Challenges of a New Nation 2B

Read the text from the Preamble to the US Constitution. Then answer the question that follows.

"We the people of the United States..."

Why was this phrase included at the beginning of the US Constitution?

• to show that people should follow the government's rules

• to show that the government gets its power from the people

• to explain why the country is more important than individual people

• to explain why the people have less power than the US government

Why was the Bill of Rights included in the US Constitution?

• to protect the rights of people and states under a strong federal government

• to fix many of the problems experienced under the Articles of Confederation

• to make sure the Constitution was easy to amend if the government became too strong

• to strengthen the federal government and prevent the problems of the Articles of Confederation

What is one way the people are in charge of the US government?

• by paying their taxes on time

• by respecting the president's power

• by obeying the laws that are passed

• by deciding who to elect to represent them

Which of the following BEST describes the government of the United States?

• rule by the people

• rule by a few

• rule by one

• rule by force

Is the United States a direct democracy or a representative democracy? Why or why not?

• It is a direct democracy because every citizen has to follow the government's laws

• It is a direct democracy because citizens vote on which laws they want to be made

• It is a representative democracy because only adult citizens are allowed to vote in elections

• It is a representative democracy because citizens elect others to serve in government for them

The Constitution put into place a separation of powers that means that

• every branch has the right to govern the other branches

• every branch has specific responsibilities not given to the other branches

• the legislative branch is the strongest branch

• all branches interpret the Constitution

The Separation of Powers under the US Constitution

Article I.

Legislative Branch: The legislative branch makes the laws

Article II.

Executive Branch: The executive branch enforces the laws.

Article III.

Judicial Branch: The judicial branch interprets the law.

Why did the Framers of the Constitution separate the powers of government in this way?

• to allow the government to pass laws quickly

• to allow citizens to participate in government

• to make sure the central government was strong

• to make sure no one branch had too much power

Why did the Framers of the Constitution divide government powers between different branches and levels of government?

• to provide checks and balances

• to limit the political power or citizens

• to create a strong federal government

• to help the president control the government

Look at the picture of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Which right is being exercised by the people in the picture?

• right to a public trial

• right to assemble

• freedom of religion

• freedom of the press

Read the following:

"Jackson is downtown at a public park. While there, he sees a man speaking loudly about the government. As Jackson listens, he becomes angry because he believes the man is wrong about the government and should have more respect for it. He thinks that he should tell the man to leave the park."

Which of the following BEST explains why Jackson should or should not tell the man to leave?

• Jackson is wrong because he should call the police to deal with the man

• Jackson is right because people are not allowed to say things others dislike

• Jackson is right because someone else might try to hurt the man

• Jackson is wrong because the man has a right to say whatever he believes