Week 1

Question 1

Article I of the Constitution

Answer 1

Establishes Congress (HOR & Senate)

Question 2

Legislative Branch

Answer 2

Made up of Congress & special agencies & offices that provide support services to Congress.

Question 3

Article II of the Constitution

Answer 3

Establishes the executive branch of government & the office of the Presidency.

Question 4

Executive Branch

Answer 4

President, Vice President & The Cabinet

Question 5

Article III of the Constitution

Answer 5

Mandates the creation of the Supreme Court & permits the rest of the judicial branch of the federal government.

Question 6

Judicial Branch

Answer 6

Supreme Court and other federal courts.

Question 7

Article IV of the Constitution

Answer 7

Governs relationships between the various states.

Question 8

Article V of the Constitution

Answer 8

Authorizes the federal government to make changes to the Constitution in conjunction with the states by passing amendments.

Question 9

Article VI of the Constitution

Answer 9

Establishes federal law as dominant over state law through what is known as the Supremacy Clause.

Question 10

Article VII of the Constitution

Answer 10

Establishes how the Constitution will initially take effect.

Question 11

System of Checks & Balances

Answer 11

The Constitution divided the government into 3 branches- legislative, executive & judicial.

Question 12

Writs of Certiorari

Answer 12

Request that the Supreme Court order a lower court to send up the record of a case for review.

Question 13

Article III Section 1

Answer 13

The Judicial Power of the U.S. shall be vested in one Supreme Court, & in such inferior courts as the Congress may occasionally ordain/establish.

Question 14

Law Clerks

Answer 14

Each Justice is permitted to have between 3-4 law clerks per Court term. They do legal research, assist Justices in deciding what cases to accept, help prepare questions and assist drafting opinions.

Question 15

Briefs

Answer 15

Petitioner’s compilation of their legal case concerning the issue on which the Court granted review. Not to exceed 50 pages.

Question 16

Oral Arguments

Answer 16

Each lawyer has half an hour to make their best legal case to the Justices. Mostly answering Justice’s questions rather than arguing.

Question 17

U.S. Constitution

Answer 17

Source of legal authority for the United States.

Question 18

Enumerated Powers

Answer 18

Powers granted to the Federal Government and Congress.

Question 19

Sovereignty

Answer 19

Political concept that refers to a dominant power or supreme authority.

Question 20

Bill of Rights

Answer 20

First 10 Amendments of the Constitution that set out individual rights and liberties.

Question 21

Supremacy Clause

Answer 21

The foundational principle that, in general, federal law takes precedence over any conflicting state law.