US Government Basics

The supreme law of the land, written by the "founding fathers" in 1787 after the Articles of Confederation were found to be too weak, is ____________.

• Star Spangled Banner

• the Constitution

• the Declaration of Independence

• Pledge of Allegiance

The Preamble of the Constitution begins with

• "When the course of human events..."

• "We the citizens need to form..."

• "As the people of the United States..."

• "We the people..."

A change to the Constitution is called

• an Amendment

• the Preamble

• an Article

• Rights

What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called?

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• States Rights

• Bill of Rights

This amendment in the Bill of Rights protects freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

• First Amendment

• Second Amendment

• 15th Amendment

• Fourth Amendment

What does the constitutional concept called Checks and Balances mean?

• Each branch can check the local and state government's power.

• Each branch of government can check another branches power to ensure it does not become too powerful.

• The three branches can all do whatever they want without checking with each other.

• All of the branches have to agree on every decision made.

The three branches of our Federal Government are

• Federal, State and Local

• Executive, Legislative and Judicial

• Constitutional, Criminal and Civil Laws

• The President, The Vice President and The Cabinet

The executive branch (President) can "check and balance" the legislative branch (Congress) by

• declaring laws unconstitutional

• vetoing bills

• passing laws over a veto

• controlling salaries

The legislative branch can "check and balance" the executive branch by

• firing the president

• overriding a presidential veto and impeaching a president

• electing a new president and by closing Congress

• by ratifying new amendments

Another name for the legislative branch is_______________ .

• Congress

• The Senate

• The Supreme Court

• The House of representatives