Government and Civil Service US Constitution and Bill of Rights 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the Supremacy Clause?
- Presidential power to override Congress
- Federal law taking precedence over conflicting state law (Correct answer)
- Supreme Court authority over lower courts
- Senate power to confirm all federal judges
Correct answer: Federal law taking precedence over conflicting state law
The Supremacy Clause (Article VI) establishes that the Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land, superseding conflicting state laws.
Question 2: What does the 5th Amendment due process clause protect against?
- Unreasonable searches and seizures
- Deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process of law (Correct answer)
- Excessive bail and fines
- Cruel and unusual punishment
Correct answer: Deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process of law
The 5th Amendment due process clause protects persons from being deprived of life, liberty, or property without appropriate legal procedures.
Question 3: Which constitutional principle prevents one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
- Federalism
- Judicial review
- Checks and balances (Correct answer)
- Separation of church and state
Correct answer: Checks and balances
The system of checks and balances gives each branch powers to limit the others, preventing any single branch from accumulating unchecked authority.
Question 4: The 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause applies to which level of government?
- Federal government only
- State governments only (Correct answer)
- Local governments only
- Both federal and state governments
Correct answer: State governments only
The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment was specifically written to apply to state governments, prohibiting states from denying any person equal protection of the laws.
Question 5: What is judicial review as established in Marbury v. Madison?
- Congress reviewing judicial appointments
- Courts reviewing executive orders
- The Supreme Court power to declare laws unconstitutional (Correct answer)
- Presidents reviewing court decisions
Correct answer: The Supreme Court power to declare laws unconstitutional
Judicial review is the power of the Supreme Court to review laws and executive actions and declare them unconstitutional, established by the 1803 Marbury v. Madison decision.
Question 6: The 4th Amendment protects against which government action?
- Self-incrimination
- Cruel and unusual punishment
- Unreasonable searches and seizures (Correct answer)
- Deprivation of liberty without due process
Correct answer: Unreasonable searches and seizures
The 4th Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures and requires warrants to be based on probable cause.
Government and Civil Service US Constitution and Bill of Rights 2
What is the Supremacy Clause?