Unit 3 MONSTER REVIEW – We the People
Essential Vocabulary
US Constitution, NC Constitution, Preamble, Articles, Bill of Rights, bicameral, ratify,
confederation, Federalists, Anti-Federalists, Electoral College, Amendments, Amendment
Process, Ratification, Patriot Act, Taxes, Federalism, Conflict Resolution, Civil Liberties, Due
Process, Equity, Popular Sovereignty, Political Activism, bureaucracy, Constitutionality,
Jurisdiction, Political Ideology, Economic Ideology, Legislative Branch, Executive Branch,
Judicial Branch, Separation of Powers, checks and balances, expressed powers, reserved powers,
concurrent powers, Limited Government
Federalist vs. Anti-federalist
Federalists- favored a strong federal govt., Supported Constitution, Madison,
Hamilton, John Jay wrote the Federalists Papers to encourage ratification of the Const.
Anti-Federalists – feared strong federal govt., Opposed the Const., Supported states
rights, Wanted the Bill of Rights, George Mason, John Hancock, Patrick Henry Constitution
ratified after Bill of Rights were added.
4 Basic Principles of the US Constitution
Popular sovereignty, limited government, federalism, separation of powers [checks
and balances (Montesquieu) & judicial review are ACTIONS of the separation of
powers]
Checks and Balances
Legislative Branch- can refuse nominations for Court, override vetoes, and
impeach the pres. or judges
Executive Branch- can name nominees for Court, veto legislation, and issue
pardons/reprieves
Judicial Branch- can deem laws or presidential actions unconstitutional
Amending the US Constitution
Proposal: either by 2/3 of Congress or National convention requested by 2/3 of
the State legislatures
Ratification: either by 3/4 of the state legislatures or by Conventions held in 3/4
of the states.
The US Constitution
Preamble – States the purpose of the Constitution
Article I – Legislative Branch: Bicameral, House of Representatives and Senate
Article II – Executive Branch: President, VP, mentions advisors of the President
(cabinet)
Article III – Judicial Branch: US Supreme Court (US Congress can create lower
federal courts)
Article IV – Full Faith and Credit Clause, Relations among states
Article V- Amendment Clause
Article VI – Supremacy Clause
Article VII – Ratification
Bill of Rights
Amendments 11-27
Clauses
Supremacy Clause – Federal law is supreme to state law
Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause – Congress is given the power to do all
things necessary and proper to carry out their powers
Full Faith and Credit Clause – States must recognize laws, public records and
court decisions of other states
Establishment Clause – A state cannot establish a religion
Free Exercise Clause – Citizens can practice whatever religion they want
Equal Protection Clause (14th Amend.) – A state cannot discriminate against its
citizens
Amendment Clause – Proposal: either by 2/3 of Congress or National
convention requested by 2/3 of the State legislatures Ratification: either by 3/4 of the
state legislatures or by Conventions held in 3/4 of the states.
Types of Powers
Delegated Powers – Powers given to the federal government.
- Expressed Powers –Powers spelled out in the Constitution (Congress
has the power to est. lower federal courts and the power to declare
war)
- Implied Powers – Power given to the fed. govt. by the Elastic Clause.
These are powers suggested by the expressed powers.
- Inherent Powers – Powers that the fed. govt. is assumed to have
because it is a sovereign state.
Reserved Powers – Powers that the US Constitution does not grant to the fed.
govt. but does not deny to the states. (ex. Est. schools, conducting elections)
Concurrent Powers – Powers that both the National and States governments
possess and exercise. (ex. power to tax, power to est. lower courts)
The NC Constitution
Preamble – States the purpose of the Constitution
Article I – The Declaration of Rights
Article II – Legislative Branch [General Assembly]: Bicameral, House of
Representatives and Senate
Article III – Executive Branch: President, VP, mentions advisors of the President
(cabinet)
Article IV – Judicial Branch: US Supreme Court (US Congress can create lower
federal courts)
There are more articles in the NC Constitution!!!!!
Unit 3 Review Questions
1. What basic principle of the US Constitution means that the people are the source
of all governmental power? Popular Sovereignty
2. What term means one federal government and several state governments?
Federalism
3. What basic principle of the US Constitution means that the government is not all
powerful and it can only do what the people allow it to do?
Limited Government
4. Power in the US federal government is divided between the legislative, judicial
and executive branch. What basic principle does this describe?
Separation of Powers
5. The president vetoes a bill that has been passed by both houses of Congress. What
Constitutional principle does this describe?
Checks and Balances
6. What does the term “posterity” mean in the Preamble to the US Constitution?
Future citizens/generations
7. What do we call the NC Legislature?
General Assembly
8. What laws forbidden by US Constitution establish that one cannot be accused of a
crime if the act was committed before the act was a crime?
Ex post facto law
9. What clause establishes that Congress has the power to make laws that help them
carry out their expressed powers?
‘Necessary and Proper Clause’ = Implied Powers
10. The elastic clause gives Congress Implied powers.
11. What type of power is the power to establish schools?
Reserved Power
12. What type of power is the power to tax?
Concurrent Powers – means that BOTH the National & State governments
can do this!
13. How is the number of electors for each state determined?
Representatives + Senators = Electors to the Electoral College
14. What are the two methods of proposing an amendment to the US Constitution?
2/3 both houses in Congress and 2/3 of the States ask for a National
Proposal CONVENTION
15. What are the two methods of ratifying a change to the US Constitution?
Passage by ¾ of the State Legislatures or ¾ of the State Ratifying
CONVENTIONS
16. How are the NC Constitution and the US Constitution similar?
a. Both are plans of government, b. Both have Separation of Powers c. Both
have a list of citizens RIGHTS
Practice Vocabulary Quiz:
Popular Sovereignty 1. all political power rest with the people/people rule
Article I – The Dec. of Rights 2. North Carolina’s rights listed in the NC Constitution
Preamble 3. The introduction to the US and NC Constitutions
Separation of Powers 4. Powers are distributed among the 3 branches of government
Strict Construction 5. Anti-Federalist feeling that the Constitution must be strictly followed
Loose Construction 6. Federalist feeling that the government has certain powers not listed in the
Constitution.
Assembly 7. Right of Americans to meet peaceably and discuss important issues
Eminent Domain 8. Right of government to take property for public good with just compensation
Judicial Branch 9. Article III
Bill of Rights 10. The First 10 Amendments of the Constitution
Limited Government 11. the government is not above the law and is not all powerful
Federalism 12. division of power between national and state governments
Double Jeopardy 13. One cannot be tried twice for the exact same crime
Judicial Review 14. Right of the Judicial Branch to declare a law unconstitutional
Naturalization 15. The process for a non-citizen, resident alien to become a US citizen
Amendment 16. Changes to a constitution; comes from Article V in US Constitution and Article in the
NC Constitution
Bill of Attainder 17. Legislation declaring a person guilty of a crime without a trial – this is illegal
Ex Post Facto Law 18. Forbidden practice of making a new law apply to an action that was completed
prior to the law being passed
Due Process of Law 19. Legal rights of those charged with crimes – these come from many
amendments
Equal Protection 20. Principle from the 14th Amendment that all citizens and groups should have the
law applied to them in the same way
Checks and Balances 21. The President can veto a bill passed by Congress. This is an
example of what principle of government?
Legislative Branch 22. Article I
Executive Branch 23. Article II
Federalism 24. Idea included in the US and NC Constitutions where government is divided into levels
Electoral College 25. This group elected the President and Vice President
Popular Sovereignty 26. People rule; the idea that right to govern comes from the people
Civil Disobedience 27. Breaking an unjust law non-violently to stir the conscience of those who obey
it
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is a reserved power – name one reserved power.
Define constitution
What are exclusive powers – where are these powers listed?
Name 3 ways the US and NC Constitutions are similar
5. Describe the Free exercise clause of the US Constitution.