Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering the roles, structure, qualifications, and constitutional articles governing the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of the U.S. government.

Article I (Article 1)

The section of the U.S. Constitution that established the Legislative Branch, whose primary purpose is to make laws for the United States.

Bicameral

A two-house legislative structure consisting of the Senate (the Upper House) and the House of Representatives (the Lower House).

The Senate

The Upper House of Congress, which consists of 100 members with 2 senators representing each state.

The House of Representatives

The Lower House of Congress, which consists of 435 members distributed among the states based on population.

Reapportionment Act of 1929

The law that capped the total number of voting members in the House of Representatives at 435.

U.S. Census

A population count conducted every 10 years to determine how House seats are redistributed among the states.

Senate Non-Legislative Powers

Special powers of the Senate that include approving presidential appointments, approving treaties, holding impeachment trials, and choosing the Vice President if no candidate earns an Electoral College majority.

House Special Powers

Powers of the House of Representatives that include introducing appropriations bills to determine how money is spent, bringing articles of impeachment against federal officials, and choosing the President if no candidate receives an Electoral College majority.

Veto Override

The constitutional mechanism by which Congress can enact a bill into law over a presidential veto through a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

Article II (Article 2)

The article of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the Executive Branch to enforce and execute federal laws.

Chief of State

The role of the President as the ceremonial leader and symbol of the United States.

Chief Executive

The role of the President responsible for enforcing, executing, and carrying out the laws of the nation.

Chief Administrator

The role of the President responsible for directing the executive branch and appointing government officials.

Chief Diplomat

The role of the President in directing U.S. foreign policy and conducting relationships with other countries.

Commander in Chief

The role of the President as the supreme commander and civilian head of the U.S. armed forces.

Chief Legislator

The role of the President in shaping public policy and influencing the congressional lawmaking agenda.

Party Leader

The role of the President as the leader and primary supporter of their political party.

Chief Citizen

The role of the President as a representative of all American people and a public role model.

Formal Presidential Qualifications

Constitutional eligibility requirements mandating that a candidate must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born U.S. citizen, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.

22nd Amendment

The constitutional amendment that limits a U.S. President to serving a maximum of 2 elected terms.

President of the Senate

The legislative role held by the Vice President of the United States, allowing them to preside over the Senate and cast a tie-breaking vote.

Presidential Primaries

Elections in which voters help select the specific candidate who will represent their political party on the general election presidential ballot.

National Convention

A formal political party assembly where members demonstrate party unity, adopt their official party platform, and officially nominate their presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Party Platform

The official statement of a political party's core goals, principles, and policy beliefs adopted at its national convention.

Electoral College

The constitutional system for electing the President and Vice President, composed of 538 total electors based on congressional representation plus three electors for Washington, D.C.

270 Electoral Votes

The minimum number of electoral votes required for a presidential candidate to win a majority in the Electoral College.

Article III (Article 3)

The article of the U.S. Constitution establishing the Judicial Branch, which interprets laws and decides court cases.

U.S. Supreme Court

The highest court in the federal judiciary, composed of 9 justices an odd number chosen to reduce the likelihood of tie decisions.

U.S. Courts of Appeals

The intermediate appellate level of the federal judiciary, consisting of 13 regional courts.

U.S. District Courts

The lowest tier of the federal court system, functioning as general trial courts.

Judicial Review

The power of federal courts to evaluate the constitutionality of legislative acts and executive actions, and to declare them invalid if they violate the Constitution.

Marbury v. Madison

The landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review as a key check on the Legislative and Executive Branches.