Government Study

Popular Sovereignty

The government is created by and for the people, not with the government or its leaders. The people vote to elect leaders to represent them.

Rule of Law

The people and the government must abide by a set of laws. The constitution sets limits to the government power and establishes how leaders who overstep thier powers can be removed. 

Seperation of Powers and Checks and Balances

Powers and responsbilities are divided among three government branches to prevent any one person or group from having too much power. Prevents abuse of the government. 

Federalism

Power is divided between the central government and the individual state and local government. 

Independent Judiciary

The judicial branch is established as an independent entity, free of pressure and influences from the other two branches.

Individual Rights

Individual rights and liberties are protected against government encroachment.

How old do you have to be to run for the House of Representatives?

Twenty-Five

“No person shall be a repesentative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty-five years.”

Article 1 Section 2 

How many years must pass until a senator can be reelected?

6 years

“The senate of the U.S. shall be composed of the senators from each state, for the six years.”

Article 1 Section 3

Who has the power to approve or veto legislation?

The President

“Before it becomes law, be presented to the president of the United States, if he approves it he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it.”

Article 1 Section 7

How many years must pass to elect a new president?

Four years

“The executive power shall be vested in the president of the united states. He shall hold his office during the term of four years.”

Article 2 Section 1

Where do proposals for new bills originate?

House of Representatives (Congress)

“All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives.” 

Article 1 Section 7

Who has the power to impeach?

House of Representatives

Who has the power to try the impeached?

Senate

“The house of representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of Impeachment”

Article 1 Section 2

“The senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments.”

Article 1 Section 3

Who has the power to make treaties? And who must approve them?

The president shall approve and the Senate should approve

“He shall have the power by and witht eh advice and consent of the senate to make treaties”

Article 2 Section 2

How long do Supreme Court judges terms last?

Life, during good behavior

“The judges, both of the supreme court and inferior courts shall hold their officers during good behavior.”

Article 3 Section 1

Which branch of government has the power to declare war against an aggressor?

Legilative Branch (Congress)

“To declare war, grant letters of Margue and reprisal, and make rules concerning aptures.”

Article 1 Section 8

Who is the commander in chief of the U.S. and military forces?

The president

“The president shall be commander in chief of the army and navy of the U.S., and of the militia.”

Article 2 Section 2

Who has the power to appoint supreme court judges? And who must approve?

The president and the sente must approve

“He shall nominate by and with the consent of the senate shall appoint ambassadors, other ministers, and consults, judges of the supreme court”

Article 2 Section 2

Who has the power to propose new amendements?

Congress

“The congress, whenever two thirds of both houses still deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution.” 

Article 5 Section 1

Which law does the constitution say is valid? State of Federal?

Federal Law”

“The constitution, and the laws of the united states…under the authority of the united states shall be supreme law of the land”

Article 5

How old must a candidate be to qualify to be president?

35 years

“shall be elegible to the office of president…to the age of thirty-five years”

Article 2 Section 1

Article 1

Legilative Branch

Article 2

Executive Branch

Article 3

Judicial Branch

Article 4

Relations amon states

Article 5

Amending the Constitution

Article 6

National Supremacy

Article 7

Ratification of the Constitution