Structure of the Constitution

Chapter 3 Section 3

Vocabulary:• Preamble – opening section of a document

• Amendment – any change to the Constitution

• Bill of Rights – 1st 10 Amendments to the Constitution

• Income Tax – a tax on people’s earnings

• Implied Powers – powers not specifically written in the Constitution

• Expressed Powers – powers that are specifically written in the Constitution

Vocabulary (continued):

1. What is the main purpose of the Constitution?

• To provide a framework for the United States Government

– It states how the government should be set up and ran

2. What are the 3 parts of the Constitution?

• Preamble• Articles• Amendments

3. Where does the government’s power come from according to the Preamble of the Constitution?

• The citizens of the United States

• This is the idea of Popular Sovereignty – the government gains its power from the will of the people

4. How many articles are there in the Constitution?

7 Articles

5. What branch of government did the Framers intend to have the leading role in government?

The Legislative Branch

6. What are the two houses in the legislative branch? What do they have the authority to do according to the Constitution?

• The Senate and The House of Representatives

• They have the power to make all laws

7. Who is in charge of the executive branch? What is their job according to the Constitution?

• The President and Vice-President of the United States

• To enforce the laws

8. What does Article III call for in the judicial branch? What is their job according to the Constitution?

• A Supreme Court

• To interpret the laws, to determine if the laws are fair and Constitutional

9. What must the states do according to Article IV?

• All states must respect the laws of the other states

• This article also promises the states protection by the United States Military

10. Article V sets rules for what?

• Amending or changing the Constitution

11. What is the Constitution according to Article VI?

• The Supreme Law of the land

• Also Known as the “Supremacy Clause”

12. How many times has the Constitution been amended?

27 times

13. What are the first 10 amendments called?

The Bill of Rights

14. What is the 16th amendment? Why is it important?

• It allows the federal government to collect taxes on the income of its citizens (Income Tax)

• This is where the government makes most of its money to operate

15. What are the 2 steps to amending the Constitution?

• An amendment needs to be presented for proposal to congress

• Then the states need to ratify the amendment

16. What are the 2 methods for proposing an amendment?

• By congressional action – 2/3 of congress approve of the amendment

• By national convention – this needs to be requested by 2/3 of congress

17. What are the 2 methods states can use to ratify an amendment?

• They can vote on it in their state legislature

• They can call a special state convention

18. How many states must ratify an amendment before it becomes a law?

• 3/4 of the states must ratify the amendment in order for it to become law

19. What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

• It allows congress to have powers that are not specifically written in the Constitution

• These powers are called implied powers

20. What is a loose interpretation of the Constitution?

• When people believe Congress should have the power to act an needed even if the powers are only implied in the Constitution

• Strong belief in “Necessary and Proper”

• Loose Interpretation = Liberal • Usually Democrats

21. What is a strict interpretation of the Constitution?

• When people believe that the only powers that congress should have are written in the Constitution.

• Written powers are called expressed powers

• Strict Interpretation = Conservative • Usually Republicans

22. What part of government has the final authority on interpreting the Constitution?

The Supreme

Court