amendments, checks and balances, and majorities

1st amendment

free speech / press / petition / free exercise of religion

2nd amendment

right to bear arms

3rd amendment

no quartering of soldiers

4th amendment

no unreasonable searches and seizures

5th amendment

cannot be forced to incriminate yourself / no double jeopardy / eminent domain

6th amendment

right to a lawyer / fair trial / speedy trial / right to confront witnesses against you

7th amendment

citizens have the right to a jury trial in federal non-criminal cases

8th amendment

no cruel and unusual punishment / unreasonable bail

9th amendment

just because it is not mentioned in the Constitution does not mean we don’t have that right

10th amendment

all powers not given to the national government go to the states

11th amendment

citizens cannot sue a state in federal court without the state’s permission

12th amendment

separate electoral college ballots for president and vice president

13th amendment

abolished slavery

14th amendment

reiterated citizenship for freed slaves / privileges and immunities clause / due process clause / equal protection clause

15th amendment

all males could vote

16th amendment

Congress can levy an income tax

17th amendment

senators now elected by the people of the state NOT legislatures

18th amendment

prohibition of alcohol

19th amendment

women’s suffrage (women could now vote)

20th amendment

moved up the time national office holders take office / if something happens to the president, vice president takes over

21st amendment

repealed prohibition

22nd amendment

limited the president’s terms to two 4-year terms (max of 10 years)

23rd amendment

gave D.C. three electoral votes

24th amendment

abolished poll taxes

25th amendment

procedures for if the president becomes unfit for duty

26th amendment

18 year olds can vote

27th amendment

Congress cannot increase their pay in the same term

LEGISLATIVE branch checks the EXECUTIVE branch (pt. 1)

overrides a presidential veto with 2/3 vote in each house of Congress

oversight hearings

can reduce/increase the budget proposed by president

house of representatives can impeach the president

LEGISLATIVE branch checks the EXECUTIVE branch (pt. 2)

senate is the jury for the impeachment trial and convicts or acquits the president

senate ratifies treaties by 2/3 majority

senate approves presidential appointments by simple majority vote

LEGISLATIVE branch checks the JUDICIAL branch (pt. 1)

can change the number and jurisdiction of federal courts

sets lower federal court jurisdiction

can change the number of justices on the supreme court

LEGISLATIVE branch checks the JUDICIAL branch (pt. 2)

senate approves federal judge appointees

house of representatives can impeach a federal judge

senate is the jury for the impeachment trial and convicts or acquits a federal judge

can initiate a constitutional amendment

EXECUTIVE branch checks the LEGISLATIVE branch

can veto a bill

president can decide not to enforce a law

executive orders

executive agreements

bully pulpit

can convene Congress

EXECUTIVE branch checks the JUDICIAL branch

appoints federal judges

can choose not to enforce a court decision

pardon power

JUDICIAL branch checks anything

judicial review

bureaucratic discretion

the power given to agencies by Congress to implement laws using their expert judgement

bureaucratic rulemaking

the process by which agencies create the regulations necessary to carry out the laws that Congress makes. These regulations have the same effect as laws.

EXECUTIVE branch checks on the BUREAUCRACY (pt. 1)

appoint and remove agency heads

reorganize the bureaucracy

change an agency’s budget

EXECUTIVE branch checks on the BUREAUCRACY (pt. 2)

adjust policies that would alter the bureaucracy’s activities

issue executive orders

LEGISLATIVE branch checks on the BUREAUCRACY (pt. 1)

pass legislation that alters the bureaucracy’s activities

abolish existing programs

reduce funding to bureaucracy

LEGISLATIVE branch checks on the BUREAUCRACY (pt. 2)

congressional oversight

senate approves bureaucrat appointments

margin required to override a presidential veto

2/3 majority in house of representatives

2/3 majority in senate

margin required to ratify a treaty

2/3 majority in senate

margin required to impeach a president

simple majority (half plus one) in the house of representatives

margin required to convict a president that has been impeached

2/3 majority in senate

margin required to elevate a president’s nominee to a seat on a federal court

simple majority in the senate

margin required to elect the president

simple majority (270 electoral votes)

margin required to pass a law

simple majority in both houses of congress

margin required to propose an amendment

2/3 majority in both houses of congress OR if 2/3 of state legislatures request a convention

margin required to ratify an amendment

¾ of states