Study Island - Constitution

How does the rule of law protect people from an abuse of power by officials in government?

• Officials can make up new laws against the will of the people.

• Citizens can establish new laws without input from officials.

• Officials and citizens are the same under the law.

• There is no way to punish an official who breaks the law.

Habeas corpus is a Latin phrase for "that you have the body." In our judicial system, habeas corpus has meant that authorities have to bring a prisoner before the judge to prove why the person has been imprisoned.

How is habeas corpus a protection for individual rights?

• Habeas corpus establishes the amount of bail that a person needs to pay.

• Habeas corpus means that a prisoner can be moved to a new location at any time.

• Habeas corpus prevents officials from changing the law to arrest a person.

• Habeas corpus protects a person from being illegally imprisoned.

Which of the following best explains the significance of the phrase "We the People" at the beginning of the U.S. Constitution?

• The powers of the government listed in the Constitution come from the people.

• The people are able to choose the parts of the Constitution they want to follow.

• The Constitution only applies to people living in certain states.

• The people are able to rewrite the Constitution whenever they want.

The Preamble includes the phrase "provide for the common defense." Which of the following powers granted by the Constitution relates to the defense of the United States?

• Congress has the authority to declare war against a foreign nation.

• Congress has the authority to establish post offices.

• Congress has the authority to coin money.

• Congress has the authority to grant patents to inventors.

Preamble to the Constitution

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The basic functions of the United States government are defined in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court is one example of how the U.S. government

• provides for the common defense.

• promotes the general welfare.

• ensures domestic tranquility.

• establishes justice.

Why was it important that the Constitution gave the federal government the power to "ensure domestic tranquility"?

• Taxes were so high that the economy began to fail.

• Individual states refused to raise militias to keep the peace.

• The Confederation Congress had no power to put down rebellions.

• Invasions from Canada were threatening to take western frontiers.

Which of the following facts is an example of the Constitutional principle of separation of powers?

• Each branch of the federal government has different responsibilities.

• Amendments to the Constitution provide for term limits on the presidency.

• The Constitution provides for a strong central government and for state governments.

• The Bill of Rights protects the individual rights of individuals.

Preamble to the Constitution

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects each person's freedom of speech. Which of these best shows how freedom of speech meets a purpose of the Preamble to the Constitution?

• Freedom of speech provides for common defense. It gives the country strength to protect itself against enemies.

• Freedom of speech secures the blessings of liberty. It keeps people from being punished for their opinions.

• Freedom of speech supports the general welfare. It promises that people's needs will be equally taken care of.

• Freedom of speech forms a more perfect Union. It brings people together in agreement with each other.

W. No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

X. The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments.

Y. The Congress shall have Power To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.

Z. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

Which excerpt from the U.S. Constitution reflect the principle of separation of powers?

• Z

• X

• W

• Y

Freedom of speech is protected by the Constitution in the First Amendment. However, there are some limits to this right. Which scenario shows an example of a time when the right of free speech might be limited?

• a person yells "Fire!" in a crowded movie theater when there is no fire

• a group holds a peaceful protest outside a government building

• a minister holds a voluntary prayer service at a public building

• a newspaper prints an honest and fair article on a company's activities.