress, is called the: General Assembly
43. Illinois’ current two Senators are: Dick Durbin & Roland Burris
44. Name the title & the person in charge of running the IL government. Governor Pat Quinn
45. Name the title & the person who’s the second-most powerful government official Lt. Gov (vacant)
46. Name the title & the person in charge of maintaining the IL central fiscal accounts & ordering payments.
Comptroller Dan Hynes
47. Name the title & the person in charge of safekeeping & investing money & securities for IL.
Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias
48. Name the title & the person in charge of overseeing all legal issues for IL. Atty. General Lisa Madigan
49. Name the title & the person in charge of keeping records, and dealing with automobile-related issues in IL:
Sec of State Jesse White
50. Name the current Capital of Illinois: Springfield
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