Unit 2B - Social Studies

The first words of the U.S. Constitution are "We the people of the United States...". Why does the U.S. Constitution begin with these words?

• People should follow laws.

• The U.S. government gets its power from the people.

• The country is more important than individual people.

• People have less power than the government.

The Bill of Rights were included in the U.S. Constitution to ____ the rights of people and states under a strong _____ government?

• protect; federal

• federal; protect

• protect; state

• state; protect

What is 1 way people are in charge of the U.S. government?

• by paying their taxes on time

• by obeying the laws

• deciding who to elect to represent them

• respecting the U.S. president

The U.S. government is ____ by the _____.

• ruled; people

• people; ruled

• lost; people

• people; lost

The U.S. is a ____ democracy because ____ elect other to serve in ______ for them.

• direct; citizens; government

• representative; government; citizens

• direct; government; citizens

• representative; citizens; government

Why did the framers of the U.S. Constitution separate powers of the government into 3 branches?

• The government can pass laws quickly.

• To make sure 1 branch does not get too much power.

• To make sure the central government was strong.

• Citizens can participate in government.

The U.S. Constitution has separation of powers. This means what?

• Every branch can rule over the others.

• The legislative is the strongest branch.

• All branches can decide (interpret) what the Constitution means.

• Each branch has specific responsibilities not given to the other branches.

The U.S. government is divided government powers between the 3 branches and levels of government to provide _____ and _____.

• checks and balances

• balances and checks

• legislative and executive

• executive and judicial

Look at the picture and choose which right the people in the picture are exercising.

• right to a public trial

• right to assemble

• freedom of religion

• freedom of the press

You visit a local park and hear a man speaking loudly about the government. You become angry as you listen because you believe the man is wrong about the government and should have more respect. You think you should tell the man to leave. Which explains why you can or cannot ask the man to leave?

• You should call the police to deal with the man

• You should ask the man to leave because people are not allowed to say what others may dislike.

• You should not ask the man to leave because the man has freedom of speech.

• You should ask him to leave because someone may hurt the man.