Download How many states needed to ratify the Constitution after it was written

1. How many states needed to ratify the Constitution after it was
written in 1787? ____9/13____
2. What was the plan of government that was proposed during the
Constitutional Convention that called for a bicameral Congress based
on population? __VA Plan__ (Remember that the NJ Plan was
based on equal representation!)
3. How is Congress divided and what are they called?
2 Houses-Senate & House of Representatives__________
4. Name the 3 parts of the U.S. Constitution:
A)___Preamble_________________________
B)__ Articles (1-7)_______________________
C)___Amendments (1-27)_________________
5. Explain how each state has representation in Congress.
2 senators per state; House of Representatives determined by
state’s population (1 for every 30,000 people in state)
6. Identify the length of:
A) a senator’s term: ___6 years____
B) a representative’s term: _2 years_____
7. What is the total number of members in the House of
Representatives? _435______
8. What is the total number of members in the U.S. Senate? __100___
9. Who has the power to initiate impeachment charges? _House______
10. Who has the power to try impeachment cases? __Senate_______
11. Who is the presiding officer:
of an impeachment trial? __Senate/ but only Chief
Justice in a president’s trial
of the Senate? __vice-president___________
of the House? (Speaker) of the House______
12. What is the Electoral College? Why was it established and how does
it work?
Established by framers of Constitution because they
believed common people were ignorant & apathetic.
Electors in each state are determined by number of seats
in Congress for that state. Electors vote DIRECTLY for
president/vice-president
(NJ: 2 Senators + 12 Representatives= 14 Electors)
13. List the main powers of the President.
 Negotiate treaties
 Appoint judges
 Veto bills
 Enforce & carry out the laws
14. When is the President inaugurated? __January 20th____ (date)
Which amendment changed the date from March 4th? ____#20____
15. What is the term of justices of the U.S. Supreme Court?
_Life/no limits___
16. Who usually administers the oath of office to the President on
Inauguration Day?
Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
17. What are the qualifications of the:
A) House of Representatives- Term length: 2 years (NEED to
be re-elected after each fulfilled term-NO term
limits!)
U.S. citizen for 7 years
25+ years old
Must reside in state being represented
B) Senate- Term length: 6 years (NEED to be re-elected
after each fulfilled term-NO term limits!)
U.S. citizen for 9 years
30+ years old
Must reside in state being represented
C) U.S. President- Term length: 2 terms or 10 years
Native born
35+ years old
Resident of United States for 14 years
D) Supreme Court Justices- Term length: Life!
NO qualifications as per Constitution-just need to be
appointed by U.S. President & approved by U.S.
Senate
18. What would cause a President to be charged with impeachment?
 Treason
 Bribery (giving/accepting)
 Misdemeanor (criminal offense less serious than a felony)
19. Describe the process a bill takes through Congress to become a law?
(**Since we did not complete the group activity in class that would have made this
material clearer, students will be given the correct answer on the test.)
 Bill introduced to Congress by member of Congress
 Each House has standing committees to consider bill
 Bill is “marked-up” or edited-so it’ll pass on the floor on Congress
 Bill can be “pigeon-holed”- or killed in committee
 Bill is passed by committee-sent to whole House for debate & vote
 Speaker determines which bills are discussed & for how long
 Bill can be filibustered-to purposely kill the bill
 Bill passes & is sent to other House of Congress & process starts over.
If bill is passed here, it will end up on president’s desk.
20. What were the major compromises during the Constitutional
Convention?
Large States v. Small States:
 Great Compromise-NJ Plan/VA Plan
North v. South:
 3/5 Compromise: 3/5 of the slaves counted in population
totals of states for representation in Congress (House)
 Slave Trade: illegal to import slaves into U.S. after 1804
(North & South agreed)
21. Identify the Federal Court System ( Name the 3 levels & what they
are responsible for).
 United States Supreme Court (only 1)judges/interprets laws
 United States Court of Appeals (appellate court) (#
in US-13): appeals from the lower court are heard
 United States District Court (# in US-94): federal
cases are tried with a jury and witnesses (ONLY
Federal Court that has a jury and witnesses!!)
22. Identify the following Articles of the U.S. Constitution: (the first
one has been done for you)
Article
Article
Article
Article
Article
Article
Article
I: Legislative
II: Executive
III: Judicial
IV: Relationships Among States
V: Amending the Constitution
VI: Supreme Law of the Land
VII: Ratifying the Constitution
23. What is the name given to the first 10 amendments to the U.S.
Constitution? Bill of Rights
24. Define:
A) filibuster: debate/long speech to purposely delay/stop
action of bill in Congress
B) Federalist: people who SUPPORTED ratification of
Constitution
C) Anti-federalist: people who OPPOSED ratification of
Constitution