AIR Government Test Review U.S. Constitution

AIR Government Test Review U.S. Constitution

Principals of the U.S. Constitution Understanding the Constitution as the structure of the U.S. government and the Bill of Rights protecting citizen rights. Reconstruction Amendments 13-15 Progressive Amendments 16-19 Suffrage Amendments 15, 19, 24, and 26 Amendments impacting the President Unique Historical Amendments 11, 21, and 27

U.S. Constitution A constitution is a written plan of government, what a government can and can not do. Created Federalism 3 levels of government: federal (national), state, and local. Created popular sovereignty government power comes from the people. Government can only exist with the consent of the people. Created separation of powers (3 branches of government) with a system of checks and balances. Power of one branch limiting the power of another branch (President vetoes a law passed by Congress).

Reconstruction Amendments 13 th Abolished slavery 14 th All persons born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. 15 th The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Progressive Amendments 16 th Congress has the power to levy and collect individual income taxes. 17 th U.S. Senators will be elected by popular vote. Some Senators were previously appointed by the governor or state legislature. 18 th Creates Prohibition, outlawed the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. 19 th Women s Suffrage, citizens rights to vote shall not be abridged or denied on account of sex.

Suffrage Amendments 15 th The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 19 th The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex. 24 th The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election shall not be denied or abridged by reasons of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. 26 th The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of age.

Amendments impacting the President 12 th The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President 20 th The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3rd day of January, and the terms of their successors shall then begin. 22 nd No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.

Amendments impacting the President 23 rd The District of Columbia will have the same number of electoral college votes as the least populated state. 25 th (1) In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President. (2) Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress. (3) Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President. (4) Whenever the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Unique Historical Amendments 11 th The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another State, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state. 21 st The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed (alcohol legal again). 27 th No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.