Two-Part Question

Question

Multiple Choice Question
The following question has two parts. First, read the excerpts from the US Constitution and answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

Part A:

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law.
— Article I, Section 7

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
— Article II, Section 2

The house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment. All impeachments shall be tried before the supreme court, except that the governor or a member of the supreme court shall be tried by a special commission of seven eminent jurists to be elected by the senate.
— Article VII, Section 2

Why were these clauses incorporated into the Constitution?

A.
to enable citizens to directly control the actions of the government

B.
to limit the influence of the federal government over state affairs

C.
to prevent one branch of the government from becoming too powerful

D.
to make it easy for members of government to pass laws for the nation

Multiple Choice Question
Part B: Which additional detail from the Constitution is most directly associated with the answer to Part A?

A.
"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; . . . shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding."

B.
"The Congress shall have Power . . . To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof."

C.
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

D.
"The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority[.]"

Answer 1

Part A: The clauses incorporated into the Constitution are primarily designed to prevent one branch of the government from becoming too powerful. The excerpts demonstrate the system of checks and balances through the roles and powers assigned to different branches of government, particularly regarding the legislative process and the impeachment process.

Answer: C. to prevent one branch of the government from becoming too powerful

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Part B: The most relevant additional detail that aligns with the idea of preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful is related to the balance of powers. The Constitution outlines the necessary powers of Congress, indicating that it must operate within the limits set forth by the Constitution and requires cooperation and consent in key governmental functions.

Answer: B. "The Congress shall have Power . . . To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof."

This clause illustrates the limited, yet essential, powers of Congress which must also respect the roles of other branches, reinforcing the concept of checks and balances.