Principles of Constitution

"The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted." - James Madison

Based on the quote above, which principal of government would James Madison have supported?

• checks and balances

• popular sovereignty

• self-government

• federalism

"The accumulation of all powers,...in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, ...may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."

- James Madison

Based upon the quote, which principle would Madison most likely have wanted included in the structure of the United States government to prevent tyranny?

• federalism

• natural rights

• popular sovereignty

• separation of powers

Which principle does the judicial branch apply when it declares a law made by the legislative branch unconstitutional?

• judicial privlege

• checks and balances

• separation of powers

• consent of the governed

Which check does the president have over congress?

• vetoing laws

• approving treaties

• approving nominations

• declaring laws unconstitutional

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.”

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

Why was separation of powers included in the constitution?

• to ensure that all citizens would become active participants in the government

• to provide a more efficient manner in which to organize the government

• to make the federal government move slowly compared with the states

• to prevent one branch of government from gaining too much control over the federal government

"Unless [the three branches] be so far connected and blended as to give to each [control] over the others, the degree of separation essential to a free government, can never in practice be maintained"

Which constitutional principle does Madison describe in the passage?

• Popular sovereignty

• Judicial review

• Federalism

• Checks and balances

Which principle states that the government gets its power from the people?

• limited government
• checks and balances
• popular sovereignty
• federalism

Which term means that citizens elect leaders who make tough decisions on our behalf?

• republicanism
• checks and balances
• separation of power
• federalism