_________:supreme law of the land.
Constitution
What does the Constitution do?
- The Constitution …
- sets up the government
- defines the government.
- protects basic rights of Americans
_________: The idea of self-government is in the first 3 words of the Constitution.
“WE THE PEOPLE”
What is an amendment?
A CHANGE TO THE CONSTITUTION or AN ADDITION
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
▪ speech ▪ religion ▪ assembly ▪ press ▪ petition the government
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
27
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
The Declaration of Independence
- announced our independence (from GREAT BRITAIN)
- declared our independence (from GREAT BRITAIN)
- said that the United States is free (from GREAT BRITAIN)
What are 2 rights in the Declaration of Independence?
2 rights in the Declaration of Independence
- Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of happiness
What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion or not practice a religion.
What is the economic system in the United States?
- capitalist economy
market economy
What is the “rule of the law”?
- Everyone must follow the law.
- Leaders must obey the law.
Government must obey the law.
No one is above the law.
Name one branch or part of the government.
- Congress
- legislative
- president
- executive
- the courts
- judicial
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
- checks and balances
- seperation of powers
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
President
Who makes federal laws?
- congress
- senate and House (of Representatives)/
- (US or national) legislature
What are the 2 parts of the US Congress?
Senate & House (of Representatives)
How many US senators are there?
100
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
6 years
How many voting members does the House of Representatives have?
435
We elect a US Representative for how many years?
2 years
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
all people of the state
Why do some states have more representatives than other states?
- (because of) the state’s population.
- (because) they have more people
- (because) some states have more people
We elect a President for how many years?
4 years
In what month do we vote for president?
November
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
- Donald J. Trump
- Donald Trump
- Trump
What is the name of the vice president of the United States now?
- Michael R. Pence
- Mike Pence
- Pence
If the president can no longer serve, who becomes President?
vice President
If both the president and the vice president can no longer serve, who becomes President?
the speaker of the House
_____: the commander in chief of the military.
- signs bills to become laws.
The president
What does the President’s cabinet do?
advises the president
What are 2 cabinet level positions?
- Secretary of Agriculture
- Secretary of Defense
What does the judicial branch do?
- reviews laws
- explains laws
- resolves disputes (disagreements)
- decides if a law goes against the Constitution
____________: the highest court in the United States.
The Supreme Court
______: chief Justice of the United States now.
John Roberts
- John G. Roberts Jr.
Under the Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government??
- to print money
- to declare war
- to create an army
- to make treaties
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
- provide schooling & education
- provide protection ( police)
- provide safety (fire departments)
- give a drivers license
- approve zoning and land use