Q: Who was the first person to suggest a "mixed government" or divided powers in government?

A: Polybius, Historian of Greece (205-125 BC)

Q: Why did Sir William Gladstone, the British Prime Minister say, "The Constitution was the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man?"

A: He said this because the Constitution is the most nearly perfect governmental document ever conceived by man

Q: 90% of all nations in the U.N. have sustained a violent change in their government in the 20th century. Why do you think our Republic has lasted for over 200 years?

A: We have the most frequent and numerous elections in the world, and can change our Representatives through elections, making revolutions unnecessary.

Q: Who conceived the idea of a free market economy and wrote The Wealth of Nations, upon which our capitalistic system is based?

A: Adam Smith, 1723-1790.

Q: What country had the first Republic?

A: Rome.

Q: What country had the first Democracy?

A: Greece.

Q: Why is our Republican form of government so unique?

A: It is unique because the power of government is equally divided between the three branches, and the ultimate power is vested in the people.

Q: What is the Constitution of the United States of America ?

A: The supreme law of the land.

Q: Which are the original 13 united states?

A: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland , South Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Virginia , North Carolina, and Rhode Island.

Q: From what four Freedom Documents did our Constitution and Bill of Rights derive it’s philosophy?

A: Magna Carta, 1215; Petition of Rights, 1628; Writ of Habeas Corpus, 1679; and the English Bill of Rights, 1689.

Q: Where did the final surrender of the British to the American troops take place, ending the Revolutionary war?

A: Yorktown, Virginia, in 1783.

Q: How long did the Revolutionary War last?

A: Eight years, from 1775 to 1783.

Q: Who is the father of our country?

A: George Washington.

Q: After the Revolutionary War ended in 1783 the 13 states formed the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation for 11 years. Why did the Articles of Confederation need to be changed?

A: The articles needed to be changed because the central government was not strong enough to enforce laws.

Q: What meetings were called by the states to change the Articles of Confederation?

A: The first meeting at Annapolis in 1786 which did not have a quorum; The second was in Philadelphia in 1787.

Q: The delegates were instructed to change the Articles of Confederation at Independence Hall, Philadelphia but what happened?

A: They wrote a new Constitution instead.

Q: Who kept the most complete record of the 1787 Constitutional Convention and is known a the "Father of the Constitution"?

A: James Madison

Q: Who was the President of the 1787 Constitutional Convention?

A: George Washington

Q: Which state did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention and was the last of the 13 states to ratify the Constitution?

A: Rhode Island

Q: How many state had to ratify the Constitution before it could be put into effect?

A: Nine, about ¾ of the original states (Article 7)

Q: Fifty five delegates attended the Constitutional Convention. How many of them actually signed the document?

A: Thirty nine

Q: Why did three delegates at the Constitutional Convention refuse to sign the Constitution?

A: They refused to sign because they wanted a Bill of Rights included

Q: To whom is Benjamin Franklin reputed to have said , “A Republic, if you can keep it," when asked what kind of government the Constitutional Convention approved?

A: A lady on the street.

Q: Name the first state to ratify the Constitution?

A: Delaware (December 7, 1787)

Q: Which state’s ratification provided the majority required to put the Constitution into effect?

A: New Hampshire, the 9th state (June 21, 1788)

Q: When did the Constitutional Convention begin in Philadelphia?

A: May 25, 1787.

Q: Who is credited with writing the Preamble and final draft of the Constitution?

A: Gouveneur Morris of Pennsylvania

Q: When was the Constitution signed?

A: September 17, 1787.

Q: What two cities became our capitols before Washington D.C. became our permanent capitol?

A: New York, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Q: Who was President of the United States when the District of Columbia was selected as the nation’s capitol ?

A: George Washington, who personally selected the site.

Q: Who was the first president to live in the White House in Washington D.C.?

A: President John Adams, the second president of the United States of America.

Q: What is the title of the 85 essays written under the name "Publius" in New York advocating the ratification of the Constitution?

A: The Federalist Papers

Q: What three authors contributed to "The Federalist" essays supporting ratification of the Constitution?

A: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

Q: What are the three branches of government?

A: Executive, legislative, and judicial

Q: How old must a person be to become president of the United States?

A: 35 years old (Article 1, Section 1, Clause 5)

Q: On what day does a new President take office?

A: January 20th (Amendment 20)

Q: How long is the President’s term in office ?

A: 4 years (Article 1, Section 1, Clause 1)

Q: How many days does a president have to either sign or return a bill before it becomes law?

A: 10 days (Sundays excepted) (Article 1, Section 7, Clause 2)

Q: Which Congressional body has the sole power of impeachment?

A: The House of Representatives (Article 1, Section 2, Clause 5)

Q: Which Congressional body has the sole power to try impeachments?

A: The Senate (Article 1, Section 3, Clause 6)

Q: How many amendments are contained in the Bill of Rights?

A: Ten.

Q: How long a period elapsed between the time Congress introduced the Bill of Rights and the ratification by ¾ of the states?

A: Two years and three months (September 25, 1789 to December 15, 1791).

Q: Does a member of the House of Representative have to live in the state they represent?

A: Yes.

Q: Why can members of Congress not be questioned for anything they may say on the floor or in committee?

A: To ensure complete freedom.

Q: Which amendment protects the right of American citizens to petition the government for redress of grievances?

A:The first amendment.

Q: Freedom of the press is protected in which amendment?

A: The first amendment.

Q: What amendment guarantees freedom of speech and peaceably assemble?

A: The first amendment.

Q: What amendment guarantees freedom of religion?

A: The first amendment.

Q: Which amendment gives us freedom to bear arms?

A: The second amendment.

Q: Which amendment prohibits housing soldiers without consent of owner?

A: The third amendment.

Q: Which amendment protects Americans from unreasonable search and seizure?

A: The fourth amendment.

Q: Which amendment protects an individual from being charged twice for the same crime?

A: The fifth amendment.

Q: Which amendment forbids the government from compelling a person accused of a crime to testify against himself?

A: The fifth amendment.

Q: Which amendment protects against the government from taking private property for public use without just compensation?

A: The fifth amendment.

Q: The right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury in the state and district where the crime was committed, is prescribed in which amendment?

A: The sixth amendment.

Q: Which amendment prescribes a trial by jury?

A: The seventh amendment.

Q: Which amendment prohibits imposing excessive fines and inflicting cruel and unusual punishment ?

A: The eighth amendment.

Q: Which amendment states that the rights guaranteed in the Constitution may not be denied?

A: The ninth amendment.

Q: Which amendment states that all powers not delegated to the Federal Government by the Constitution are reserved for the states or people?

A: The tenth amendment.

Q: Which amendment says that the citizens of one state may not sue the citizens of another?

A: The eleventh amendment.

Q: What amendment contains the laws governing the Electoral College?

A: The twelfth amendment.

Q: Which amendment prohibits slavery?

A: The thirteenth amendment, proposed on January 31, 1865 and ratified on December 6, 1865.

Q: Equal protection of the laws is protected by which amendment?

A: The fourteenth amendment, proposed on June 13, 1866 and ratified on July 9, 1868.

Q: Persons who have given , "aid and comfort to the enemy" are prohibited from holding U.S. office under the provisions of which amendment?

A: The fourteenth amendment, proposed on June 13, 1866 and ratified on July 9, 1868.

Q: Which amendment prohibits the government from denying the right to vote to persons because of their race, color, or previous condition of servitude?

A: The fifteenth amendment, proposed February 26, 1869 and ratified on February 3, 1870.

Q: Congress is granted power to collect taxes on incomes under the terms of which amendment?

A: The sixteenth amendment, proposed on July 2, 1909 and ratified on February 3, 1913.

Q: In the original Constitution the U.S. Senators were elected by each state legislature in order to protect state rights in the Congress. How did amendment 17 change this election process?

A: The seventeenth amendment mandates U.S. Senators be elected directly by the people of their state.

Q: Which amendment prohibits the sale of alcohol?

A: The eighteenth amendment.

Q: Which amendment gave women the right to vote?

A: The nineteenth amendment, proposed on June 4,1919 and ratified on August 18, 1920.

Q: When is the Congress sworn in?

A: On January 3 (Amendment 20).

Q: Which amendment repealed prohibition?

A: The twenty first amendment.

Q: Which amendment states that no president shall be elected more than two terms?

A: The twenty-second amendment.

Q: In what amendment was The District of Columbia granted three electors to the Electoral College so it could be represented in Presidential elections?

A: The twenty-third amendment.

Q: What amendment repeals the poll tax or any other tax which denied the right to vote?

A: The twenty fourth amendment.

Q: Succession of the presidency in case of the death or impairment of the president is decided in which amendment?

A: The twenty fifth amendment.

Q: Which amendment prescribes that citizens who reach the age of eighteen shall not be denied the right to vote on account of age?

A: The twenty sixth amendment, proposed on March 23, 1971 and ratified on July 1, 1971.

Q: Which amendment states that compensation for the Congress shall not take effect until after the election of Congress shall have intervened?

A: The twenty seventh amendment.

Q: How do the first ten amendments differ from the others?

A: The Bill of Rights states what the government may not do.

Q: How many articles does the Constitution contain?

A: The Constitution contains seven articles.

Q: Article one in the Constitution regulates what branch of government?

A: The Legislative branch.

Q: The Executive branch is regulated by which article in the Constitution?

A: Article 2.

Q: To what branch of government does Article three refer?

A: The Judicial branch.

Q: Relations of the states is regulated by which article ?

A: The Fourth Article.

Q: To what does the Fifth Article refer?

A: The amendment process.

Q: Where in the Constitution does it refer to the Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land?

A: In Article 6.

Q: Which article specifies the rules for Ratification of Amendments?

A: Article 7.

Q: How many members does the Congress have?

A: 535 (100 Senators, 435 members of the House of Representatives)

Q: How often are elections held for members of the House of Representatives ?

A: Every two years (Article 1, Section 2, Clause 1).

Q: How long must a person be a citizen of the US before he can become a member of the House of Representatives?

A: Seven years (Article 1, Section 2, Clause 2).

Q: How old must a person be before becoming a member of the House of Representatives?

A: 25 years old (Article 1, Section 2 , Clause 2).

Q: To what do we refer when we say "The Congress"?

A: The House of Representatives and the Senate.

Q: How long is a Senator’s term of office?

A: Six years (Article 1, Section 3, Clause 1).

Q: Who serves as President of the Senate?

A: The Vice President (Article 1, Section 3, Clause 4).

Q: How often are Senators elected?

A: Every 6 years (Article 1, Section 3, Clause 2).

Q: How old must a person be before they can serve in the Senate?

A: Thirty years old (Article 1, Section 3, Clause 3).

Q: For how long must a person be a U S citizen before they are qualified to serve in the Senate?

A: Nine years (Article 1, Section 3, Clause 3).

Q: How many Senators must be present for the Senate to conduct business?

A: Forty-one (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 12).

Q: Which branch of government is charged with the development of the military?

A: The Congress (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 12).

Q: Who is Commander in Chief of our armed forces?

A: The President.

Q: Can the Commander in Chief call the state militia’s to active duty?

A: Yes.

Q: How many amendments have been made to the Constitution?

A: Twenty-seven.

Q: Conviction for treason as defined in the Constitution requires the testimony of how many witnesses to the same overt act?

A: Two (Article 3, Section 3, Clause 3).

Q: Which of the three branches of government does the Constitution give power to define and punish piracies committed on high seas?

A: The Congress (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 10).

Q: Which branch of government does the Constitution empower to declare punishment for treason?

A: The Congress (Article 4, Section 3, Clause 3).

Q: How old must a person be before they can qualify for U S citizenship to become a naturalized citizen?

A: 18 years old.

Q: Which delegates of the Constitutional Convention invented the concept of Daylight Savings Time?

A: Benjamin Franklin.

Q: Which one of the delegates at the Constitutional Convention initiated the first public library in America?

A: Benjamin Franklin.

Q: For how long does a patent protect an inventor for the exclusive benefit of the inventor?

A: A limit of seventeen years (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8).

Q: To what does the President, the military, the federal, and the state officials swear to uphold and defend?

A: The Constitution.

Q: What does a Writ of Habeas Corpus mean?

A: A defendant may appear at their trial.

Q: Can any state enter into a treaty with a foreign country?

A: No, only the Congress.

Q: Can any state government lay a tax or duties on imports or exports from their state?

A: No, only the Congress

Q: Can states keep troops or ships of war in times of peace?

A: Not without the consent of Congress

Q: How many states must approve a change in the Constitution before it becomes law?

A: Three fourth of the States (Article 5).

Q: Can the House and Senate expel a member for improper behavior?

A: Yes by a 2/3 majority vote.

Q: What is the "Congressional Record"?

A: A daily written record of the proceedings of the Congress.

Q: What department has the authority to coin money and regulate the value thereof?

A: The Congress.

Q: Who decides the standard of weights and measures?

A: The Congress.

Q: Who has the power to declare war?

A: The Congress.

Q: Who decides on the appropriations for the military ?

A: The Congress.

Q: Why are the appropriations for the military only extended for two years?

A: To avoid a military takeover.

Q: What is a state militia?

A: A state militia is the official army of each state.

Q: Before Washington D.C. became the Capitol to what state did it belong ?

A: It belonged to Maryland.

Q: How large an area was ceded by Maryland for the capitol?

A: 10 square miles.

Q: The president appoints officials under what provisions?

A: With the advise and consent or confirmation of the Senate.

Q: When the President declares an "Executive Order" does it become law?

A: No, it does not become law.

Q: What is required for a President to be impeached ?

A: The President needs to be accused by the House of Representatives and tried by the Senate.

Q: Who presides over the presidential impeachment proceedings?

A: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Q: Can the President call state militia to active duty?

A: Yes.

Q: To what is the President the "Commander in Chief?

A: The military.

Q: Who can grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the U.S.?

A: The President.

Q: Can the President grant reprieves and pardons against impeachment of a judge or officer of the Executive branch?

A: No.

Q: The President can make treaties but does he need the approval of 2/3 of the Senate or the whole Congress?

A: 2/3 of the Senate present.

Q: The Vice President is the only official who serves in two branches of government, what are they?

A: The Executive and the Legislative branch.

Q: When does the Vice President serve in the legislative branch?

A: When he has to serve in the Senate proceedings.

Q: Is the Vice President allowed to vote in Senate Proceedings?

A: No, he is not allowed to vote.

Q: When does the Vice President have the right to vote in the Senate?

A: He can vote only when there is a tie in the Senate.

Q: When a Vice President becomes President in case of the demise of the President is a new Vice President elected?

A: No, a new Vice President is not elected.

Q: How is the new Vice President put into office?

A: The new Vice President is appointed by the President, with the majority consent of the Congress.

Q: What branch of government regulates commerce?

A: The Congress.

Q: The House of Representatives and Senate cannot send a bill to the President unless what?

A: The cannot send a bill unless the wording in the bill is the same.

Q: For how long may the President keep a bill for his veto or approval?

A: He may keep it for 10 days.

Q: Why was the Electoral College created?

A: To make the Presidential election a Republican representative form of election.

Q: Who votes in the Electoral College?

A: Electors vote in the Electoral College.

Q: How many Electors in the Electoral College?

A: There are 538 electors.

Q: What do these 538 electors represent?

A: They represent 435 Congressional Districts plus 100 for the Senate and 3 Electors assigned to Washington D.C.

Q: How many Electoral Votes does it take to win the presidency?

A: It takes 270 electoral votes.

Q: What would happen if there were no Electoral College?

A: Presidential candidates would campaign only in the most populous states and legislate in their favor to get re-elected.

Q: Without the Electoral College what would happen to the political parties?

A: Multiple parties would arise making our government as unstable as countries who have multiple parties in their governments.

Q: Do the Electors always cast their vote in their state capitol whether their candidate wins or not?

A: No, they do not.

Q: Is there an Elector for every presidential candidate in each party for each Congressional district ?

A: Yes, there is.

Q: Does only the Elector of the winning candidate get to cast their vote in the state capitol?

A: Yes.

Q: Where are the Electoral College votes counted?

A: In the Capitol Washington, D.C.

Q: When do the Electors get to cast their vote for the winning candidate?

A: On the Monday following the 2nd Wednesday of December.

Q: What is the function of the Supreme Court?

A: To interpret the Constitution in its original intent.

Q: How many judges are there on the Supreme Court?

A: There are nine judges.

Q: Who sits on the Supreme Court?

A: The Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.

Q: For how long do they serve?

A: They serve for life.

Q: How are they appointed?

A: Appointed by the President with confirmation by 2/3 of the Senate

Q: The Constitution can be amended by approval of 2/3 of the Congress and how many of the state legislatures?

A:Three quarters of the state legislatures.

Q: Why did the Founding Fathers make the amendment process so cumbersome?

A: So the Constitution could not be easily changed due to a whim, mob rule, or power struggles.

Q: What motivated the Founding Fathers to write the Constitution?

A: Their quest for individual freedom.

Q: If a U.S. Senate seat becomes vacant, how is the vacancy filled?

A: The Governor of the state appoints someone to fill the vacancy.

Q: Why was the District of Columbia accorded three Electors in presiden6tial elections?

A: So the people who live in the District of Columbia can be represented in Presidential elections.

Q: Who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance and when?

A: Francis Bellamy wrote the Pledge of Allegiance on September 8, 1892.

Q: Who said, "When law ends, tyranny begins?”

A: Thomas Paine.

Q: Who said we make a living by what we get but a life by what we give?

A: Ronald Reagan.

Q: When did Congress establish the War Department?

A: On August 7, 1789.

Q: When did the Congress establish the Treasury Department?

A: On September 21, 1789.

Q: When did Congress appoint the Postmaster General?

A: On September 22, 1789.

Q: Who was the first Republican President?

A: Abraham Lincoln.

Q: Who wrote the Star Spangled Banner and in what year?

A: Francis Scott Key wrote it in 1814.

Q: Who was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

A: John Jay.

Q: Why is a U.S. Census taken every 10 years?

A: To count the nations population and where they reside.

Q: What happens after the census is determined?

A: New or redrawn Congressional district lines are drawn with the population changes.

Q: How many Congressional districts are there?

A: There are 435 congressional districts.

Q: Since the total of 435 Congressional districts is permanent is it possible a state may gain a congressional district while another may lose one after the census?

A: Yes.

Q: What states have the most Congressional Districts?

A: The most populous states such as New York, California, etc.

Q: Which state is the least populated and has the least Congressional Districts?

A: Wyoming

Q: Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

A: Thomas Jefferson.

Q: Which President bought the Louisiana Territory from France?

A: Thomas Jefferson.

Q: Which article in the Constitution defines all the powers and duties of the Congress?

A: Article 1.

Q: Which article in the Constitution defines the duties of the president ?

A: Article 2.

Q: Which article in the Constitution defines the judiciary?

A: Article 3.

Q: Which article in the Constitution defines state rights?

A: Article 4.

Q: Which article in the Constitution defines the process to amend the Constitution?

A: Article 5.

Q: Which article in the Constitution defines the Constitution as the supreme law of the Land?

A: Article 6.

Q: Which article in the Constitution defines the ratification process ?

A: Article 7.

Q: What constitutes the Constitution?

A: The Preamble, the Seven Articles, and the 27 amendments.

Q: What form of government is rule by one person?

A: A monarchy.

Q: What form of government is rule by a few?

A: An aristocracy.

Q: What form of government is ruled by the many?

A: A democracy.

Q: What form of government does the U.S. have?

A: A Constitutional Republic.

Q: What is the principal of a Republican form of government ?

A: A representative form of government.

Q: When Polybius of Greece wrote about a mixed form of government in 125 BC, who was the next person to be an advocate of a mixed government?

A: The French Scholar Baron Charles de Montesque in 1689 AD.

Q: How many words are in the Constitution?

A: There are 4,440 words plus the 27 amendments.

Q: A bill for the collection of Income Tax passed on February 3, 1913. At what rate and at what income did it begin?

A: 2% for the first $50,000.

Q: Who were the first four presidents?

A: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.

Q: What percent of both houses does it take to override a presidential veto?

A: It takes 2/3 vote in both houses.

Q: If the president takes no action on a bill, how long does it take to automatically become law?

A: It takes ten days.

Q: Who has the power to adjourn or convene the Congress?

A: The President.

Q: Every state is guaranteed by the Constitution to have what kind of government?

A: A Republic form of government.

Q: What four states are commonwealths?

A: Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Kentucky.

Q: Do the states also have a mixed or three branches of government?

A: Yes.

Q: Which body of government is responsible for the budget?

A: The House of Representatives.

Q: When can a bill be considered by Congress?

A: Only when it is introduced by a member of the Congress.

Q: What happens to a bill after it is introduced in Congress?

A: The bill is given a number and then sent to the proper committee.

Q: Who can propose a bill?

A: The president, legislators, agencies, bureaus, interest groups, and public opinion.

Q: What is common law?

A: Unwritten law which evolves and changes.

Q: How do our courts work?

A: Our courts work by written Constitutional law.

Q: What is the difference between our Republic and a socialistic form of government?

A: Socialism is when government controls transportation, industry, and money while in our Republic they are privately owned.

Q: How should the Supreme Court interpret the Constitution?

A: They should interpret it in its original intent.