Ch. 10 Lesson 4: A Constitutional Democracy

In what year was the Constitution ratified?

1788

What role do citizens play in selecting the President and members of Congress?

Citizens vote directly for Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The citizens also vote for electors who, in turn, vote for the President.

Why is voting an important responsibility of citizens?

Democratic people have the opportunity to make choices about their lives and their government and to support leaders they think will change the laws.

What does the First Amendment protect?

Freedom of religion, free speech, the press, to petition the government, and the right to assemble.

Who wrote the Preamble to the Constitution?

Gouverneur Morris

How does the Constitution both empower and limit the federal government?

It gives enough power to the federal government to rule the nation but the separation of powers (executive, legislative, judicial branches) keeps the federal government from becoming too powerful.

Why does the Constitution provide for a system of checks and balances?

It keeps any one branch from becoming too powerful or misusing its authority.

How can people take part in our American constitutional government?

Participation in the government includes voting, practicing civic virtue, obeying laws, serving on juries, and paying taxes.

How does the Constitution divide power among the national and state governments?

The Constitution states that the federal government is responsible for national security and matters affecting the entire country while states are responsible for local concerns like highways, schools, and parks.

How can the Supreme Court check the power of Congress?

The Supreme Court oversees Congress by declaring new laws or government actions unconstitutional.

What major debate began when delegates tried to fix the Articles of Confederation?

The debate to add the Bill of Rights.

How were powers divided among the three branches of the federal governments?

The legislative branch is responsible for lawmaking. The executive branch enforces the laws. The judicial branch decides whether laws are working fairly by establishing the court system.

How were powers shared under the federal system?

The powers were shared between the executive, judicial, and legislative branches through a system of checks and balances.

How are the three levels of government alike?

They all share certain powers like collecting taxes to pay for government services and they all have legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

What powers do the states have under the Constitution?

They have the power to build highways, state parks, public schools, colleges as well as feed the hungry, provide shelter, health care and other basic needs.

Why are checks and balances important?

They keep any one branch from becoming too powerful or misusing its authority.

democracy

a form of government in which the people rule and are free to make choices about their lives and their government.

checks and balances

a system that keeps each branch of government from becoming too powerful or misusing its authority.

union

an alliance that works to reach common goals

civic virtue

qualities that add to a healthy democracy

popular sovereignty

the idea that government gets its power from the people

naturalization

the process of becoming a legal citizen of the United States

suffrage

the right to vote

How many years after the Constitution was ratified was the Bill of Rights added?

three years

public agenda

what the people need and want from the government