I. Foundations of American Government
(Questions 1–25)
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
Answer: The Constitution
2. What does the Constitution do?
Answer: Sets up the government, defines the
government, protects basic rights
3. What are the first ten amendments called?
Answer: The Bill of Rights
4. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: Thomas Jefferson
5. When was the Constitution written?
Answer: 1787
6. What is the purpose of the Preamble to the
Constitution?
Answer: To explain the goals of the government
7. What stops one branch of government from
becoming too powerful?
Answer: Checks and balances
8. What is the rule of law?
Answer: Everyone, including leaders, must follow
the law
9. What is federalism?
Answer: Division of power between federal and state
governments
, 10. What are the three branches of government?
Answer: Legislative, Executive, Judicial
11. Which branch makes federal laws?
Answer: Legislative (Congress)
12. Which branch enforces laws?
Answer: Executive (President)
13. Which branch interprets laws?
Answer: Judicial (Supreme Court)
14. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
Answer: The President
15. Who signs bills to become laws?
Answer: The President
16. Who vetoes bills?
Answer: The President
17. Who can declare laws unconstitutional?
Answer: The Supreme Court
18. Who can override a presidential veto?
Answer: Congress (with a 2/3 vote in both houses)
19. Who proposes amendments to the
Constitution?
Answer: Congress (or a national convention)
20. Who approves amendments?
Answer: The states
21. Which landmark case established judicial
review?
Answer: Marbury v. Madison
(Questions 1–25)
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
Answer: The Constitution
2. What does the Constitution do?
Answer: Sets up the government, defines the
government, protects basic rights
3. What are the first ten amendments called?
Answer: The Bill of Rights
4. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: Thomas Jefferson
5. When was the Constitution written?
Answer: 1787
6. What is the purpose of the Preamble to the
Constitution?
Answer: To explain the goals of the government
7. What stops one branch of government from
becoming too powerful?
Answer: Checks and balances
8. What is the rule of law?
Answer: Everyone, including leaders, must follow
the law
9. What is federalism?
Answer: Division of power between federal and state
governments
, 10. What are the three branches of government?
Answer: Legislative, Executive, Judicial
11. Which branch makes federal laws?
Answer: Legislative (Congress)
12. Which branch enforces laws?
Answer: Executive (President)
13. Which branch interprets laws?
Answer: Judicial (Supreme Court)
14. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
Answer: The President
15. Who signs bills to become laws?
Answer: The President
16. Who vetoes bills?
Answer: The President
17. Who can declare laws unconstitutional?
Answer: The Supreme Court
18. Who can override a presidential veto?
Answer: Congress (with a 2/3 vote in both houses)
19. Who proposes amendments to the
Constitution?
Answer: Congress (or a national convention)
20. Who approves amendments?
Answer: The states
21. Which landmark case established judicial
review?
Answer: Marbury v. Madison