Download Articles of the Constitution

Name ______________________________________________
Chapter 3 (p. 64-82)
Daily Grade Sheet
Outline 1
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Outline 2
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Outline 3
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Quiz 1
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Quiz 2
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Practice Pkt
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Test
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Daily Grade __________________________ (100)
Section 1 The Six Basic Principles
Facts
 The Constitution lays the framework for our federal government.
 The federal government is based on the rule of the law and the idea that all power resides in
the people.
 The Constitution divides power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of
government.
 A system of checks & balances prevents any one branch from gaining too much power.
Vocab
Preamble
Articles
Constitutionalism
Rule of Law
Separation of powers
Checks & Balances
Veto
Judicial Review
Unconstitutional
Federalism
An Outline of the Constitution
Directions: Match the section to the subject.
Articles of the Constitution
Section
Subject
A) preamble
_____ Executive Branch
B) Article I
____ Legislative Branch
C) Article II
_____ Judicial Branch
D) Article III
_____ States the purpose of the Constitution
E) Article IV
_____ Ratifying the Constitution
F) Article V
_____Relations among the states
G) Article VI
_____ National debts, supremacy of National law, oaths of office
F) Article VII
_____ Amending the Constitution
The Basic Principles
1. List the six basic principles identified in the Constitution.
A) ______________________________________________
B) ______________________________________________
C) ______________________________________________
D) ______________________________________________
E) ______________________________________________
F) ______________________________________________
Questions
1. Identify two examples of how Checks & Balances work in the Federal Government.
2. How did the Supreme Court establish the power of Judicial Review?
3. Why were the framers of the Constitution careful to limit the powers of the Federal
Government?
4. Explain the most democratic part of the United States government.
Section 2 Formal Amendment
Facts
 Since 1789, 27 Amendments have been added to the Constitution.
 The first 10 are known as the Bill of Rights.

The formal amendment process reflects both federalism and popular sovereignty.
Vocab
Amendment
Formal Amendment
Bill of Rights
1. What are the two ways constitutional change can come about?
A) ______________________________________
B) ______________________________________
Formal Amendment Process
1. Why did the Framers of the Constitution feel amendments were of vital importance?
2. List & describe the four possible methods of formal amendment.
A) ________________________________________________________________
B) ________________________________________________________________
C) ________________________________________________________________
D) ________________________________________________________________
3. How do the Supreme Court decisions Hawke v. Smith and Kimble v. Swackhamer keep
power balanced between states when proposing amendments?
4. When proposing an Amendment, does the President have veto powers? Explain.
The 27 Amendments
Directions: Read through the 27 Amendments to the Constitution and give a summary of each.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
Questions
1. Why does the Constitution provide that both houses of Congress must agree to the proposal
of an amendment?
Section 3 Informal Amendment
Facts
 Informal amendments are common changes that do not affect the wording of the
Constitution.
 The Constitution is very open to new ideas.
 All three branches contribute to the informal amendment process.
 Political parties are important to this system.
Vocab
Informal Amendment
Executive Agreement
Treaty
Electoral College
Cabinet
Senatorial Courtesy
Basic Legislation
 Congress has been a major agent of informal amendment in two important ways:
1. It has passed a number of laws to clarify many of the Constitution’s brief provisions.
2. It has been given much freedom in defining its powers.
1. List & describe two examples of each of the ways Congress has added to the informal
amendment process (you should have four total).
Executive Action
1. Identify two ways the President has been a force in the informal amendment process.
Court Decisions
1. Why do many people feel the Supreme Court has the biggest impact on the informal
amendment process.
Party Practices
1. Do political parties have a positive or negative impact on the US government?
2. Why was the Electoral College put into place by the Framers? Do you feel we still need it
today?
Custom
1. What are two examples of custom in the Constitution? Are they good or bad for the
Constitution?
Directions: Read the passage about school punishment on pa 83 and answer the questions.
You the space provided below.
1.
2.
3.
Questions
1. What do you think would happen if the President appointed federal officials without
concern for senatorial courtesy?
2. What are the five ways that the Constitution can be informally amended?
A) __________________________________________________
B) __________________________________________________
C) __________________________________________________
D) __________________________________________________
E) __________________________________________________