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What are the three branches of the government?
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
How is the President chosen?
Electoral College
How is the Vice President chosen?
The person who has the next greatest amount of votes after the president is chosen
How are senators chosen?
Chosen by the legislature of each state
How are representatives chosen?
By the people of the state
How are Supreme Court justices chosen?
The president appoints the judges
How long is the term of office of the president?
4 years
How long is the term of vice-president?
4 years
How long are the terms of senators?
6 years
How long are the terms of representatives?
2 years
How long are the terms of Supreme Court justices?
For life, as long as they maintain good behavior
How is representation in the House of Representatives determined?
Based on state population (all free persons, excluding Indians not taxed, and 3/5 of all others)
How is representation in the Senate determined?
2 from each state
Who are “all other Persons”?
Slaves
Where can one find a list of specific congressional powers?
Article 1, Section 8
Is there any room for interpretation in the powers given to Congress?
Yes, Congress can make laws "necessary and proper" for the country, which can be interpreted differently
How are laws created?
A bill is passed by a majority in both the Senate and the House, then signed by the president or left unsigned for 10 days
What are the main roles of the President?
Commander in Chief and enforcing the laws ("executive power")
What important things can’t the president do?
Make laws or declare war
What is the function of the Vice President?
President of the Senate and to serve if the president dies
Can a President be removed from office? If so, how?
Yes, through impeachment and conviction for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors
What is the function of the Supreme Court?
Preside over lower courts, interpret laws, and resolve important legal disputes
How are states created?
New land is acquired by Congress, and Congress creates the state
Can states overrule Federal laws?
No
How does the Constitution deal with slavery?
It allows slavery until 1808 but never explicitly uses the word "slavery"
What is the only crime defined in the Constitution?
Treason
How old does one have to be to get elected to the House? The Senate?
House: 25 years old, Senate: 30 years old
What two qualifications does a person need to be president?
A natural-born U.S. citizen and at least 35 years old
What does impeachment mean?
For the president to be tried for a serious crime
How many states had to ratify the proposed Constitution for it to go into effect?
9 states
Who devised the “Virginia Plan”?
James Madison
What states were most likely to support the “New Jersey Plan”?
Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut
What was “the Great Compromise”?
Each state has two senators, and enslaved people were counted as 3/5 of a person
Who presided over the Constitutional Convention?
George Washington
Who is considered the “father of the Constitution”?
James Madison
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