Check all that apply. Which parts of the Constitution provide for state governments?
the Eighth Amendment
the Tenth Amendment
Article VI
Article I

2) Select THREE ways to amend state constitutions.
by U. S. Supreme Court decisions
by a voter-instigated initiative
by referendum
by a majority vote in the legislature and approval by the governor
by a majority or three-fourths of the legislature with approval by a majority of the voters
by constitutional conventions

3) Select TWO reasons state constitutions are less stable than the U. S. Constitution.
State constitutions are more easily changed.
State constitutions are shorter.
Federal law mandates that state constitutions must be reviewed every 25 years.
State constitutions deal with details regarding the day-to-day relationships between government and its people.

4) Select the best answer.

What did the 1964 Reynolds v. Sims ruling decide?
Governors were given the right to use line-item vetoes.
State legislatures were to be capped at 200 members.
The U. S. Supreme Court must hear any case appealed from state supreme courts.
Representation in legislatures should be based on equal population.

5) Select the best answer.

Much of a state’s actual business is conducted by .
joint committees
the lieutenant governor
the state supreme court
secretary of state

6) Match the powers with the branches of state governments. Answers will be used more than once.

commute the sentences of, or parole, criminals

police power to protect and promote the public’s health, safety, morals, and welfare

includes justice of the peace, magistrates, judges, and supreme court justices

propose the state budget

executive authority is delegated among elected officers

remove executive officers or judges through the impeachment process

oversee the state police and the National Guard

line-item veto power

7) Match the powers with the branches of state governments. Answers will be used more than once.

shapes public opinion to support favored policy agenda

confirms appointments for office and appoints some executive officeholders

may be appointed by the governor, chosen by the legislature, or elected by the voters

powers of appointment and removal

responsibility to faithfully execute the laws

consider civil cases, misdemeanors, small claims, and probate problems; refers cases with federal questions to the U. S. Supreme Court

call a special session of the legislature

branch whose members represent equal segments of the population

8) Place the state courts in their hierarchical order, beginning with the highest court. Some answers may be used more than once.

Graphical organizer

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

9) Match the words with the descriptions.

initiative

a process whereby voters may petition for a law or amendment to be placed on the ballot
advisory referendum

a nonbinding question that is put on the ballot to see what voters think of it
line-item veto

power of the governor to reject portions of a bill while retaining the other portions

hierarchically located between the trial court and the state supreme court
police power

power to protect and promote the public health, safety, and welfare
exclusive powers

granted solely either to the national government or the states
recall

a political device by which voters may remove a public official from office
concurrent powers

shared powers

not given to the national government, but kept by the states

10) Match the powers with the entities. Answers will be used more than once.

build roads

establish local governments

issue licenses

establish an army and navy

collect taxes

make treaties and conduct foreign policy

establish courts

spend money for the general welfare

regulate intrastate trade