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Introduction to American Government – Review Sheet
Unit 2 – “The United States Constitution”
Unit Examination Review Sheet
Caution: This review sheet is designed to assist students in preparing for the unit examination. It contains major
people, terms, definitions, and concepts that were discussed throughout the unit. Students should use this sheet only
to review and reinforce previously learned material. It should not be substituted for studying class notes, outlines, or
worksheets.
Section 1 – Important Terms/People/Concepts:
Part A (People/Personalities)
None
Part B (Terms and Definitions)
Amendment - Changes or additions made to the U.S. Constitution
Ratification - The official way to confirm or approve something, usually by vote; formal validation of a
proposed law
English Bill of Rights - An act that the Parliament of England passed in 1689, which creates separation of
powers, limits the powers of the king and queen, allows free parliamentary
elections, and guarantees certain rights of the citizens of England
Magna Carta – A charter (legal document) that was created to protect the English people from the
arbitrary (random and unpredictable) taking of life, liberty, or property by the king. It
was one of the first attempts to guarantee the people certain rights and limit the power
of government by binding the king to certain laws
Articles of Confederation - The original constitution of the U.S., ratified in 1781
Preamble - The introductory part of a constitution or statute that usually states the purpose and goals
Federalism - A system of government in which power is divided by the national government and the state
governments and in which independent states are bound together under one nationalized
government
Delegated Powers – Powers that the Constitution grants only to the National (or Federal) Government,
such as the power to coin money, maintain an armed force, regulate interstate
commerce, declare war, make treaties, and enforce copyrights
Reserved Powers – Powers that the Constitution does not grant to the National Government and does
not, at the same time, deny to the States, such as the power to establish schools,
pass laws relating to marriage, establish local governments, regulate driving, and
regulate intrastate commerce
Concurrent Powers – Powers shared by the National & State governments, such as the power to collect
taxes, establish courts, borrow money, conduct elections, and make/enforce laws
Supremacy Clause - When conflicts arise between national and state law, the Constitution ranks above
all other forms of law in the U.S. because it is superior to all others in power
Limited Government - A type of government in which the functions and powers of authority are written,
limited, and restricted by law to protect the citizens
Representative Government - An electoral system where citizens vote to elect people to represent their
interests and concerns (serve their will) and give citizens a voice in
deciding what government should and should not do
Separation of Powers - A way of dividing power among the 3 branches of government in which members
of the House of Representatives, members of the Senate, the President, and the
federal courts are selected by and responsible to different constituencies
Checks and Balances - A government structure that gives each of the 3 branches of government some
degree of oversight and control over the actions of the others
Legislative Branch – Branch of the U.S. Government consisting of Congress (which is made up of 100
Senators and 435 House of Representatives) whose primary role is to make the laws
Judicial Branch – Branch of the U.S. Government made up of the Supreme Court and other court
officials whose primary role is to interpret the laws
Executive Branch - Branch of the U.S. Government made up of the President and Cabinet members
whose primary role is to enforce (carry out) the laws
Popular Sovereignty - People are the ultimate source of the authority of their government
Bicameral - A system of government with 2 legislative bodies – the Senate and House of Representatives
Unicameral - A system of government with only one legislative body
Suffrage – Right to vote
Due Process - Provide fair treatment/protection to citizens against arbitrary taking of life, liberty, property
Part C (What does each describe in the Constitution)
Article I – Legislative Branch
Article II – Executive Branch
Article III – Judicial Branch
Article IV – Relations amongst the states
Article V – The Amendment process
Article VI – Supremacy of the National Government
Article VII - Ratification
Part D (What rights are guaranteed by the following)
Amendment I – Right to freedom of speech, press, religion, peaceful assembly, and petition of the Gov’t
Amendment II – Right to bear arms (legally own weapons to protect ourselves and our property)
Amendment III – Right to deny quartering (housing) soldiers
Amendment IV – Right to be protected against unlawful searches and seizures (must have proper warrant
and just cause)
Amendment V – Right to have our case approved by a grand jury of our peers; be protected against
testifying against ourselves or tried for the same crime twice; cannot be denied life,
liberty, or property without due process of law or have our private property taken for
public use without just compensation
Amendment VI – Right to be informed of charges against us, a fair and speedy trial heard by an unbiased
jury of our peers, to be represented by an attorney, and to find witnesses in our favor
Amendment VII – Right to a trial by jury in civil (non-criminal) court cases where the value exceeds $20
Amendment VIII – Right to protection against excessive bail, fines, or other cruel and unusual punishment
Amendment IX – Right to be entitled to other rights and freedoms not included in the ten amendments
(i.e., right to own a house)
Amendment X – Right of powers not granted to the Federal government to belong to the states or to the
people themselves
Amendment XIII – An 1865 amendment to the U.S. Constitution that forbids slavery and forced labor
except, as regards the latter, as punishment for crime
Amendment XIV - An amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, defining national citizenship
and forbidding the states to restrict the basic rights of citizens or other persons
Amendment XV - An amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1870, prohibiting the restriction of
voting rights “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” This means
that African American now have the right to vote in elections
Amendment XVII – An Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1913, which established the direct
election of Senators by the people
Amendment XIX – An amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1920, guaranteeing women the right
to vote
Amendment XXVI - An amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1971, lowering the voting age to 18
Section 2 – Important Concepts:
Section Overview:
The following questions are designed to review the important information discussed in Unit 2 (The United
States Constitution). Students should consult their class notes to find answers to each of the following questions.
1. What are the six basic ideals of American government?
a. Federalism
b. Separation of Powers
c. Checks and Balances
d. Majority Rule
e. Popular Sovereignty
f. Limited Government
2. Describe the methods that can be used to propose and ratify an amendment.
a. An amendment may be proposed by a 2/3 vote in each house of Congress and ratified by ¾ of
the State legislatures (this means that 38 out of 50 states must approve an amendment).
b. An amendment may be proposed by Congress and ratified by conventions, called for that
purpose, in ¾ of the States.
c. An amendment may be proposed at a national convention, called by Congress at the request of
2/3 of the State legislatures (today 34). It must then be ratified by ¾ of the State legislatures.
d. An amendment may be proposed at a national convention and then ratified by conventions in ¾ of
the States.
3. Federalism expresses what ideal of American government? Limited Government
4. How many amendments are there in the Constitution? 27
5. What are the parts of the Preamble?
- Form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity
6. Our republic works successfully because most Americans believe in what? Indirect Democracy
7. What is the system of checks and balances?
- A government structure that gives each of the 3 branches of government some degree of oversight
and control over the actions of the others
8. Describe one way each branch can check the other two.
a. President (Executive Branch) can veto a bill that Legislative Branch had passed
b. Legislative Branch can impeach a president for abuse of power
c. Judicial Branch can overturn Constitutional rulings
9. What are the six goals of government as described in the preamble?
a. To join together in order to protect and further the rights and interests of all and to deal collectively
with employers
b. To make things fair and honest for everyone
c. To make sure we can all get along with one another; peacefulness; calmness
d. To protect us from other people or countries who might try to harm us, as in a war, and to help us if
we have been harmed
e. To ensure the health, peace, morality, and safety of its citizens
f. To protect our rights and freedoms (such as being able to choose our religion and say what we
think) for all future generations of people