legislative branch powers
Creates laws and makes laws Declaring war Establishing rules of immigration Coin money and tax Establish federal courts and their jurisdictions Senate can impeach, house can propose impeach House can confirm judges The Senate is the “supervisor” to the House of Representatives
Article 1
executive branch powers
Carrying out laws Running affairs with the national government In control of the military Appoints ambassadors Directs forgein policy Makes treaties
Article 2
judicial branch powers
apply laws to court cases Watches for violations of laws in cases Interpret laws
Article 3
how long can a judge hold their place in the supreme court?
for life only if they obey the rules
how does someone get elected into the supreme court?
nominated by president confirmed by senate
how many justices are in the supreme court?
9 justices (1 chief justice and 8 associate justices)
what is original jurisdiction?
cases that go directly to the supreme court
what can congress do to judges?
congress can impeach judges
What is judicial review?
the supreme court has the power to call a law constitutional or unconstitutional
what is the longest article
Article 1
how many members in the legislative branch?
535
most powerful power in the government
judicial review
what is the most powerful branch in practice?
executive
true or false the president has the final say in anything
false the supreme court has the final say in anything the president doesn't have the final say in anything.
Who is in the legislative branch?
consists of the senate, and house.
who elects these people in the legislative branch?
voting citiznes
how long does a term last in the legislative branch?
2 years for HoR, 6 years for Senate
Who is in the Executive Branch?
President, Vice President, Cabinet
who elects the people in the executive branch?
voting citizens through the electoral college
who is in the judicial branch?
supreme and federal courts
how long is a term in the executive branch?
4 years
How long can a Supreme Court Justice serve?
for life if they abide by the rules and laws
how many amendments are there?
27
what is the bill of rights
First 10 amendments to the Constitution
How is an amendment added to the Constitution?
2/3 of house and senate, 2/3 of state legislature have to agree, and 3/4 states are need to ratify the amendment. (38 of the 50 states)
what was the 23 amendment?
it gave Washington D.C. 3 electoral college votes
what is habeas corpus?
the right to know why you are being detained
what is the elastic clause?
End of article 1, congress has power to deem laws “necessary and proper”
popular sovereignty
people control the government - power to the people
Separation of Powers
montesquieu created this, government is split into three different branches to avoid one person/group of people gaining too much power
checks and balances
each branch has the power to check other branches so that they do not gain too much power
federalism
The belief that there should be a strong federal government (federalists were for this antifederalists were against)
republicanism
people elect others to represent their interest in government
Individual Rights
Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.
what is a bill
a legislative proposal before Congress. Bills from each house are assigned a number in the order in which they are introduced, starting at the beginning of each Congress (first and second sessions) (proposed law)
how is a bill passed?
a member of congress introduces a bill a committee writes it then the HoR vote on it and it goes to the senate and goes to another committee until it is an exact copy from chamber to chamber then goes to the president, who either vetoes it or passes it into law
what is a law?
The rules that a country or state has to abide by and follow.
what is the electoral college?
Article 2, each state gets representatives (2 senate + however many are in the house of rep.) their votes determine pres, 538 total votes, 3 from washington, pres needs 270 votes to win
seven constitutional principles
Popular Sovereignty
People control the gov (power to the people, “We the People…”)
Separation of Powers
montesquieu created this, government is split into three different branches
Checks and Balances
each branch has the power to check other branches so that they do not gain too much power
Limited Government
the power of the gov is limited, they do not have too much power
Federalism
a strong fed. government (federalists wanted this, anti federalists did not)
Republicanism
electing reps to the government
Individual Rights
an individual right guarantees individuals certain rights or freedoms that the government can not interfere with