Constitution Quizlet (Updated)

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Commander in Chief

a role of the President to lead the nation's armed forces (military)

requirements to be President

be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen of the U.S., and have lived in the U.S. for 14 years

electoral college

the system for electing the President in which every state has a certain number of electors (equal to the number of representatives plus senators); to win the presidency, a candidate must win at least 270 electoral votes

Cabinet

the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch; they are nominated by the President to adviser him/her and each one leads an executive department; there are 15 departments

Amendment

A change to the Constitution

tax revenue

Governments use tax revenue from individuals and businesses to provide goods and services

Ratification

Formal approval of the Constitution by the states.

Supremacy Clause

Constitution is the supreme law of the land

override

An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.

Concurrent Powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Article I

_________ of the U.S. Constitution outlines the powers, functions, and organizations of Congress

Elastic Clause

Part of the constitution that says Congress has implied powers

100 members

Number of members of the Senate because each state gets 2 representatives in the Senate

435 members

Number of members of the House of Reps because the number of representatives for each state is based on population.

Electoral College

Representatives of each state who cast the final ballots that actually elect a president. Was established by the Constitutional Covention because the founding fathers wanted to keep the common people from making a mistake.

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

Impeachment

Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives. The Articles of Impeachment, if passed by the House are then tried in the Senate who acts as the jury.

Amendment 1

freedom of religion, freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right to protest

Amendment 2

the right of the people to keep and bear arms

Amendment 3

No soldier shall be quartered in any house during peace times

Amendment 4

unreasonable searches and seizures unless warrent

Amendment 5

no person need to answer for a capital of infamous crime w/o presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, no double trail for same offense, nor be compelled to be a witness against himself, due process, no private property without

compensation; right to remain silent

Amendment 6

right to speedy and public trail with a Jury, be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, right to be confronted with witnesses against him and able to obtain witnesses in his favor, right to counsel

Amendment 7

Civil Trials have a right to a jury and no fact tried may be reexamined in any court of the US than according to common law

Amendment 8

excessive bail or fines, cruel and unusual punishments

Preamble

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Goals of the Preamble of the Constitution

establish justice

ensure domestic tranquillity

provide for the common defense

promote general welfare

secure liberty

9

Number of states required to ratify or approve the Constitution

June 21, 1788

The date the Constitution went into affect

7

The number of Articles in the US Constittution

27

The number of amendments that have been added to the Constitution

6

Senators are elected for ___________ years

2

Representatives are elected for _________ years

House of Representatives

All revenue (money) bills originate in the __________________________________

Powers of Congress

Collect taxes, borrow money, regulate commerce with other nations, coin money, declare war, establish armed forces, make necessary laws.

Vice President

Presideing officer of the Senate is the _______________________

3 branches of government

Executive, Carry's Out the Laws

Legislative, Makes the Laws

Judicial, Explains or interprets the Laws

9

The Number of Supreme Court Justices

US Const

Article VI establishes the _____________________________________ as the Supreme Law of the Land.,

Vice President

The person who takes the Presidents place if he is unable to complete his term in office.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

The person who usually administers the oath of office to the President on Inauguration.

Life

the term of the Supreme Court Justice

Senate

All Appointments to the Supreme Court are approved by the

ex post facto law

a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed

Bill of Attainder

a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court

writ of certiorari

A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court.

Vetoing

The Executive Branch checks the legislative branch by ___________________ laws

overriding

The Legislative Branch checks the Executive Branch by _______________________ veto with a 2/3's vote.

writ of habeas corpus

A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody. Also gives the person the right to appear in person, in court.

Elastic Clause

Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government

not stated in the Constitution

Qualiftications for Supreme Court Justice are _______________________

state legislature

Originally, Senator were elected by _________________________________________.

The Amendment Process

step 1: amendment proposed by 2/3 vote of both houses of congress OR a constitutional convention called by congress on petition of 2/3 out of 50 states. THEN amendment ratified by 3/4 of the 50 state legislatures OR 3/4 of special constitutional conventions called by 50 states THEN the new amendment!

Cabinet Departments

The fifteen largest and most influential agencies of the federal bureaucracy (e.g., Department of State, Treasury, Media, Education, Justice...) Headed by Secretary or Attorney General (Department of Justice)

Article V

Amending the Constitution

government corporation

The US Post Office is a _________________________________________

Article III of the Constitution

Judicial Branch

Article II of the Constitution

This article describes the role and power of the Executive Branch. The President and Vice President.

Commander in Chief

term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces

Senate

Treaties are approved by the ________________________________

Congress

___________________________ has the power to admit new states.

Article 1 of the Constitution

Legislative Branch

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Presides over the Impeachment Trial

President

Appoints Supreme Court Justices

Majority Vote of Both Houses of Congress

A person appointed by the President to fill the vacant office of the VP must be confirmed by the _________________________________________

President

A naturalized citizen cannot become __________________________________________.

Qualifications for President

35 years old, born in the U.S., and has to have lived in the U.S. for 14 years

27th Amendment

congressional pay raises are not begun until the next election

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

25th Amendment

Presidential Succession; Vice Presidential Vacancy; Presidential Inability

24th Amendment

Abolishes poll taxes

23rd Amendment

Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still has no representation in Congress)

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

21st Amendment

Repeal of Prohibition

20th Amendment

Congress begins on January 30th; President starts on January 20th

"Lame-duck" Amendment

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote

18th Amendment

Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

16th Amendment

income tax

15th Amendment (1870)

U.S. cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed

14th Amendment

citizenship, due process, equal protection to all people regardless of race, age to vote 21

13th Amendment

Abolition of slavery w/o compensation for slave-owners

12th Amendment

separation of votes for President and Vice President

11th Amendment

One State cannot be sued by another state

10th Amendment

Powers Reserved to the States

9th Amendment

Citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

2nd Amendment

keep and bear arms

Amendment 3

no quartering of soldiers during peace time

Amendment 4

no unreasonable search

Amendment 5

Preamble- constitution was established to:

• form a more perfect union

• establish justice

• provide for common defense

• promote general welfare

• secure blessings of liberty to ourselves and prosperity

Article 1 Section 1

Legislative branch:

1. Senate

2. HOR

Article 1 Section 2

HOR Members:

• chosen every 2 yrs

• 25+

• been 7 yrs a citizen

• shall not live in the state he was chosen to represent

Article 1 Section 3

• senator elected every 6 years

• 2 senators per each state each has one vote

• 30+

• been 9 yrs a citizen

• not inhabitant of the state he was chosen

• VP president of the Senate

• tries all impeachments

• chief justice presides during impeachment

• 2/3 each house must be present for impeachment

Article 1 Section 4

• congress meets every year

Article 1 Section 5

• each house can chose the rules of their proceedings as long as 2/3 agree

• keep a journal of proceedings

Article 1 Section 6

• each Sen and HOR member receives compensation

• can’t hold multiple offices

Article 1 Section 7

Process of Bill to a Law:

1. HOR 2/3

2. Senate 2/3

3. President

If vetoed by Pres:

4. HOR 2/3

5. Senate 2/3

6. Becomes a law

If pres does not sign or veto bill within 10 days in becomes law.