John Baker - Breathitt High School

Examine the Constitution

Examine the Constitution

The best way to learn about the Constitution is to actually read it! It's short. It's important. Although it is very deep, it is also not hard to read.

The Constitution of the United States of America http://constitutioncenter.org/constitution/full-text

A copy of the Constitution with explanation http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm

Use the Constitution to complete the following outline

The Preamble to the Constitution

The Preamble describes purpose of establishing the Constitution and describes the responsibilities of our government.

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Bonus questions regarding the preamble are found at the end of this assignment.

List the function of each Article

Article I: __________________________________________________

Article II: __________________________________________________

Article III: __________________________________________________

Article IV: __________________________________________________

Article V: ___________________________________________________

Article VI: __________________________________________________

Article VII: __________________________________________________

Article I The Legislative Branch

What are the qualifications for members of the House of Representatives?

What are the qualifications for members of the Senate?

List some of the powers or responsibilities of the members of Congress

House of Representatives

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

The Senate

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

Both Houses of Congress

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________

7. ________________________________________________

What title is given to the leader of the House of Representatives? __________________________ __________

What other title/position does the President of the Senate hold? _________________________ ____________

List five powers that are denied to Congress by the Constitution.

1. _____________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________

List five powers that are denied to the States by the Constitution.

1. _____________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________

Article II The Executive Branch

What is the function of the Electoral College? __________________________

What formula is used to determine how many electors each state will have?

What are the qualifications for the president?

List five Powers or Duties of the President as described in the Constitution.

1. _____________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________

Under what circumstances can the president be removed from office?

1. _____________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

Article III The Judicial Branch

What is the term of a federal judge? _________________________________ Under what circumstances does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction? _______________________________________________________________ Describe the process through which a federal judge gets his or her position. _______________________________________________________________ What is the definition of Treason?___________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Describe the following requirements of each position; Minimum Age, Years a Citizen, Term of Office

President

House of Representative

Senate

Supreme Court

Article IV Relations among the States

What is extradition? ____________________________________________________________

What branch of government admits new states? ______________________________________

What is meant by the term: republican form of government?

Article V Amendment Procedures

Describe the process by which the Constitution is amended.

Article VI Supremacy of the Constitution

What is the ‘Supreme law of the land’? ____________________________ ____________________________

What does that phrase mean?

How does the concept “Supreme law of the land” apply to everyday issues; please include an example to clarify your statement.

Article VII Ratification

How many states must ratify the Constitution in order for it to be adopted?__________

Bonus explain each phrase found in the Preamble

A. WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, __________________________________________________________

B. IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION

__________________________________________________________

C. ESTABLISH JUSTICE

__________________________________________________________

D. INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY

__________________________________________________________

E. PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENCE

__________________________________________________________

F. PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE

_________________________________________________________

G. SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY

_________________________________________________________

H. TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY

________________________________________________________

I. DO ORDAIN AND ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA _________________________________________________________