contains history constitution flashcards

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