Congress Oversight Function Monitors and evaluates federal agencies, programs, and policies. • Ensures laws are implemented as intended. • Uses hearings, investigations, and reports as tools. • Seats in the House of Representatives • Shall Be Apportioned among the States based on population. • Minimum of one representative per state. • 100 Senators Represent the 50 States • Each state has two senators. • Serves six-year terms with staggered elections. • Inherent/Expressed/Implied Powers • Inherent: Powers essential to a sovereign nation (e.g., immigration control). • Expressed: Specifically listed in the Constitution (e.g., taxation). • Implied: Derived from the Elastic Clause (e.g., establishing the IRS). • Commerce Clause • Grants Congress power to regulate trade among states. • Basis for significant federal authority over economic activity. • 1st Amendment • Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. • Ensures separation of church and state. • Impeachment Rules • House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach. • Senate holds the trial and votes on conviction. • Requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate to convict. • Electoral College • Mechanism for electing the President and Vice President. • States allocate electors based on congressional representation. • Majority of electoral votes (270) needed to win. • Parliamentary Governments • Executive derives authority from the legislature. • Prime Minister is usually the leader of the majority party (less conflicts) • Federal Government • National government with powers divided among legislative, executive, and judicial branches. • Balances power between federal and state governments (federalism). • Legislative Power • Authority to make laws. • Vested in Congress (House of Representatives and Senate).

Executive Power

Authority to enforce laws, vested in the President and administrative agencies.

Judicial Power

Authority to interpret laws and resolve disputes, vested in federal courts, including the Supreme Court.

Representative Democracy

System where citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf, with accountability through regular elections.

Absolute Freedom

Freedom that is limited by laws to ensure public safety and order; otherwise can lead to anarchy.

The Constitution

Framework for federal authority that delegates and limits government powers.

The Bill of Rights

First ten amendments to the Constitution that protect individual freedoms and limit government power.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments promoting local governance while maintaining national unity.

Bicameral Legislature

Legislature that comprises two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate, balancing representation by population and state equality.

Popular Sovereignty

Principle that government derives its power from the people, reflected in voting and civic participation.

Checks and Balances

System that prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerful by providing each branch oversight and influence over the others.

Tariffs

Taxes on foreign imports used to protect domestic industries or generate revenue, regulated by Congress.

Extradition Clause

Requires states to return fugitives to the state of the crime.

Preamble of the Constitution

States purposes and guiding principles of the Constitution, highlighting goals like justice, defense, and liberty.

The 26th Amendment

Lowered voting age to 18, ratified in response to the Vietnam War, emphasizing 'old enough to fight, old enough to vote'.

Amendments

Changes or additions to the Constitution requiring proposal by Congress or a convention and ratification by the states.

Supreme Court

Consists of nine justices nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate; established judicial review through Marbury v. Madison.

Naturalization

Process for non-citizens to become U.S. citizens, requiring residency, language proficiency, and a citizenship test.

Primary Role of Congress

Main function is to create and pass legislation; the Elastic Clause grants Congress flexibility.

Congress and Impeachment

House impeaches officials while the Senate tries and decides on removal; the two Houses differ in size, term length, and powers.

Largest Branch of Federal Government

Executive branch, in terms of personnel and functions.

The 'Rule of Four'

Supreme Court practice to hear a case if four justices agree.

Precedent

Judicial decisions that guide future cases, ensuring consistency and predictability in law.