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Study Guide for Test on SOLs CE.2b, 2c, 2d, 3b, 7b, 6a, and 6b 1. What are the three branches of government and what does each branch do? A. legislative What does it do? Makes the laws B. executive What does it do? Carries out the laws C. judicial What does it do? Interprets the laws 2. What are the three levels of government? A. national (federal) B. state C. local 3. The U.S. Constitution has three parts: a. Preamble b. Articles c. Amendments CE.2b 4. The Charters of the Virginia Company of London guaranteed that the colonists would have the rights of Englishmen. 5. The Virginia Declaration of Rights served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution 6. The Declaration of Independence: a. stated grievances against the king of Great Britain b. declared the colonies independent from Great Britain c. affirmed “certain unalienable rights” (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) d. established the idea that all people are equal under the law 7. The Articles of Confederation: a. Established the first form of national government for the independent states b. Maintained that major powers resided with individual states c. Weaknesses of central government (e.g., no power to tax and enforce laws –LED TO the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America) 8. What is important about the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom? Freedom of religious beliefs and opinions What part of the US Constitution did it influence? The religion part of the First Amendment 9. All of the above documents influenced the writing of the United States Constitution. 10. What does the Constitution of the United States of America (including the Bill of Rights) do? a. Establishes the structure of the United States government b. Guarantees equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected c. Affirms individual worth and dignity of all people d. Protects the fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition CE.2c 11. What does the Preamble to the United States Constitution express? The reasons the Constitution was written What are the goals that are stated in the Preamble? a. to form a more perfect union Meaning to form a government better than that under the Articles of Confederation b. to establish justice Meaning to have fair laws and fair courts c. to insure domestic tranquility Meaning to make sure there is peace within the borders d. to provide for the common defense Meaning to keep the country safe from its enemies e. to promote the general welfare Meaning to give all the opportunity to be happy, healthy, and wealthy f. secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity Meaning to ensure that we and future generations keep our freedoms 12. What are the most important words in the United States Constitution? We the people What do they mean? The people rule. (the power comes from the people) CE.2d 13. What is the procedure used to amend the United States Constitution? A. PROPOSAL: action by Congress (2/3 vote of both houses of Congress) B. RATIFICATION: by ¾ of the state legislatures The amendment process is complex. Why? So only necessary amendments are added to the Constitution How many amendments have been added to the Constitution so far? 27 The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are called the Bill of Rights 14. What is the procedure used to amend the Constitution of Virginia? A. PROPOSAL: action by the general Assembly B. RATIFICATION: by the voters of Virginia 15. What does propose mean? suggest 16. What does ratify mean? To approve CE.3b 17. The Constitution of the United States of America establishes and protects the citizens’ fundamental rights and liberties. 18. There are few rights, if any, that are considered absolute. 19. What are the fundamental rights and liberties that are guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America? Freedom of religion Establishment clause: The government may not establish an official religion or endorse (say one religion is better than all) a religion. Free expression clause: We can worship any way we want (or not). Freedom of speech Examples making a speech, expressing your opinion to your friends Meaning Individuals are free to express their opinions and beliefs Freedom of the press Examples newspaper articles/TV news shows Meaning The press has the right to gather and publish information, including that which criticizes the government. Freedom of assembly Examples birthday parties, going to the mall, gathering together for any reason Meaning Individuals may peacefully gather. Freedom of petition Examples sign a petition to send to your Congressman, email your Congressman Meaning Individuals have the right to make their views known to public officials EXPRESSING YOUR OPINION TO THE GOVERNMENT 20. What does the 14th Amendment do?extends the due process protections to the actions of the states 21. What is due process? All of the procedures that the government has to follow if you are accused of a crime CE.7b 22. What does federalism mean? the division of power between the states and the national government 23. What document establishes a federal form of government in this nation? U.S. Constitution 24. Under the Constitution, what level of government is supreme? national 25. The powers not given to the national government by the U.S. Constitution are RESERVED to the states. 26. There are certain powers that are denied to both the national and state governments by the Constitution of the United States. 27. What are the powers of the national government called? EXPRESSED 28. What do we call the powers that both the national government and the state government share? CONCURRENT 29. What are the primary responsibilities of the national level of government? A. Conducts foreign policy B. Regulates commerce C. Provides for the common defense 30. What are the primary responsibilities of the state level of government? Promotes public health, safety, and welfare 31. When federal mandates require state actions without enough funding, tensions exist. CE.6a 32. The legislative branch: Our national legislative branch is called Congress. It is a bicameral legislature, which means it has two houses. The two houses are: Senate and House of Representatives Some of the powers of the legislative branch are: A. Makes the laws of the nation B. Approves the annual budget C. Confirms presidential appointments D. Raises revenue (incoming money) through taxes and other levies E. Declares war 33. The executive branch The executive branch is headed by President of the United States. He is the chief executive of the nation. Some of the powers of the executive branch are: A. Executes (carries out) the laws of the land B. Prepares the annual budget for congressional action C. Appoints Cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges D. Administers (is in charge of) the federal bureaucracy 34. The judicial branch The judicial branch consists of the federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. What is the difference between a judge and a justice? A justice is on the Supreme Court. They are called judges in the other levels of the court system. The Supreme Court exercises the power of judicial review, which is the power to determine the constitutionality of laws and executive acts. The federal (national) courts try two different kinds of cases: A. Those involving federal law B. Those involving interpretation of the Constitution of the United States. 35. What is a budget? A plan for making and spending money CE.6b 36. The Constitution defines the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government in Articles I, II, and III. 37. What does separation of powers mean? Each branch of government has its own special powers 38. What does checks and balances mean? Each branch of government has the power to check the other two branches of government. 39. How can the legislative branch (Congress) check the executive branch (president)? A. Override presidential vetoes B. Impeach and convict a president 40. How can the legislative branch (Congress) check the judicial branch (courts)? A. Confirm or refuse to confirm federal judges/justices B. Impeach and convict judges/justices 41. How can the executive branch (president) check the legislative branch (Congress)? A. Proposes legislation B. Prepares an annual budget for Congress to approve C. Calls special sessions of Congress D. Vetoes legislation Congress has passed 42. How can the executive branch (president) check the judicial branch (courts)? The president appoints judges/justices 43. How can the judicial branch (courts) check the legislative branch (Congress)? Declare acts of Congress (laws) to be unconstitutional 44. How can the judicial branch (courts) check the executive branch (president)? Declare executive actions to be unconstitutional 45. What does appoint mean? Pick someone to do a job 46. What does impeach mean? Formally charging a public official of misconduct in office 47. What does veto mean? To reject a bill passed by Congress