Government EOC – Citizenship Test Study Guide Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing key terms and concepts from the Government EOC – Citizenship test study guide.

Constitution

The supreme law of the land that sets up the government, defines powers, and protects the rights of citizens.

Republic

A system where citizens elect representatives to make laws and govern on their behalf.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution.

Three branches of government

Legislative (makes laws), Executive (enforces laws), Judicial (interprets laws).

Sovereignty

The power to govern; in the United States, the people hold this.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments; federal law overrides state law when there’s a conflict.

Connecticut Compromise or Great Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature (Senate: 2 per state, House: based on population).

Purpose of the Preamble

States the goals and purpose of the Constitution.

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence.

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review; courts can declare laws unconstitutional.

1st Amendment

Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms.

Emancipation Proclamation

Freed slaves in the Confederate states during the Civil War.

Gerrymandering

Drawing district lines to favor a political party.

Senators: Number of members, Term length, Up for election every 2 years, Minimum age

100 (2 per state), 6 years, ⅓, 30

House of Representatives: Number of members, Term length, Up for election every 2 years, Minimum age

435, 2 years, all, 25

President: Number of Members, Term length, Up for election every 2 years, Minimum age

1, 4 years, the entire position, 35

Constituents

voters or residents in a representative district.

Conference committee

Works out differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

What happens when a president signs a bill?

It becomes a law.

Jobs assigned vice-president by the Constitution

President of the Senate (casts tie-breaking vote), steps in if the president dies or is incapacitated.

Supreme Court Judge Nominator

President

Top position in House

Speaker of the house

Top position in Senate

Majority Leader

Executive order

A rule issued by the President with the force of law (but bypasses Congress).

What happens when a bill is vetoed

Congress can override with a ⅔ vote in both chambers.

Who actually elects the president

The electoral college.

Title of cabinet members

Secretaries (except attorney general).

Job of office of Management and Budget

Prepares the federal budget and oversees executive agency spending.

Highest court in the land

Supreme Court.

Who has original jurisdiction

The court that first hears the case (the Supreme Court in cases involving states).

Roe v. Wade overturned by Dobbs v Jackson Health Organization, 2022

Overturned Roe v. Wade; abortion laws are now decided by individual states.

Miranda v. Arizona

Police must inform suspects of their rights.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Upheld “separate but equal”- legalized segregation.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

Overturned Plessy- declared segregation in schools unconstitutional.

How many Supreme Court Justices are there?

nine

Who nominates justices to the Supreme Court

The president, with Senate confirmation

The governor is the commander of what?

State National Guard

Civil claims; Who hears the case?

Civil courts/judges, possibly a jury if requested.

Names of our Senators

Elissa Slotkin, Gary Peters

Names of our Governor

Gretchen Whitmer

Rule of law

Everyone must follow the law, including leaders.

U.S. territories

Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands

Stars represent

50 states

Stripes represent

origional 13 colonies

Country's capital

Washington, D.C.

Seperation of powers

divides government into three branches to prevent one from becoming too powerful

Total number of Amendments

27

Who decides Constitutionality

Supreme Court

Checks and balances

Each branch can limit the powers of the others (ex., vetoes)