AMERICAN LAW
Chapter 1 Warm-Up Writing Exercises
Warm-Up #1: Why Government? Why Laws?
A. One of the defining features of a civilization is that it has a government.
Write one paragraph (3-4 sentences)that answer the following 2 questions:
1. What is a government?
2. What does a government do?
B. Laws are rules for conduct that are established by government. Citizens are required to
follow these rules and face consequences if they fail to do so. The severity of the consequences
depends on the nature of the law that they violate.
Write one paragraph (3-4 sentences) that answer the following 2 questions:
1. Why is it important for a society to have laws?
2. Provide examples of 2 laws that, in your opinion, are necessary to our way of life in the
United States.
Warm-Up #2: A Review of Your Reading Assignment
With a partner, discuss the following questions. Write your responses on your warm-up paper.
You may refer to your textbook, if needed.
1. What are the 4 main sources of law in the United States? Try to write down 1 example of
each.
2. What document is the basis of all laws in the United States?
3. What are the 3 main parts of that document?
4. Explain what is contained in each of those parts.
5. By what method have almost all the amendments been proposed and ratified?
Warm-Up #3: Laws From U.S. Supreme Court Decisions
1. List 5 laws that have been established through U.S. Supreme Court Decisions.
2. After each law, write the title of the U.S. Supreme Court case that established that law. (If
you can't remember the title, please refer to your notes.)
Warm-Up #4: The Preamble
The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution lays out the purposes of the U.S. government.
Write a statement explaining the meaning of EACH purpose listed below.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to...
1. form a more perfect Union,
2. establish Justice,
3. ensure domestic Tranquility,
4. provide for the common defense,
5. promote the general Welfare,
6. and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity..."
Example:
1. The goal of the U.S. government (in order to) is to create a better (more
perfect) country (Union).
2. ___________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________________________
6. ___________________________________________________________
Warm-Up #5: Reflection on the U.S. Constitution
Using your completed U.S. Constitution Scavenger Hunt worksheet to refresh your memory, list
five specific laws that you learned that come from the U.S. Constitution.
Warm-Up #6: Lifetime Appointment
The first section of Article III of the U.S. Constitution established that the federal judicial power
of the United States would rest with "one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as
Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."
Based on this provision, the United States Supreme Court was created in 1789 and was
organized in February of 1790.
The Court is comprised of one Chief Justice and associate justices. The number of associate
justices is determined by Congress (legislative branch) and is currently at 8. Justices are
appointed by the president of the United States (executive branch) and must be approved by
the U.S. Senate (legislative branch). Each justice is appointed for life and can only be removed
by death, resignation, or impeachment. The founding fathers evidently considered this lifetime
appointment of justices important.
1. List at least one advantage to U.S. Supreme court justices being appointed for a life term
(as versus being elected for a set-length term).
2. What, if any, effect does the election of the president of the United States have on the
Supreme Court? Write 2-3 sentences for your answer.