6 Big Ideas of the US Constitution

Which statement best illustrates the meaning of federalism?

• All citizens enjoy the basic rights of freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly.

• The Constitution delegates certain powers to the national government but reserves other powers for the states.

• The Constitution can be changed by amendments ratified by Congress.

• The House of Representatives has the power to impeach the president, and the Senate has the power to conduct an impeachment trial.

The power of the president to veto laws and the power of the House of Representatives to impeach are examples of

• federalism

• the unwritten constitution

• executive privilege

• checks and balances

The term federalism is best described as the

• division of power between the national government and state governments

• creation of a two-house legislature in the national government

• method of reviewing laws and executive actions

• establishment of three branches of government

Federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances are constitutional principles that directly

• empower more voters

• restrict individual liberties

• involve citizens in the governing process

• reduce the concentration of governmental power

To prevent tyranny, the authors of the Constitution drew on Montesquieu's concept of

• religious liberty

• universal suffrage

• separation of powers

• supremacy of the nobility

The phrase "consent of the governed" refers to the

• source of the government's power

• need to create political parties

• commitment to use implied powers

• development of a federal system of government

Which statement expresses the meaning of the opening words of the United States Constitution, "We, the people ..."?

• Sovereignty is derived from the consent of the governed.

• All citizens are guaranteed freedom of speech.

• Federal laws are subject to popular referendum.

• Americans favor unrestricted immigration.

A fundamental principle of a republican form of government is that

• hereditary rulers are the legitimate possessors of political power

• legislation must be passed by the elected representatives of the people

• laws should be created directly by the citizens

• governments are not responsible for protecting individual rights

"...it is the opinion of this committee that a national government ought to be established consisting of a Supreme Legislature, Judiciary, and Executive...." In adopting this resolution, the framers of the Constitution showed their belief in the idea of

• judicial review

• an elastic clause

• States rights

• separation of powers

- Resolution submitted by Edmund Randolph, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, 1787 "Senate Rejects Supreme Court Nominee" "Supreme Court Declares National Recovery Act (NRA) Unconstitutional" "Congress Overrides Truman Veto of Taft-Hartley Act" Each of these headlines illustrates the use of

• reserved powers

• checks and balances

• executive privilege

• federal supremacy