1. American Government Mr. Bordelon

2.  Articles  Constitutionalism  Rule of law  Separation of powers  Checks and balances  Veto  Judicial review  federalism  Amendments  Amendment process  Bill of Rights  Executive agreement  Treaties  Cabinet

3.  A governmental system in which the powers of government are divided on a geographic basis.

4. ◦ Federalism.

5.  The group that makes the formal selection of the nation’s President.

6. ◦ Electoral college.

7.  The idea that government must conduct itself in accordance with the principles of the Constitution.

8. ◦ Constitutionalism.

9.  The power of courts to determine the constitutionality of a law or other governmental action.

10. ◦ Judicial review.

11.  A system by which one branch of government can be restrained by one or both of the branches.

12. ◦ Checks and balances.

13.  Under the principle of _____, the Federal Government has three equal branches.

14. ◦ Separation of powers.

15.  The Constitution is divided into seven major sections, called _____.

16. ◦ Articles.

17.  The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known as the _____.

18. ◦ Bill of Rights.

19.  _____ results in changes to the written words of the Constitution.

20. ◦ Formal amendment.

21.  The principle of _____ states that government must be bound by a fundamental law.

22. ◦ Rule of law.

23.  What are the six basic principles of the Constitution?

24. ◦ Popular sovereignty ◦ Limited government ◦ Checks and balances ◦ Separation of powers ◦ Judicial review ◦ Federalism

25.  How are popular sovereignty and limited government related?

26. ◦ Popular sovereignty states that the people are the source of all government power. ◦ Limited government states that the government can do only those things that the people have given it the power to do.

27.  What is the purpose of checks and balances?

28. ◦ To prevent one branch of government from having too much power over the other branches.

29.  How can the judicial branch check the legislative branch?

30. ◦ Judges may overturn a law when they decide that it is unconstitutional.

31.  How can the executive branch check the legislative branch?

32. ◦ Presidents may veto legislation and call special sessions.

33.  How many amendments have been added to the Constitution?

34. ◦ 27

36.  How does federalism apply in the amendment process?

37. ◦ Federal government proposes and states ratify.

38.  Name one way the Constitution has been changed by informal amendment.

39. ◦ Passage of basic legislation by Congress ◦ Actions taken by the President ◦ Key decisions of the Supreme Court ◦ Activities of political parties ◦ Custom

40.  How has Congress contributed to the process of constitutional change and development?

41. ◦ By passing laws that fill out the provisions of the Constitution and laws that expand congressional power.

42.  Name one example of the exercise of presidential power that show the constitutional change by informal amendment.

43. ◦ Use armed forces as commander in chief (without congressional declaration of war; think emergency defense). ◦ Executive agreements.

44.  Name one way in which custom has affected the constitution.

45. ◦ Cabinet ◦ Third-terms

46.  What is a treaty? What is an executive agreement?

47. ◦ An executive agreement is a pact made by the President directly with the head of a foreign state. ◦ A treaty is a binding international agreement that requires the Senate to ratify/agree/consent.

48.  Amendments!