TCI Ch. 9 The Constitution: A More Perfect Union

Why is the U.S. Constitution called a "living document?"

• It has changed with time

• It is rewritten by each president

• It has remained the same over the years

• It is signed each year by members of Congress

Why did the delegates start the Preamble of the Constitution with the words "We the people?"

• To record that all the citizens wrote the Constitution

• To state that government power comes from the people

• To declare that the people were separating from Great Britain

• To provide an introduction that would interest readers

What is the primary work of Congress?

• To make laws for the country

• To debate whether laws are constitutional

• To determine who will be the candidate for president

• To be the chief executives of the states they represent

What is the final step before a national bill becomes a law?

• It is signed by the president

• It is voted on by the citizens

• It is passed by the Supreme Court

• It is approved by the state legislators

Why does each state have 2 senators?

• To balance the rights of large and small states

• so the Senate does not become overcrowded

• to assure there are enough people to pass the laws

• so that one can take over if the other is unavailable

What is the purpose of the system of checks and balances?

• To list the responsibilities of elected officials

• to make it difficult to amend the Constitution

• to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

• to share power between state and national governments

Why does the Constitution establish the principle of majority rule?

• So decisions are based on what the president wants

• So decisions represent what most of the people want

• So decisions are made only when more than half of the people vote

• So decisions are made when most of the member of Congress are present

All of these are duties of the executive branch except

• Negotiating treaties

• Carrying out the laws

• Proposing new taxes

• Nominating federal judges

Which of these describes the responsibility of the judicial branch?

• To put laws into effect

• To resolve disputes under the law

• To veto decisions of the Supreme Court

• To propose bills needed to achieve justice

What is the name given to the Supreme Court's power to declare a law unconstitutional?

• Federalism

• Veto Power

• Impeachment

• Judicial Review