The+Constitution

1. What is the Purpose of the Preamble?

 * The Preamble announces the purpose of the Constitution in general, names the "People of the United States" as its author, and outlines the specific areas that the new Constitution would improve over the Articles of Confederation

2. What are the three branches, and what are their roles?

 * ======The Legislative branch, named in Article One, makes the law.======
 * The Executive branch, named in Article Two, enforces the law.
 * The Judicial branch, named in Article Three, interprets and applies the law.

3. Why did the founding fathers design the Constitution this way?

 * ======Separation of powers is a way to protect against tyranny and monarchy, of which the framers were afraid.======

4. What are the drawbacks of this design?

 * ======Separation of powers produces a slow government======

5. What did Madison say about checks and balances in Federalist 51 ?

 * "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place." From [].
 * This means that each branch functions in a way that limits what the other branches can do, preventing any branch from getting too much power.

6. Of what must a president be guilty in order to be impeached?

 * ======High Crimes and Misdemeanors======
 * "Impeachment is the process by which a civil officer of the United States is charged with wrongdoing."[| From the Constitution Center]

7. Define habeas corpus:

 * ======A court action that protects the right to challenge your arrest or imprisonment======

8. What is the difference between delegated, reserved, and concurrent powers?

 * ======A delegated power is one that the States (or the people) gave to the Federal Government in the Constitution.======
 * A reserved power is one that the States (or the people) did not give to the Federal Government,
 * A concurrent power is one that the people gave to both the States and the Federal Government.

9. What is the elastic clause and why is it so important?

 * ======The "Elastic," or "Necessary and Proper" Clause is the part of Article One that gives Congress the power "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof."======
 * It has been stretched to authorize powers not explicitly granted, like the power to build roads, in the name of a power that is granted, like the power to regulate commerce.

10. What are implied powers?

 * ======Implied powers are any of the powers that have been invoked under the elastic clause.======
 * Implied powers can also be

11. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the 22nd Amendment?

 * ======The 22nd Amendment limits the years a person can serve as President.======
 * It prevents any bad or tyrannical President from serving for life.
 * It also prevents any good President from serving more than eight years.

12. List 5 responsibilities of the President

 * Name Judges
 * Sign Laws
 * Give Congress information
 * Serve as Commander-in-Chief
 * Carry out laws

13. Define bicameral:

 * ======A legislature with two houses======

14. What are the benefits and flaws of a two-year term?

 * ======The two year term was designed to make Representatives very responsive to the demands of the people. This makes them very democratic, but it also means that they can be very extreme in their views.======

16. What is the importance of the Marbury v. Madison case?

 * ======Marbury v. Madison stands for the proposition that the Supreme Court has the right to declare Acts of Congress void if they conflict with the Constitution, a process called Judicial Review======

17. What is due process?

 * ======Due Process is the procedure to which a person is entitled when they are accused of a crime.======