Constituition

date the constitution was ratified by congress

september 17, 1787

date the bill of right was ratified by congress

december 15, 1791

Goals of the preamble

To form a better country with equality, peace, justice, common defense, guaranteed freedom, and provided general welfare.

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The main goal is to introduce what the constitution is about.

Article l (1)

legislative branch

Article ll (2)

executive branch

Article lll (3)

judicial branch

Article lV (4)

how states should interact with eachother

Article V (5)

how to change the constitution by adding amendments

Article Vl (6)

laws and treaties of the federal government are most important.Supremacy clause

Article Vll (7)

constitution is in effect when 9/13 states approve it. Ratifying the constitution

Bill of rights

the first 10 amendments to the constitution

Term+requirements for senator

Requirements- Must live in state which they are elected, be at least 30 years old, and be a U.S citizen for at least 9 years.

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Term length- 6 years-represent people from their state/district

Term+requirements for representatives

Requirements- live in state which they are elected, be at least 25 years old, and be a U.S citizen for a least 7 years

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Term length- 2 years-represent people from their state/district

Upper house (s or H)

senate

lower house (s or H)

house of representatives

elastic clause

congress can make all laws that are “necessary and proper” for carrying out its duties

powers of the senate

jury for impeachment proceedings, approve all foreign treaties, approve presidential appointments, if needed elect the vice president from top two electoral vote recipients

powers of the house

initiate charges of impeachment, all bills raising money must start in the house,if needed elect the president from top three electoral vote recipients

shared powers of congress

finance the nation government, lay and collect taxes, borrow money, regulate commerce, coin money, establish standards of weights and measures, issue patents and copy rights, establish post offices and postal roads, defend the nation, declare war, maintain the armed forces, pass laws, establish other federal courts as needed, naturalization.

speaker of the house

Kevin Mccarthy, leader of the house of representatives.

president

requirements- native born american, 35 years old, 14 year residence of the U.S

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Term length- 4 years, limit of 2 terms (8 years)

who is in executive branch

president, cabinet members, vice president, departments

powers of executive branch

sign or veto legislation.

send troops into battle.

negotiate treaties.

appoint cabinet members + ambassadors + supreme court justices + federal judges + U.S marshals.

call special sessions of congress and adjourn congress if houses can’t agree.

grant pardons + reprieves clemency + commute sentences.

sign executive agreements with countries.

executive privilege: does not have to release information

executive orders: directives by the president that have the force of a law

departments

1. health and human services
2. education
3. war/defense
4. labor
5. agriculture

cabinet positions

1. Vice president
2. head of treasury
3. secretary of state
4. head of homeland security
5. secretary of agriculture

President

Joe Biden

Vice President

Kamala Harris

Federal court system

The federal court system has three main levels: district courts (the trial court), circuit courts which are the first level of appeal, and the Supreme Court of the United States, the final level of appeal in the federal system.

justices on supreme court

9 justices

term: for life

judicial review

the ability of the court to declare a Legislative or Executive act a violation of the Constitution

supreme court cases heard directly

cases involving diplomats from foreign nations, disputes between a state and federal government, or a dispute between two states

how does the supreme court decide to see a case

justices decide which case they hear by “rule of four”: at least 4/9 justices agree to grant a writs of certiorari, if a writ is denied then the lower court decision stands, by certificate: when a lower court asks the supreme court to clarify a procedure or rule of law in order to help them decide on a case, reviews cases from lower federal courts and state courts

powers of judicial branch

to interpret federal laws, lays out the roles and powers of judicial branch

court of appeals

have no juries, judges sit on panels and decide the verdict, appellate jurisdiction so they hear appeals of cases decided on by lower courts, they hear appeals from federal agencies

creating amendments

An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one, by a convention called for that purpose

supremacy clause

the laws and treaties of the U.S government are the top priority (law of the land).

powers to the state government

conduct elections, govern marriage laws, regulate intrastate commerce,set traffic standards, establish and maintain schools, determine the qualifications of voters, maintain the state militias (national guard)

powers to the national government

declare and engage in war, print and coin money, maintain an army+navy+air force, regulate interstate and foreign trade, admit new states, negotiate treaties with foreign countries, set up and maintain the post office, set rule for immigration

shared powers state+national

collect tax and borrow money, set up court system, create laws to maintain health+safety+welfare, set minimum wage, charter banks

bill to a law

It begins when a idea is formed by citizen or group

The congressperson takes this idea and writes a bill

The bill is given to the House of Representatives or Senate

The bill is given a number

sent to the appropriate committee

committee holds a hearing to study the bill through research

the bill is passed it’s sent to opposite house to be checked

two different versions they have a conference committee

bill goes to the president

can sign ,veto , pocket veto, or approve without his signature