Unit 4 Review Sheet

Unit 4: The U.S. Constitution

Federalism

In the spring of 1789, George Washington was set to become the nation's first president marking the beginning of a new national government. After the failures of the Articles of Confederation, a new, stronger national government based on the Constitution was ratified. The Constitution gave a lot more power to the national government, but also set up a system of sharing power with the states. The Constitution also divided the national government into three branches; with each branch having separate powers and checks on the other two branches. Finally, while the Founding Fathers created a government that limited democracy and people's power, over time the Constitution has been changed to guarantee rights for all citizens. Today, the Constitution continues to serve as a framework for the national government and protect the rights of the people.

Terms/Vocabulary:

constitution Elastic Clause 19. override
preamble 11. Legislative Branch 20. impeach
electoral college 12. Executive Branch 21. judicial review
"Faithless Elector" 13. Judicial Branch 22. unconstitutional
federalism 14. bicameral 23. amendment
concurrent powers 15. cabinet 24. Bill of Rights
delegated powers 16. separation of powers 25. citizenship
reserved powers 17. checks and balances 26. voting rights/requirements
implied powers 18. veto 27. political party

Key Questions:

1. Explain how the Electoral College works and why it was included in the Constitution.
   
2. Explain the concept of federalism and the varying roles and responsibilities of the federal, state, and local governments.
   
3. Identify the qualifications and lengths of terms for members of Congress (both parts), the President, and judges on the Supreme Court?
   
4. How many representatives does a state have in each part of Congress?
   
5. Identify the separate powers of each branch? For the Legislative Branch, how are powers divided and shared between the Senate and House of Representatives?
   
6. Explain the concept of checks and balances and provide 3 examples.
   
7. Explain the Impeachment process. How is a president removed from office?
   
8. Identify the steps and procedure for making a law and an amendment.
   
9. What is the difference between a plurality, a majority, and a 2/3 majority?
   
10. Identify the individual rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. (Know the first 10 amendments.)
    
11. Identify the following significant amendments to the Constitution and explain how the right to vote has been expanded to all citizens: Amendments 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, and 26.