U.S. Constitution Study Guide

Article 1, Section 8: Congressional (Legislative) Powers

• Borrow money

• Make immigration laws

• Declare war

• Create state laws

Article 1, Sections 2 & 3: Power of Impeachment involves which two steps?

• 1. House of Representatives drafts articles of Impeachment; 2. Senate conducts the impeachment trial.

• 1. Senate drafts articles of Impeachment; 2. House of Representatives conducts the impeachment trial.

• 1. House of Representatives votes on the impeachment; 2. Senate drafts articles of Impeachment.

• 1. House of Representatives conducts the impeachment trial; 2. Senate votes on the impeachment.

Seven Articles (sections) of the Constitution

• Original legislation that defined the new government as the Founding Fathers drafted it in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention

• A series of amendments added to the Constitution in 1791

• The preamble outlining the goals of the Constitution

• A collection of state constitutions that influenced the federal Constitution

Great Compromise, or Connecticut Compromise

• Created a single branch of Congress with equal representation for all states

• Established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate

• Eliminated the Senate and created a House of Representatives only

• Created a system where larger states have no representation

Article VII

• Ratification (process for the states to approve the Constitution)

• Amendment (process for changing the Constitution)

• Interpretation (process for understanding the Constitution)

• Enforcement (process for implementing the Constitution)

When was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?

• 1787

• 1791

• 1801

• 1776

Bill of Rights

• 1. First 10 Amendments to the Constitution

• 2. A document outlining the powers of the President

• 3. A treaty between the states

• 4. A list of state rights

Executive Branch

• The President

• The Congress

• The Supreme Court

• The Cabinet

Three-Fifths Compromise

• It was a compromise that counted slaves as two-fifths of a person for representation purposes.

• It was part of the Great Compromise, counting slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation in the House of Representatives.

• It allowed states without slaves to have more representation in Congress.

• It was an agreement that abolished slavery in the United States.

Article 2, Section 2:
Presidential Powers

• Commander in Chief of the military

• Grants pardons

• Enforces the laws (through the Department of Justice)

• Appoints members of Congress