Powers, Checks and Balances

Which example shows how branches of government interact with each other?

• The Supreme Court rules on a case.

• The House of Representatives votes on a bill.

• The president recommends legislation to Congress.

• The president signs a treaty with a country in Europe

Which of these could result if a state’s population declined over time?

• greater number of electors to the Electoral College

• reduced representation in the United States Senate

• increased funding from Congress for social programs

• reduced representation in the House of Representatives

How is the power of the judicial branch limited by the U.S. Constitution?

• It lacks the authority to approve new legislation.

• It lacks the authority to hand down punishments.

• It lacks the authority to evaluate the actions of government officials.

• It lacks the authority to make people appear in court without their consent.

Which of these excerpts from the United States Constitution best reflects the principle of checks and balances?

• “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States . . . shall be the supreme Law of the Land. . . .”

• “The [listing] in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be [interpreted] to deny . . . others retained by the people.”

• “All persons born or naturalized in the United States . . . are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

• “Every Bill which shall have passed [Congress] shall, before it becomes a Law, be presented to the President of the United States.”

Read the following excerpt and answer the question below. …[W]henever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government… -Declaration of Independence, 1776 Source: National Archives/Public Domain

Which political principle is reflected in this quote?

• class warfare

• social contract

• order of succession

• separation of powers

The concept of separation and balance of powers in the Constitution refers to:

• a separation of powers between various executive departments.

• a separation of powers between the national and state governments.

• a separation of powers between separate and coequal branches of government.

• a separation of individual rights from the rights that are granted to state governments

All of the following goals are outlined in the preamble of the constitution EXCEPT

• Promote general welfare

• Identify rights of all citizens

• Provide for common defense

• Establish a more perfect union

. Read the following excerpt and answer the question below.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure . . . peace, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and [future generations], do [call for] and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Source: www.loc.gov

Based on the excerpt, what was the main reason that the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution?

• They wanted to reduce the power of the states.

• They wanted to improve the alliance of the states.

• They wanted to establish new courts for the states

• They wanted to resolve important differences among the states

Read the following chart and answer the question below.

Which column correctly explains how the legislative branch can check the power of the executive and judicial branches?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Th following statements describe two events relating to the U.S. government....

A. The U.S. Supreme Court declares a law created by Congress unconstitutional

B. Congress passes a new tax law and the Internal Revenue Service enforces it.

What constitutional principles are demonstrated in examples A and B?

• Example A: checks and balances; Example B: separation of powers

• Example A: checks and balances; Example B: judicial review

• Example A: separation of powers; Example B: individual rights

• Example A: separation of powers; Example B: checks and balances