Worksheet 4A - Article II, Section 1

Lesson Four-A Worksheet, Temecula Constitution Study June 23, 2011

Terms:

Executive Branch:

Electoral College:

Democracy:

Republic:

Leveling:

Key Questions:

1. The powers of the President are ____________________ by the States.

2. The Election of the President and Vice President is accomplished by

_____________________ election.

3. The Electoral College protects the United States from the excesses of ________________.

4. U.S. Senators were initially appointed by the _________________ __________________.

5. A Natural Born Citizen is a person in which _______________ parents were citizens at the time of the child’s birth.

6. Many of the requirements regarding the executive branch in terms of eligibility were

designed to guard against divided ____________________________.

Key Concepts:

1. The President was expected to be a strong leader, while understanding the limitation of the authorities granted to the federal government.

2. The election of the President and Vice President through the Electoral College is an example of indirect election, which was designed to protect the United States from the excesses of democracy. The founders viewed democracies as temporary governments doomed to collapse.

3. The redistribution of wealth was a concept understood by the founders. They called it “leveling.” The Founding Fathers saw leveling as dangerous, because it would ultimately lead to democracy with the politicians granting entitlements in exchange for votes, and then to tyranny where liberty would be lost.

4. Natural Born Citizen is a concept different from that of “Citizen.” The aim of requiring the President to be a Natural Born Citizen was primarily in regards to guarding against divided loyalties, or dual allegiances.

5. The compensation for the President is not allowed to be increased or decreased in order to eliminate the opportunity for corruption.

6. This nation was founded on Christian principles, but the Founding Fathers understood that when it comes to the freedom of religion, that meant understanding that not all Americans would be Christian, or have a faith identical to that of early America. Therefore, they ensured religious freedom even in the oath or affirmation of office, by giving newly elected officials the opportunity to affirm rather that swear an oath to God.

Lesson 3 Worksheet, Article I, Sections 7-10

Lesson Three Worksheet, Temecula Constitution Study June 9, 2011 at Faith Armory

Terms:

Original Authority:

Veto:

Express Powers:

Implied Powers:

Duties:

Imposts:

Excise:

Exclusive Powers:

Concurrent Powers:

Habeas Corpus:

Bills of Attainder:

Ex Post Facto Law:

Direct Taxation:

Indirect Taxation:

Joint Resolution:

State Militia:

Key Questions:

1. We The People hold original authority in the process of ___________________________

______________.

2. The Congress can override a veto with a _______________ ________________ vote in each House.

3. The powers granted to the federal government are enumerated, making those authorities

_______________________________ powers.

4. Unconstitutional government authority not expressly stated by the U.S. Constitution, but

considered to be implications of other powers are called _____________________

_______________________ .

5. The federal government’s role according to the Commerce Clause is to act as a

_______________________ or _______________________.

6. Article I, Section 8, Clause 7 gives the federal government the authority to establish post

offices and post ______________________.

7. The power to make rules regarding captures on land and water belongs to

______________________.

8. The Elastic Clause authorizes Congress to make laws that fall within the authorities granted

by the U.S. Constitution that Congress recognizes as _________________________ and

________________________ .

9. The Founding Fathers did not believe their should be foreign influences in the affairs of our

________________________.

10. Each state may have a State Militia with the consent of _______________________.

Key Concepts:

1. All powers of the federal government were granted by the States, but the people have original authority in all powers, including the process of making law.

2. The power of the purse strings gives the House of Representatives the ultimate check against the other parts of government, and the House of Representatives was originally intended to be the voice of the people in the federal government.

3. The Legislative Branch is the strongest of the three branches, shown by one example by their ability to override a veto with a 2/3 vote by each House.

4. The enumerated powers are express powers granted to the federal government. No other powers exist for the federal government. Implied and Resulting powers are unconstitutional.

5. The power to tax by the federal government was primarily for the purpose of paying for the necessary functions of government. Taxation on Americans was originally designed to only be by indirect taxation.

6. The Commerce Clause grants to the Congress the authority to regulate commerce between the States, meaning that the federal government may act as a referee, or mediator, to ensure commerce flows freely.

7. Many of the powers granted to the federal government was to ensure that important factors in protecting, preserving or promoting the union were uniform throughout the States.

8. A National Bank was considered to be dangerous by Thomas Jefferson, to the point that he said a National Bank (like the Federal Reserve) is “swindling futurity on a large scale.”

9. The only mention of roadways in the Constitution is that the Congress has the authority to establish post roads. This makes our highway system created through federal funding unconstitutional, as well as an opportunity for the federal government to extort the States by withholding highway funds.

10. The Founding Fathers feared the federal government using the army against the States, therefore limited the funding of the army to two years at a time. The Navy, however, is permanent, deemed as necessary for the protection of trade routes.

11. Washington DC was originally intended to be the seat of government, and that is it. Congress has sole authority over the legislative powers of the District of Columbia.

12. The “Necessary and Proper” Clause is only supposed to be used in conjunction with federal laws that meet constitutional muster.

13. The federal government has the authority to prohibit who can immigrate into this country, but cannot dictate to the State which persons must be admitted.

14. Habeas Corpus was originally designed to protect American Citizens from being detained without due process of law.

15. Bills of Attainder are prohibited to both the States and the federal government. Bills of Attainder declare the guilt of a person or group, and punishes them, without the benefit of a trial (due process).

16. Ex Post Facto Law is a retroactive law, changing the consequences of actions committed prior to the enactment of the law. Amnesty laws are Ex Post Facto laws. Ex Post Facto laws are prohibited to both the federal government and the States.