Branches of Gov't

The framers designed a system of checks and balances to

• Share power between the national and state governments
• Make it difficult but no impossible to amend the constitution
• Make sure that the constitution was the supreme law of the land
• Keep any one branch of the government from becoming too powerful

A bill cannot become a law until it is

• Approved by the Congress
• Proposed by the president and approved by Congress
• Approved by Congress and signed by the president
• Proposed by Congress and ratified by the states

The “elastic clause” gives Congress the power to

• Check the powers of the other branches
• Declare actions of the president unconstitutional
• Veto decisions of the Supreme Court
• Pass laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its duties

The Constitution has survived for more than 200 years because it

• Gives more power to the states than the national government
• Combines a strong framework for the government with flexibility
• Creates a framework for government that can never be changed
• Has been amended thousands of times to make it work better

What is the system of government called where the state and national government share power but the national government has most of the power?

• Federalism
• Republicanism
• States’ rights
• Checks and balances

Which of the following is true about Anti-federalists?

• They wanted a strong central government
• They were led by James Madison
• They feared the national government would have too much power
• They wanted to overthrow the Congress and have a president

What did the Great Compromise accomplish?

• It gave large states and small states equal representation
• It gave large states more power in the House and small states equal power in the Senate
• It gave Congress the right to levy (pass) taxes
• It gave southern states the right to count slaves for representation

What did people who supported the ratification of the Constitution call themselves?

• Federalists
• Radicals
• Loyalists
• Confederates

Slavery was a source of controversy at the Constitutional Convention. What was the 3/5 Compromise?

• 3/5 of the slave population would receive citizenship
• 3/5 of the slave population would be allowed to vote
• 3/5 of the slave population counted for the state’s population and for the purpose of taxing
• 3/5 of the slave population would support the Constitution

The president has the power to

• Change bills passed by Congress
• Change laws passed by Congress
• Pass laws without a vote of Congress
• Veto bills passed by Congress