Understanding the U.S. Constitution

Which segment of government, not branch, is responsible for proposing federal government spending budgets? (SSCG4a) (DOK2)

• the House of Representatives

• The Executive Branch

• The Judicial Branch

• The Senate

(a)   is a power that the President of the United States can exercise. (SSCG4a) (DOK2)

• overturn an unconstitutional state
• vote for a bill that is being discu
• veto a bill passed by Congress
• declare a federal law unconstitutio

This section of the Constitution limits the power of the federal government by allowing (a)  

• It allows the Supreme Court to rule
• It allows the President to overturn
• It allows Congress to pass laws lim
• It allows states to appoint and rem

Because of the separation of powers in the United States government, the Legislative branch may enact laws, the Executive branch may veto laws, and the Judicial branch may (SSCG4b) (DOK1)

• declare war by law.

• enact laws to appoint judges.

• begin impeachment proceedings against the Executive branch.

• decide that a law is unconstitutional.

(a)   is an advantage of the system of checks and balances. (SSCG4b) (DOK2)

• It makes it easy for one branch of
• It allows the executive branch to s
• It prevents the Judicial branch fro
• It requires each branch to work tog

The BEST title for this chart is (a)   (SSCG4b) (DOK2)

• Legislative Branch Checks on the Ex
• Judicial Branch Checks on the Legis
• Legislative Branch Checks on the Ju
• Judicial Branch Checks on the Execu

How do these two excerpts BEST illustrate the limitation of the federal government’s power? (SSCG4b) (DOK3)

• The President commands the military but cannot go to war without Congress’s approval.

• The President has the power to declare war, but Congress regulates prisoners of war.

• The President has the power to declare war, but Congress regulates prisoners of war.

• Congress can impeach a government official, but the President can grant pardons.

What type of government has a division of powers between a central authority and regional entities, with the central authority holding the ultimate power? (SSCG5a) (DOK1)

• a. a confederate government.

• b. a parliamentary government.

• c. a unitary government.

• d. a federal government

What word BEST completes this principle of the United States government? (SSCG5a) (DOK3) "Powers not given to the United States by the Constitution, nor denied to it by the states, are _____ to the states respectively, or to the people." -Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

• Denied

• Supreme

• Reserved

• Optional

Match the following government principles with their definitions.

• A principle where the legislative, judicial, and executive powers are held by different groups and people.

• separation of powers

• A system where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

• checks and balances

• A system that allows each branch of a government to amend or veto acts of another branch to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power.

• reserved powers

• Powers that are not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States.

• federalism