National and State Government

Supreme Court

highest court in the land, established by the Constitution; Justices to the Supreme Court are appointed by the President, approved by the Senate, and serve for life or until retirement

President Pro Tempore

The most senior member of the majority party who leads the Senate when the Vice President is absent

15th Amendment

Gave the right to vote to every male citizen regardless of race, color, or previous servitude.

6th Amendment

Amendment to the US Constitution which protects the right to a fair, speedy, and public trial; the right to a lawyer, the right to confront accusers, and the right to an impartial jury

Example

You can't be stuck in jail for years while awaiting a trial.

16th Amendment

Allows the government to collect taxes on income

Brown v. Board of Education

1954: The Supreme Court ruled in this case that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional; this overturned the finding in Plessy v. Ferguson

Due Process Rights / Assurances

the legal obligation of the government to respect an individual's legal rights, guaranteed by the 5th and 14th amendments

Example

the rights of parents of students with disabilities to agree or disagree with student services, change of placement or behavior plans

Federalist Papers

Papers by the Federalists written to argue for the ratification of the United States Constitution. Authors were Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly written in the Constitution that are allowed under the elastic clause

Example

The power to establish a Federal bank to manage taxes collected

10th Amendment

limits the power of the federal government and protects the rights of the states and the people by reserving powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or to the people

Example

Congress has used the "necessary and proper" clause to pass legislation requiring states to pass certain laws or enact certain policies, and the Supreme Court has overturned these laws on the grounds of violation of the 10th Amendment.

7th Amendment

Amendment to the US Constitution which protects the right to a jury trial in civil cases

19th Amendment

Ratified in 1920, it gave women the right to vote (known as women's suffrage).

Constitutional Convention of 1787

Laid out a new blueprint for the American government; addressed the problems of weak central government created by the Articles of Confederation. Held in Philadelphia in 1787

Marbury v. Madison

1803: Established Judicial Review, which allows the Supreme Court to rule a law unconstitutional and void the law

2nd Amendment

Amendment to the US Constitution which protects against restrictions of the right to bear arms

Great Compromise / Connecticut Compromise

An agreement between all states to use two different forms of representation for the two houses of Congress

Example

Texas has the same amount of senators as New Hampshire.

Federalism

the system of shared power between the national government and the state and local governments

Commerce Clause

A key clause of the Constitution. Regulates interstate commerce. This power has been used to justify the expansion of the legislature over nationwide issues, since they could impact interstate commerce.

Speaker of The House

The leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives, selected by the majority party members

Articles of Confederation

The first written constitution in the colonies, ratified in 1781.

21st Amendment

Repealed the Eighteenth Amendment in 1933 by ending prohibition (Remember with: you need to be 21 to Drink)

Electoral College

The system for electing the President by using electors from each state based on the number of Congressional representatives the state has

5th Amendment

Amendment to the US Constitution which protects against unsupported accusations of wrongdoing, self-incrimination, and double jeopardy (being charged for the same crime twice)

Example

You can "plead the fifth" to avoid testifying in a case against yourself.

U.S. Constitution

document which lays the foundation for the US government and provides a blueprint of democracy for the rest of the world

Proportional Representation

a model in which parties gain seats based on the proportion of the vote received

3rd Amendment

Amendment to the US Constitution which protects against the quartering of troops in homes

Constitution: Article 1

The Powers, Eligibility Requirements and Limitations of the Legislative Branch

Bicameral

The split of the legislative branch into two houses, each with a different set-up and focus

Constitution: Article 4

The roles, rights, and privileges of the States and Their Citizens

14th Amendment

declared that all persons born or naturalized in the US would be US citizens and citizens in the state in which they live. Gave all citizens due process.

Constitution: Article 2

The Powers, Eligibility Requirements and Limitations of the Executive Branch

Separation of Powers

Division of power into three branches of government to prevent corruption or concentration of power; executive, judicial, legislative

Dred Scott v. Sanford

Supreme Court case ruled that Black Americans were not citizens and had no right to sue in court or protection under the law, regardless of slavery status; overturned by the 13th and 14th Amendments after the Civil War

13th Amendment

Made slavery illegal in the United States.

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896: The Supreme Court ruled in this case that racial segregation for public facilities was constitutional, as long as they were "separate but equal."

Anti-Federalists

Did not want to extend the powers of the national government.

Session

The term of the Texas Legislature when they meet every other Spring.

9th Amendment

Amendment to the US Constitution which protects the rights of the individuals not specifically listed (unenumerated rights)

Example

While the constitution doesn't explicitly say that you have a right to travel between states, the courts have agreed that this is an unenumerated right.

Checks and Balances

Each branch has the power to limit the power of the other two branches

Judicial Review

The responsibility of the Supreme Court and the rest of the federal judiciary to determine if a law is constitutional

Constitution: Article 6

Maintenance of Previous Debts, Supremacy of the Constitution, and Oaths of Office

Constitution: Article 5

The Amendment Process

Constitution: Article 3

The Powers, Eligibility Requirements and Limitations of the Judicial Branch

Federalists

The first political party in the US; advocated for a strong central government.

8th Amendment

Amendment to the US Constitution which protects against cruel and unusual punishment

Constitutional Convention

A meeting of at least two-thirds of the states to approve an amendment to the Constitution which still requires three-fourths of the states to ratify the amendment

1st Amendment

Amendment to the US Constitution which protects against restrictions on freedom of speech, religion, press, petition, and assembly

Example

Peaceful protests

House of Representatives

One house of Congress with proportional representation

18th Amendment

Ratified in 1917 and established the prohibition of alcohol. (Remember with: you can't drink at 18) Was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933

17th Amendment

Allows the direct election of senators by the citizens of the state

Constitution: Article 7

The Ratification Process

Minority Leader

The leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives

4th Amendment

Amendment to the US Constitution which protects against unlawful searches and seizures

Example

A police officer would need a warrant or your explicit permission to search your home.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution which protected legal rights and civil rights of individuals. Created in 1791.

Veto

Ability of the president to reject laws passed by Congress. Congress can overturn a veto with a 2/3 vote.

Senate

One house of Congress with equal representation for all states