US Constitution

Question 1

What are the first 10 amendments in the US constitution known as?

Answer 1

The Bill of Rights

Question 2

What are the Reconstruction Amendments?

Answer 2

13th (banned slavery), 14th (everyone born in US is citizen), and 15th (all male citizens have the right to vote) amendments

Question 3

When was the last amendment?

Answer 3

1992 (27th)

Question 4

When was the Bill of Rights enshrined?

Answer 4

1791

Question 5

When was the US Constitution drafted and ratified?

Answer 5

1787-1790

Question 6

What were the initial 7 articles in the US constitution called?

Answer 6

1. The legislative branch
2. The executive branch
3. The judicial branch
4. Federal-state relationships
5. The amendment process
6. Federal supremacy
7. The ratification process

Question 7

What are the 2 types of powers granted by the US constitution?

Answer 7

1. Enumerated (expressly given)
2. Implied (inferred)

Question 8

How many constitutional amendments have there been?

Answer 8

27

Question 9

Which 2 conditions have to be met for the constitution to be amended (unless there is a constitutional convention)?

Answer 9

1. A two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate
2. A simple majority in three quarters of state legislatures

Question 10

Which 5 things does the constitution guarantee with regards to elections?

Answer 10

1. Presidential elections every 4 years
2. 2-year terms for members of the House
3. 6-year terms for senators
4. A number of posts at federal, state, and local level to be elected
5. The Electoral College as the system for presidential elections

Question 11

What are arguably the 5 elements of a good constitution?

Answer 11

1. Effective guide to practice
2. Flexibility
3. Strong government
4. Democracy
5. Civil liberties

Question 12

What are the 6 main advantages of the US constitution?

Answer 12

1. A highly representative government (frequent elections, short terms for the House, separation of powers)
2. Prevention of tyranny (separation of powers, checks and balances)
3. Human rights protections (powerful Supreme Court)
4. Safety from politicians (amendment process)
5. Effective operation (vagueness of the constitution allows interpretation to change with the times)
6. Powerful states (federal-state relationships, amendment process)

Question 13

What are the 6 main disadvantages of the US constitution?

Answer 13

1. Disproportional government (electoral college)
2. Legislative gridlock (legislative process)
3. Limited democracy (Supreme Court unelected and powerful)
4. Rigidity (amendment process)
5. Loopholes (vagueness of the constitution)
6. Insufficient protections for states (federal government dominates policy-making)