Amendments
1-10
1. Can a man speak against cuts in Medicare?
2. Does the Los Angeles Times newspaper have the right to publish an editorial for ecology?
3. When questioned by the police, do I have to answer their questions?
4. Do they have the right to torture the prisoner?
5. Can our state make laws about drivers’ licenses?
6. Can I have a jury trial?
7. Is one million dollars a fair amount of bail for a speeding ticket?
8. If you don’t confess you will be beaten. Is this fair?
9. Can the California Highway Patrol protect citizens on California state highways?
10. Can I purchase a rifle, shotgun, or a pistol if I have a criminal record?
11. Do I have to let these soldiers stay in my home?
12. Can I have a lawyer represent me in court?
13. Who is accusing me of the crime? Do I have the right to know?
13-26
14. If our President dies or resigns who becomes President?
15. Could a women vote for President in 1910?
16. In 1925, could I drink, make or sell alcohol or intoxicating liquor if over 21?
17. Can people sign a petition to ask our governor to resign?
18. Can the people living in the state of California directly elect their senator in 1900?
19. Can I buy a slave in the United States in 1890?
20. Since I was born in California am I an American citizen?
21. Can our President be elected more then two times?
22. Is it now OK to drink liquor if you are over 21?
23. Can I vote if I live in the District of Columbia?
24. Could only black and white men vote in 1890?
25. Do I now have to pay an income tax on all money I have earned?
26. Do I have to pay to vote?
Constitution Crossword
ACROSS
1. Place where the original Constitution can be viewed. (16 letters)
5. First state to ratify the Constitution. (8 letters)
9. Fearing tyranny from a strong central government, some states demanded this be
added to the Constitution. (12 letters)
11. He is known as the "Sage of the Constitutional Convention." (8 letters)
13. These essays were written to defend and promote the ratification of the new
Constitution. (16 letters)
14. Name given to the group who did not favor ratification of the Constitution. (15 letters)
15. This amendment was repealed. (10 letters)
DOWN
1. This state's signing ratified the Constitution. (12 letters)
2. State that did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention. (11 letters)
3. The 13th Amendment abolished . (7 letters)
4. He introduced the Bill of Rights in the House of Representatives on June 8, 1789.
(7 letters).
6. The Constitutional Convention met in this city. (12 letters)
7. The part of the Constitution where you find the phrase "in order to form a more
perfect union." (8 letters)
8. Number of amendments to the Constitution. (11 letters)
10. Article that establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the country.
(2 letters)
12. The Nineteenth Amendment protects the voting rights of . (5 letters)
CHECKS AND BALANCES
DIRECTIONS- Listed below are specific checks by which one branch of government
can exert some control over another branch. Write who is applying the check on whom in
the space provided. Use “E” for Executive, “J” for Judicial, and “L” for legislative. For
example “E” over “J” or “J” over “L”.
1. Remove judges from office. __________
2. Veto Bill. __________
3. Appoint judges. __________
4. Override veto. __________
5. Call special session. __________
6. Control appropriations. __________
7. Fail to enforce a court order. __________
8. Declare a law unconstitutional. __________
9. Grant a reprieve. __________
10. Replace some existing courts. __________
11. Set free a person held by the FBI. __________
12. Propose an amendment. __________
13. Confirm appointments. __________
14. Ratify treaties. __________
15. Declare the Presidents actions unconstitutional. __________
Which branch of Government do you think is the most powerful? Explain your answer.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Articles
The Constitution begins with a ________________________ that explains the
goals of the document. The main body of the constitution is divided into seven major
parts called _____ __________________________________, each of which in turn is
divide into ____ __________ _______________________________.
The first _________________________________. Of the constitution concerns
the lawmaking, or ___________________________________branch of the government.
The second concerns the____________________ branch, which ___________________.
The third concerns the ____________________branch, which______________________
_________________________.
Changes made to the Constitution after 1789 are called _____________________.
These are at the end of the document. There are presently ________________________
of them.
Write the number of the Article in which each is found:
Qualifications of senators _______
Supremacy clause _______
Elastic clause _______
Methods of amendment _______
Powers of the President _______
Powers delegated to Congress _______
Jurisdiction of federal courts _______
Admission of new states _______
Ratification of the Constitution _______
Privileges and immunities clause _______
Constitutional Numbers
Directions: Match the phrase in the right-hand column with its correct number in
the left-hand column by placing the appropriate letter in the space provided.
_____ 4 a. Minimum dollar value of property dispute that guarantees the right to a
trial by jury
_____ 12 b. Number of years a representative must have been a citizen
_____ 35 c. The minimum number of presidential electors from any state
_____ 2 d. This amendment gave women the right to vote.
_____435 e. Total number of United States senators
_____ 7 f. The number of representatives in the House
_____ 14 g. Total electoral college vote
_____ 27 h. The term of office for the president (in years)
_____6 i. The maximum number of years any president can serve
_____10 j. This amendment outlaws cruel and unusual punishment
_____ 13 k. Minimum age to be a United States representative
_____ 3 l. The number of senators from each state
_____ 20 m. Total number of constitutional amendments
_____ 538 n. Number of years a senator must have been a citizen
_____ 25 o. Minimum number of representatives any state can have
_____ 8 p. Amendment that freed the slaves
_____ 1 q. The minimum age to be president
_____ 100 r. The term of office for a senator (in years)
_____ 9 s. Amendment that changed the way we elect the president
_____ 19 t. Number of years a candidate for president must have been a resident
within the United States
Interpreting the Bill of Rights
Directions: The situations listed below are not allowed by the Bill of
Rights. Read each situation and then write down the number of the
amendment that prohibits the action.
1. _____ Luke was found innocent of armed robbery, but the state decided to bring
him to trial again anyway.
2. _____ After being found guilty of driving while intoxicated, the court ordered that
Carolyn spend the next 30 years in solitary confinement.
3. _____ The citizens of Upper Creek voted to double the taxes of all Catholics.
4. _____ In a civil trial where the dispute was more than $20, both sides were denied
a jury trial.
5. _____ For no apparent reason, the police stopped Rita while she was driving and
began to search through her car trunk and personal luggage.
6. _____ The United States attorney general ordered all American citizens to turn in
their rifles and pistols by noon on Saturday.
7. _____ Judge M.T. Nasty ordered a doctor to cut off the right hand of Marty, a
convicted pickpocket.
8. _____ The federal government decided that state governments were no longer
necessary.
9. _____ The president declared that the only rights Americans have are those listed
in the first eight amendments.
10. _____ A United States representative prohibited a local newspaper from printing
an editorial that was critical of her record.
11. _____ During peacetime the army ordered the residents of Seaville to house its
soldiers.
12. _____ A group of labor leaders was told that it could not conduct a peaceful rally
in the town square.
13. _____ Henry was arrested for shoplifting but was not brought to trial for five
years.
14. _____ The judge insisted that the defendant take the stand and explain his actions
on the night of the alleged crime.
15. _____ The police decided to place a “bug” in Kevin’s home telephone in the hope
that they would uncover some kind of crime.
16. _____ Congress passed a law banning the practice of Buddhism in the United
States.
17. _____ Congress told the state of Montana that it would no longer be able to issue
marriage licenses.
18. _____ Melissa was arrested and placed in jail without being informed of the
nature or cause of the accusation.
19. _____ After being charged with arson, Nathaniel was denied the right of counsel
for his defense.
20. _____ Judge Stone placed Kyle’s bail for cheating on a high school exam at
$500,000.
Constitutional Word Puzzle
Directions: Use the clues listed below to complete the word puzzle.
1. T __ __ __ __ __ __
2. __ H __ __ __ __
3. __ __ E __ __ __ __ __
4. __ __ __ __ C __ __ __
5. __ __ __ O __ __ __ __ __ __ __
6. __ __ __ __ N __ __
7. S __ __ __ __
8. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ T __ __ __
9. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ I __ __ __ __
10. __ __ T __ __ __
11. __ __ __ U __ __ __ __ __ __
12. __ __ __ __ T __ __ __
13. __ __ __ __ __ __ I __ __
14. __ O __ __ __ __ __ __
15. __ __ __ __ __ N __ __ __
Clues
1. Waging war against the United States or giving aid and comfort to enemies of the
United States.
2. Minimum age of a United States senator.
3. Opening statement of goals and objectives.
4. Power vested in the courts.
5. Kind of law that is expressly forbidden by the Constitution.
6. All bills for raising ___________ must originate in the House of Representatives.
7. Kind of trade that could not be prohibited by Congress before 1808.
8. Powers vested in the Congress of the United States.
9. President of the Senate.
10. Congress and states are denied the power to grant ____________ of nobility.
11. The number of representatives that each state is entitled to is based on this.
12. People who were once elected by state legislatures.
13. A power vested in the president of the United States.
14. Has the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises.
15. The president is the _____________ in chief of the army and the navy.
Constitution
Across
3. An impartial ______ is guaranteed in criminal
cases
4. "in order to form a more perfect ______..."
6. Nickname for the 20th Amendment.
8. This kind of corruption was outlawed in Article 3,
Section 3.
10. This kind of "bill" is unconstitutional.
11. The president's "stamp of disapproval".
15. "do ______ and establish this Constitution..."
17. Paragraph 18 of the powers of Congress (two
words)
19. The right to vote
20. The president's branch.
21. This tax was outlawed by the 24th Amendment
Down
1. The 21st Amendment eliminated this.
2. Congress has the power to punish this on the high
seas.
5. One goal of the Constitution was to establish
this.
7. These people formally elect the president.
9. Congress has the power to declare this.
12. A high crime against the nation.
13. What bills might become.
14. The president is the commander in _____ of the
armed forces.
16. Congress can fix the standard for _____ and
measures.
18. A kind of trial covered by the Seventh Amendment