U.S. Constitution Test Prep

Opinions

written explanations of court decisions

Precedents

legal decisions that influence future rulings

Appeals

process to ask a higher court to review a lower court’s case

Appellate courts

court systems that review appeals from lower courts ( 13 total - 12 for specific regions + 1 for D.C.)

jurisdiction

authority to hear and decide a case

Stare Decisis

courts must follow historical cases and precedents when making future rulings on similar cases

Chief justice

John Roberts

Dissenting opinion

When a justice disagrees with a ruling, they write a dissent and it explains their reasons for opposing the ruling

3 types of courts

District, Appellate, and supreme

How can the U.S. Constitution be amended?

proposed by 2/3 vote in each house of Congress/ national convention is requested buy state legislature → ¾ state legislature ratify/ ¾ state convention ratify

Party tickets

president and vice president are from the same political party and are elected together

Primary Election

6-9 months before presidential election- voters select political party anonymously

Caucuses

meetings run by political parties and public voting and discussion about the candidate for presidency

7 roles of the president

Chief Executive- enforces laws

Head of State- ceremonial speaker of the U.S.

Commander in chief- leads the military

Chief Diplomat- negotiations with foreign nations

Chief Legislature- works with Congress and finalizes laws

Head of their political party

Chief Citizen- Role model for their nation

powers of the president

state of the union address

prepare nation’s budget

call sessions of congress

dismiss congress

sign/veto bills

host to international leaders

commander in chief of armed forces

appoint federal judges, ambassadors, other government officials

Pardon/ reduce penalties against federal crime ppl

Bureaucracy

The federal government Employees under each of the branches

Congressional Appointment

the process in which the seats in the house of representatives are divided across the 50 states

Census

population data and demographic system that is collected every ten years

Constituents

The voting age population that specific elected officials represent and make decisions on behalf of.

Majority leader

leader of the party holding the most seats

Party whips

Majority and minority whips exist to assist the leadership

1st amendment

freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition

anti-federalists

Feared a strong central government would threaten individual liberties and state soverignty

Veto override

both House of representatives and senate have to vote 2/3 majority against veto

Peripheral government

regional or local government

Authoritarian

strong central power and limited freedom

Republicanism

citizens elect representatives to make and enforce laws on their behalf