Unit One Review

According to national supremacy, if a state constitutional amendment is in conflict with the U.S. Constitution, then the state amendment must be

• ratified by a convention of state legislators

• added to the U.S. Constitution

• removed from the state constitution

• ratified by Congress

A change to an original document, such as the Constitution, is a(n)

• article

• veto

• amendment

• ratification

Scenario: A federal judge is caught accepting a bribe in exchange for a favorable ruling on a court case. The House of Representatives impeaches and the Senate votes to remove the judge from the bench. What constitutional principle is seen in this scenario?

• Judicial Review

• Limited Government

• Checks and Balances

• Separation of Powers

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances in the United States?

• Congress passes laws by unanimous vote

• The president appoints judges to the Supreme Court

• Congress vetoes a law passed by the president

• The president passes a law in Congress

A written constitution is important because it

• allows government to control its citizens

• prevents citizens from breaking laws

• cannot be changed

• provides a rule book for government

Which of the following best describes the formal process of amending the Constitution?

• Propose an amendment, then have citizens vote on it

• Vote on an amendment, then have Congress ratify it

• Propose an amendment, then have state legislatures ratify it

• Ratify an amendment, then propose it be voted on by Congress

The informal amendment process

• Has been used very little in the past 200 years

• Involves changing the written words of the Constitution

• Can occur only with the approval of the States

• Involves changes to the interpretation of the Constitution, but not the words

When there is a separation of power,

• Power is divided between the National Government and the States

• The people grant the States the authority to govern

• The basic powers of government are held by a single agency

• Power is distributed among three independent branches of government

Scenario: The CIA Director retires giving the President the opportunity to appoint a new Director. The President appoints a long-time member of the CIA as the new Director. The Senate evaluates the nomination and rejects the President’s selection. This scenario illustrates the constitutional principle of:

• Limited Government

• Checks and Balances

• Federalism

• Separation of Powers

What principle is best illustrated by the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution?

• Individual Rights

• Federalism

• Checks and Balances

• Separation of Powers