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WorksheetsOrigins of American Government Part 2
Total questions: 60
Worksheet time: 54mins
Where in the Preamble of the United States Constitution does it mention the idea of, "peace in our country?"
Justice
Common Defense
General Welfare
Domestic Tranquility
The Preamble lists the __________ of the United States Constitution.
Grievances
Unalienable Rights
Goals and Purposes
Weaknesses
The promise from the Preamble that mentions the idea of fairness is ___.
promote the general welfare
insure domestic tranquility
establish justice
provide for the common defense
The promise from the Preamble that describes peace in our country is ___.
establish justice
provide for the common defense
promote the general welfare
insure domestic tranquility
What is the Preamble?
gain and keep safe the gifts of freedom and independence
encourage the condition of health and happiness for everyone
do make official and begin this written document of basic laws.
The introduction to the United States Constitution.
Congress overrides a President's veto?
Congress creates lower federal courts?
Congress impeaches a president?
Congress impeaches a judge?
Congress refuses to approve judicial appointments.
Congress refuses to approve presidential treaties?
Congress refuses to approve presidential appointments?
the President vetoes a bill?
the President nominates judges to federal courts?
the Supreme Court declares an presidential act unconstitutional?
Which branch of government enforces or carries out the laws?
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
none
Which example shows how branches of government interact with each other?
The Supreme Court rules on a case.
The House of Representatives votes on a bill.
The president recommends legislation to Congress.
The president signs a treaty with a country in Europe
How is the power of the judicial branch limited by the U.S. Constitution?
It lacks the authority to approve new legislation.
It lacks the authority to hand down punishments.
It lacks the authority to evaluate the actions of government officials.
It lacks the authority to make people appear in court without their consent.
Which of these excerpts from the United States Constitution best reflects the principle of checks and balances?
“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States . . . shall be the supreme Law of the Land. . . .”
“The [listing] in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be [interpreted] to deny . . . others retained by the people.”
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States . . . are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
“Every Bill which shall have passed [Congress] shall, before it becomes a Law, be presented to the President of the United States.”
The concept of separation and balance of powers in the Constitution refers to:
a separation of powers between various executive departments.
a separation of powers between the national and state governments.
a separation of powers between separate and coequal branches of government.
a separation of individual rights from the rights that are granted to state governments
All of the following goals are outlined in the preamble of the constitution EXCEPT
Promote general welfare
Identify rights of all citizens
Provide for common defense
Establish a more perfect union
. Read the following excerpt and answer the question below.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure . . . peace, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and [future generations], do [call for] and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Source: www.loc.gov
Based on the excerpt, what was the main reason that the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution?
They wanted to reduce the power of the states.
They wanted to improve the alliance of the states.
They wanted to establish new courts for the states
They wanted to resolve important differences among the states
Read the following information and answer the question below.
The federal government is divided into three branches: the executive power, granted to the president; the legislative power, given to Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate); and the judicial power, vested in one Supreme Court and other federal courts created by Congress. The Constitution provides a system of checks and balances designed to avoid the tyranny of any one branch. Most important actions require the participation of more than one branch of government.
For example, Congress passes laws, but the president can veto them. The executive branch prosecutes persons for criminal violations, but they must be tried by the courts.
Which statement about the executive branch should be added to the information?
When prosecuting a suspect, the executive branch must secure funds from the legislative branch.
When building a court system, the executive branch must gain approval from the judicial branch.
When appointing judges, the executive branch must gain approval from the legislative branch.
When vetoing a law, the executive branch must wait for approval from the judicial branch.
The statement below was written by John Adams in April 1776.
A representation of the people in one assembly being obtained, a question arises, whether all the powers of government, legislative, executive, and judicial, shall be left in this body? I think a people cannot be long free, nor ever happy, whose government is in one assembly.
Source: Thoughts on Government, Letter of John Adams
Which basic principle of American government is John Adams describing in this statement?
separation of powers
individual rights
natural laws
civic virtue
The newspaper headline below describes an event in U.S. history.
Which parts of the national government participated in the process described in the newspaper headline?
Supreme Court and president
House of Representatives and Senate
Supreme Court and House of Representatives
Senate and president
We must start with a fresh document, fixing the Articles of Confederation isn’t enough.
Federalist
Antifederalist
The Constitution contains no Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties like freedom of speech, trial by jury, and the right against searches and seizures.
Federalist
Antifederalist
A strong President is necessary to protect the country against foreign attack and make sure laws are carried out properly.
Federalist
Antifederalist
The Constitution gives too much power to the central government, overpowering the states.
Federalist
Antifederalist
Nothing in the Constitution says the federal government has power to limit people’s freedoms in the first place.
Federalist
Antifederalist
The President created by the Constitution is really just a king.
Federalist
Antifederalist
The Constitution says federal laws are “the supreme law of the land,” so the federal government could just take complete control.
Federalist
Antifederalist
The Constitution is a Bill of Rights because it guarantees citizens a role in government.
Federalist
Antifederalist
“We have no reason to eliminate our state governments, or think they are incapable of acting wisely. Our state governments should be the guardians of our rights and interests.”
Federalist
Anti-Federalists
“It is unfair to presume that the representatives of the people will be tyrants in the federal government, but not the in the state government. If we are convinced that the federal government will pass laws that go against the interests of the people, then we should have no federal government at all. But if we unite, we can accomplish great things. ”
Federalists
Anti-Federalist
“No reasonable man would want to establish a government that is unfriendly to the liberty of the people. Do not assume, gentlemen, that the advocates of this Constitution are motivated by their ambition. It is an unjust and uncharitable view. ”
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
“Is it not possible to find a set of representatives who are familiar with all parts of the continent? Can you find men in Georgia who know what’s happening in New Hampshire, who know what taxes will best suit its inhabitants, and how much they can afford? Can the best men make laws for the people they know nothing about?”
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
“Our country is too large to have all affairs directed by a single government.”
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
“I had rather be a free citizen of the small republic of Massachusetts, than an oppressed subject of the great American empire."
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
Who has the power to make sure the other branches are following the U.S. Constitution?
Executive
Judicial
Legislative
