Download understanding Civics: Principles of the Constitution Worksheet and more Exercises Constitutional Theory in PDF only on Docsity!
Name (^) ------------- Class (^) ------- Date-------
Understanding Civics
Principles of the Constitution
APPLYING INFORMATION
Each statement below illustrates one ofthe five principles ofthe Coristitution listed in the box. Review text pages 218-221. Then, identify the principle involved in each statement, and write the letter ofthe correct answer in the space. The first item has been done for you.
a. popùlar sovereignty b. federalism .,, c.^ checks and balances
d. limited power of government e� separation of powers
a (^) 1. In 1996, Americans chose Bill Clinton as President.
- Congress approved President Clinton's appointment ofRuth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Coi.lrt.
- Congress makes lawsfor the nation.
- Massachusetts must respect the laws of neighboring Connecticut and distant Alaska..
- The President and all other government officials must obey the law as do all _ American citizens. _
- Voters in Illinois elected the firstAfricanAmerican woman senator in 1992.
- New York State cannot sign a treaty with anyforeign country.
- The Supreme Court can rule that a California state law is unconstitutional.
- Congress cannot pass a law that violates freedom ofspeech.
- The powers ofthe national government are distributed among·three branches.
- The government cannot arrest a person unless there is good reason to believe -- thathe or shehas violateda law; - --------·-·-- -- ---- - - --
- State and local governments controI public school systems.
- The Senate may vote against a treaty that the President has negotiated.
- The President can veto a bill that has heen approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate. -
- The Supreme Court interprets and applies the laws.
- The President is commander in chiefofthe military.
- At the President's request, Congress declares war.
2 Citizenship for Life (^) Understanding Civics 2
Name^ _______________ Class^ ________ Date ________
4
Understanding Civics
How a Bill Becomes a taw
READING A DIAGRAM
The diagram shows the steps by which a bill passes through the House of Reprn_senta tives and the Senate before it is sent to the President for signature. Study the diagram, and review text pages 225-228. Then, answer the questions that follow.
How a Bill Moves Through Congress Introducti'on
Committee Action
HRl JNTRO DUCED INHOUSE
S INTRO DUCED ---•^ Committee IN SENATE Action
BILLIS REFERREDTO HO USE COMMITTEE
BILLIS REFERREDTO SUBCOMMITTEE
BILLIS REPO RTEDBY FULL COMMITTEE ··
BI LLGO ESTO
RULES COMMITTEE
Floor Action
HO USE DEBATE,
VOTE O N PASSAGE
HOUSE
After bill is introduced, it goes to a standing committee. From there, it is sent to a subcom mittee for hearings, revisions, and approva!. The bill is then returned to thestanding committee for more hearings and revisions. The standing committee either approves the bill, recommend ing passage, or takes no action;. allòwing the bill to "die in committee.•
<
In the House, most bills go tothe Rules Committee. This committeesets conditions for debate and amendment wben the whole House meets on the bill. In the Senate,the leader of the majority party sets the schedule for debate by the whole Senate. ,______
The House or Senate debates and votes on a bill. Often, amendments are added at this point. Ifa bill is passed, it goes t.o the oCher house and fol lows the same routetbroughcummittee. Ifthe other house has passed a similar bill and will not agree to changes, both.versfuns oftbe bill go to a conference committee.
.__�
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE·;-.__.
Ifboth houses have passed similar,.but not identica!, bills, a conference committee with members from both houses works out differences. The compromiseversion ofthe bill is then sent to each house for approva!:
The final version of a bill, approved by
both houses, is sent to the President. I THE PRESIDENTI,
4 Citizenship for Life Understanding Civics 4
BILLIS
REFERREDTO
SEN ATECOMMITTEE
BILLIS
REFERREDTO
SUBCOMMITTEE
BILLIS
REPO RTEDBY
FULL COMMITTEE ··
Floor Action
SENATE DEBATE,
VOTE O N PASSAGE
SENATE
Name^ _____________ Class_______ Date _______
Exploring the Constitution
Principle of Limited Government
A. Building Vocabulary
Use your reading, the Glossary, or a dìctionary to decide which definition in the right col
umn matches each term in the left coh.mm. Then, write the letter ofthe correct definition in the space provided.
- limited government
----- 2. denied
- amendment
- Bill ofRights
- national debt ·
- balanced budget
a. ehange or addition
. b. plan in which the government cannot spend more money than it takes in
c. not granted or given
d. money the federai goveinment owes
e. government that is not all-powerful
f. additions to the Constitution that guarantee indi viduai freedoms
B. Understanding the Main ldeas
Four.choices are given for each (^) .of the following stateme1_1ts. Write tlie )ett�r of the. correct
choice in the space provided.
- After the Revolution, Americans, feared a. a government with limited powers. b. a strong government. c. guaranteed rights. d. budget cuts.
- The failures of the Articles ofConfederation showed that a. the new government had to be powerful. b. state governments had to be all-powerful. e� the people sho.iilf
f nòt iraìit powers tothe gover:rinient:· - ·· .d. the government should not guarantee individuai freedoms.
- The Constitution limits the powers of government to those granted by a. Congress. b. the President. c. the judiciary. d. the people.
- The Constitution makes clear the, powers of the government by a. stating the powers of Congress. b. stating the powers of the President. c. describing the role of the judiciary. d. doing all of the above.
Exploring the Constitution 2 Citizenship for Life 9
