The Branches Study Guide

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering the branches of the United States government, constitutional structures, presidential powers, court jurisdictions, and landmark Supreme Court cases.

Bicameral legislature

A legislative body composed of two distinct chambers or houses, exemplified by the United States Congress consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government created by Article I of the Constitution whose primary responsibility is to make and enact statutory laws.

Executive Branch

The branch of government established by Article II of the Constitution whose primary responsibility is to execute, enforce, and administer federal laws.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government established by Article III of the Constitution whose primary responsibility is to interpret laws and the Constitution and adjudicate legal disputes.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress consisting of 435 members apportioned by population, where members serve two-year terms, must be at least 25 years old, and are led by the Speaker of the House (with 8 representatives representing Missouri).

Senate

The upper chamber of Congress consisting of 100 members (two from each state) serving six-year terms, whose members must be at least 30 years old and whose official presiding officer is the Vice President.

President of the Senate

The constitutional role assigned to the Vice President of the United States to preside over daily Senate proceedings and cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie.

Expressed Powers

The specific legislative powers explicitly granted to Congress and written directly in Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.

Lawmaking Process

The constitutional procedure requiring a bill to be introduced, debated, and approved in identical form by both the House of Representatives and the Senate before being presented to the President.

Filibuster

A parliamentary maneuver in the Senate allowing a senator to extend debate indefinitely in order to delay or completely block a vote on a bill.

Gerrymandering

The practice of manipulating the boundaries of legislative districts to favor one political party or socioeconomic group over another.

Quorum

The minimum number of voting members that must be present in a legislative chamber to legally conduct official business and vote on legislation.

Presidential Consideration of a Bill

The constitutional window of 10 days (excluding Sundays) given to the President to sign a congressional bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature.

Presidential Qualifications

The constitutional requirements to hold the presidency: being a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years of age, and a resident within the United States for a minimum of 14 years.

Roles of the President

The constitutional and political roles fulfilled by the Chief Executive, including Commander in Chief, Chief Diplomat, Chief Executive, Chief of State, and Chief Legislator.

Presidential Elections

Federal elections held every four years on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, wherein voters select electors to choose the President.

Electoral College

The formal institution that officially elects the President and Vice President, in which Missouri is allocated 10 electoral votes.

Presidential Inauguration

The official public ceremony held on January 20 wherein the President-elect takes the constitutional oath of office to formally begin a four-year term.

Responsibilities of the Vice President

The constitutional duties to serve as President of the Senate, break tie votes in the Senate, and succeed to the presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal of the President.

Presidential Appointments

Federal positions that the President is empowered to nominate subject to Senate confirmation, including federal judges, Supreme Court justices, cabinet secretaries, and ambassadors.

President's Cabinet

An advisory board composed of the heads of the 15 executive departments and other top officials appointed by the President to assist in administering the federal government.

Presidential Succession

The legally specified order of officials who assume the powers of the presidency if the office becomes vacant: the Vice President, Speaker of the House, President pro tempore of the Senate, and Secretary of State.

Pardon

The executive power granted to the President under Article II to officially forgive an individual for a federal crime and cancel remaining legal penalties.

Twenty-Second Amendment

The constitutional amendment ratified in 1951 establishing a two-term limit on the presidency or a maximum of 10 years in office.

Presidential Candidate Selection

The process by which major political parties select presidential nominees through statewide primary elections and caucuses culminating in national nominating conventions.

Jurisdiction

The constitutional and statutory authority of a court of law to hear, adjudicate, and decide the outcome of a legal case.

Original Jurisdiction

The legal authority of a court to hear a case for the very first time, conduct a trial, examine evidence, and determine the initial verdict.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The power of a court to review, modify, affirm, or reverse the legal decisions made by a lower trial court or tribunal.

US District Courts

The general trial courts of the federal judicial system that possess original jurisdiction over federal civil and criminal matters.

US Courts of Appeals

The intermediate federal appellate courts that possess appellate jurisdiction to review cases decided by the US District Courts.

US Supreme Court

The highest federal court in the nation and the only court explicitly created by Article III of the Constitution, possessing both original and appellate jurisdiction.

Supreme Court Justices

The nine judicial officers who sit on the United States Supreme Court, consisting of one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.

Federal Judge Selection and Term

The constitutional process whereby federal court judges are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and serve life terms during good behavior.

Supreme Court Finality

The legal reality that rulings rendered by the US Supreme Court cannot be appealed to any higher tribunal, making it the court of last resort.

Judicial Review

The power of the judiciary to evaluate acts of the executive and legislative branches and nullify them if determined to violate the United States Constitution.

Judicial Activism

A judicial philosophy suggesting that judges should interpret constitutional principles broadly to address modern societal problems and correct injustices.

Judicial Restraint

A judicial philosophy asserting that judges should strictly interpret laws based on precedent and original intent, deferring policymaking to the elected branches.

Majority Opinion

The official binding ruling of the Supreme Court agreed upon by more than half of the participating justices that sets precedent for the case.

Dissenting Opinion

A written statement authored by one or more Supreme Court justices who disagree with the final verdict and legal reasoning of the majority.

Concurring Opinion

A written opinion by a Supreme Court justice who agrees with the majority decision's outcome but offers differing legal arguments or reasoning.

Marbury v Madison

The landmark 1803 Supreme Court case that established the principle and power of Judicial Review under Chief Justice John Marshall.

Tinker v Des Moines

The landmark 1969 Supreme Court case affirming that public school students retain First Amendment rights to symbolic free speech at school provided it does not cause substantial disruption.

Brown v Board of Education

The landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that overturned the separate-but-equal doctrine, ruling that racial segregation in public educational facilities is inherently unequal.

Miranda v Arizona

The landmark 1966 Supreme Court case establishing that suspects must be informed of their Fifth and Sixth Amendment constitutional rights to silence and legal counsel prior to custodial police questioning.