Constitution and Bill of Rights
Combined Vocab and Written Study Guide
Name: ___________________
Period: _________
Part One: Vocabulary (Information found in textbook)
Ten of the following fifteen vocabulary words will be on your written test on Friday. This will be a
matching section. Write the definitions of the following words on a separate sheet of paper OR on flash
cards to study. Definitions can be found in the textbook on pages 260-297.
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Electors – voters
Enumeration – an official count, such as
a census
Impeachment – the process of accusing
a public official of wrongdoing
Pro tempore – for the time being
Indictment – a written statement
issued by a grand jury charging a person
with a crime
Quorum – the minimum number of
members that must be present for
official business to take place
Naturalization – a way to give full
citizenship to a person of foreign birth
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Felonies – serious crimes
Appropriation – public funds set aside
for a specific purpose
Bill of attainder – a law that condemns
a person without trial in court
Ex post facto law – a law that would
make an act a criminal offense after it
was committed
Convene – call together
Misdemeanors – violations of the law
Appellate – having power to review
court decisions
Immunities – legal protections
Part Two: Anatomy of the Constitution (Information found in Anatomy of the Constitution Notes)
On your test, you will need to know what each section of the Constitution states or creates. This section
will be fill-in-the-blank. On a separate sheet of paper OR on flash cards, list each of the following
sections of the Constitution and then write what it creates or states.
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Preamble – introduce the Constitution,
explain what the Constitution is meant
to do, and describe the purpose of the
new government
Article I – Creates a legislature called
Congress and divides it into two parts:
the Senate and the House of
Representatives
Article II – Describes the job of the
executive branch
Article III – Creates the judicial branch
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Article IV – Describes how the states
should interact with each other
Article V – Describes what must be
done to amend the Constitution
Article VI – States that the laws and
treaties of the U.S. government are the
“supreme law of the land”
Article VII – Says the Constitution
cannot take effect until at least nine out
of thirteen states approved it
Part Three: Bill of Rights (Information found in You’ve Got Rights! Notes)
On your test, you will need to identify what each amendment in the Bill of Rights states. This section will
be multiple choice. On a separate sheet of paper OR on flash cards, write each amendment and the right
it protects.
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Amendment 1 – Freedom of speech,
freedom of religion, freedom of press,
right to peacefully assemble
Amendment 2 – Right to keep and bear
arms
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Amendment 3 – Citizens cannot be
forced to quarter soldiers
Amendment 4 – No unreasonable
search and seizures
Constitution and Bill of Rights
Combined Vocab and Written Study Guide
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Amendment 5 – A person does not
need to incriminate themselves, No
person can be tried for the same crime
twice
Amendment 6 – The right to a speedy
trial
Amendment 7 – Right to trial by jury
Name: ___________________
Period: _________
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Amendment 8 – No cruel or unusual
punishments
Amendment 9 – Rights listed in the
Constitution are not the only rights
people have
Amendment 10 – Rights not given to
the government are reserved for the
states
Part Four:
On your test, you will have a choice of four short answer questions. You will need to answer two. You
will also have one extended response. You do not get to choose a prompt for extended response. On a
separate sheet of paper, thoroughly explain ALL COMPONENTS of each topic listed below. You need to
be as detailed as possible.
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Difference between implied powers and expressed powers of Congress. Be able to provide
examples of each.
o Expressed powers are actually stated or “expressed” in the Constitution
 Possible examples: coin money, declare war, establish immigration laws
o Implied powers are not expressly stated in the Constitution
 Necessary and Proper Clause allows Congress to use implied powers
 Possible examples: create Post Office website
Definition and significance of the Supremacy Clause.
o Supremacy Clause states that federal laws passed by Congress are supreme – they are
superior to state laws.
o Significance: Congress now has more power than the states, the states can create laws
but Congress can override them
Definition and significance of the Necessary and Proper Clause.
o Necessary and Proper Clause says that Congress may make any law that is “necessary
and proper” for carrying out its expressed powers
o Significance: Has allowed for the Constitution and our government to remain relevant
for over 220 years, Congress can pass laws on topics not stated in Constitution – another
example of the level of power given to the government under this Constitution
Process by which an amendment is added to the Constitution.
o Step 1: A two-thirds passing vote in each house of Congress proposes an amendment.
o Step 2: Three-fourths of state legislatures ratify the amendment
o Step 3: The amendment is added to the Constitution
o OR
o Step 1: Two-thirds of state legislatures as for a meeting to propose an amendment
(Convention). The amendment is proposed at the national convention
o Step 2: Three-fourths of special state conventions ratify the amendment
o Step 3: The amendment is added to the Constitution
Examples and explanations of why the rights protected in the Bill of Rights are important.
o Answers will vary – this is an opinion question.