Understanding of Amendments (Section 4.6) –
Read 4.6 and answer the following questions for next block. Each student is responsible for completing
his/her own work and reading the chapter.
1. Read pg. 220, “Constitutional Amendment” and then observe the diagram at the top of the
page.
2. Define Amendment.
3. Why doesn’t the Bill of Rights give Americans rights (refresher on pg. 202)?
4. Why is the 1st Amendment important?
5. What is the debate over the 2nd Amendment? Which side do you agree with? Why?
6. Explain which Amendment is most important, in your opinion (out of 5 – 8).
7. What if a right isn’t covered in the Bill of Rights?
8. When I shared with you the most important American document survey, Amendment 14 made
it in the top 10. Why do you suppose that is?
9. What Amendment gives women a voice?
10. What Amendment gives you a voice in the next 5-6 years? What is your thought on this change?
Additional information YOU FEEL is of importance in this section? Add here:
Understanding Branches (pg. 207 – 213) –
Read the pages listed above of Section 4.5 and complete the questions below. Each student is expected
to complete the work in order to be prepared for class and the activities that will take place.
1. Why are the three branches considered a “delicate balance”?
2. What are “Checks and Balances”?
3. Who (or what group of people) make up each branch?
a. Legislative
b. Executive
c. Judicial
4. What article deals with each branch?
a. Legislative
b. Executive
c. Judicial
Legislative
5. What do the House of Representatives and Senate make up together?
6. How is the House of Representatives represented?
7. Who is the leader of the H of R?
8. How is the Senate represented?
9. Who is the leader of the Senate?
10. What are the steps of how a bill becomes a law (simplified into 4 steps)?
a. _
b. _
c. _
d. _
11. Name at least 3 other powers Congress has…
a. _
b. _
c. _
12. What is the purpose of a committee in Congress?
Executive
13. What is purpose of the Executive branch?
14. What are 3 of the powers of the President?
15. What is the difference between an electoral college and the popular vote?
16. How is the President elected?
Judicial
17. What are the three types of Federal Courts?
18. What is an appeal?
19. Where can an appeal process begin and end?
20. Which court can make a final decision?
21. What does judicial review call into question?
22. What limits the Supreme Court? Is this necessary? Why?
23. What power does the Supreme Court NOT have?
Preventing Abuse of Power
24. Explain how checks and balances work.
25. What check can Congress hold over the President?
26. What philosopher have we learned about that believed government should be split into 3 equal
branches?
27. What is federalism?
28. Why is the 10 Amendment important to Indiana?
29. How can citizens change a state constitution?
30. What are 4 responsibilities of each state?
31. What are 3 services states provide?