us constitution

Function of the Legislative Branch

make the law, control taxking + spending, declare war, regulate commerce

Function of the Judicial Branch

interpret laws, apply them, and determine their constitutionality

Function of the Executive Branch

Enforces and carries out the law passed by Congress, the President is the head

Individual worth

trying to meet needs of ALL individuals

Equality

no person should be held back based on gender, race, color, or religion

Majority Rules, Minority Rights

majority will be right more often than wrong

Compromise

agreement on a debate that's reached by each side making concessions

Individual Freedom

can't allow complete individual freedom - leads to anarchy

Executive powers of the president

Executing the laws (uphold + carry out all federal laws with some discretion

the ordinance power (direct + issue orders to the administration of the executive branch)

the appointing power ( appoint a handful of officals on his authority, must be confirmed by senate)

the removal power (he can remove any person he appoints except Supreme Court

Legislative powers of the president

sends 3 major messages to Congress

(state of the union, budget message, annual economic report)

4 options in dealing with measures passed by Congress (sign bill into law, veto the bill, not sign it allowing it to become law, pocket veto not sign it at end of congresonal session doesnt beome to congress adjuring)

power to prorogue (adjourn) Congress, call Congress into special session

1st Amendment

Freedom of religon, speech, press, assemble, and petition, unless you infringe on the rights of others

2nd Amendment

the right to bear arms

4th Amendment

be secure in their person, NO UNREASONABLE SEARCHES OR SEIZURES, no warrants shall issue unless you have PROBABLE CAUSE

5th Amendment

no person shall be put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property without DUE PROCESS OF LAW, nor shall private property be taken for public use, without fair use compensation (EMINENT DOMAIN)

6th Amendment

The accused shall enjoy the right to a SPEEDY AND PUBLIC trial by an impartial jury

7th Amendment

in suits at common law that GO OVER $20, people have the right of trial by jury

8th Amendment

EXCESSIVE BAIL shall not be required, nor CRUAL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS inflicted

13th Amendment

abolition of slavory

14th Amendment

all persons born or naturalized in the us are CITIZENS OF THE US and the state they live in, no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property with out the due process of law, EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW

15th Amendment

voting rights to all races (all men)

16th Amendment

collect taxes on income

18th Amendment

prohibition of alcohol

19th Amendment

Women's right to vote

21st Amendment

repeal of prohibition

22nd Amendment

president can serve 2 full terms MAX

How many amendments are there?

27

qualifications and terms for a member of the house of reps

2 years with an unlimited amount, 25 years old, 7 years of citizenship, inhabitant of DISTRICT, elected from

qualifications and terms for a member of the senate

6 years with an unlimited amount, 30 years old, 9 years citizenship, inhabitant of STATE elected from

qualifications and terms for the president

2 terms, 4years each (10 years max), 35, natural born citizen, live in the U.S. for 14 years

qualifications and terms for a Supreme Court justice

no constitutional qualifications, appointed by president, confirmed by senate, as long as they're on "good terms" they can serve for life

number of members in the House of Representatives and the Senate

HOR - 435 (at least 1 per state)

Senate - 100 members (2 per state)

President Job Descriptions, Presidential Succession Act

Chief of state - ceremonial head of government

Chief executive - sees that nation's laws carried out

Chief administrator - heads federal bureaucracy

Chief diplomate - determines foreign policy

Commander in chief - commands armed forces

Chief legislator - proposes laws to Congress

Chief of party - leads his/her political party

Chief citizen - represents American people

Ratification of an Amendment Process

Proposal - amendment proposed by 2/3 vote in both the House of Representatives and Senate

Ratification - 3/4 of the state legislatures (38/50) must vote to approve the amendment

Purpose of Presidential Primaries, month of Presidential election?

Held 6-9 months before election, primary voters choose candidates by casting ballots, the state where primary is held takes results of vote to award delegates to the winners. Some candidates move on, some drop out to save money and time

Presidential election held in November

Electoral College, # of electoral votes each state has is equal to?

Wanted to ensure President was elected by knowledgeable people

Each state gets at least 3, determined based on # Representatives and # Senate

Takes 270 votes to win Presidency

Vice president responsibilities

To preside over the Senate, and to help decide if the President is disabled (if President disabled, VP takes over for a brief period)

Federalism

system of government that divides power between a national (federal) government and smaller, regional governments (state governments)

Checks and Balances

power divided among legislative, executive, and judicial branches, allowing each branch to limit or "check" the powers of the others, preventing any single branch from becoming too dominant and safeguarding against tyranny

Elastic Clause

necessary + proper clause, grants Congress power to make all laws for carrying its enumerated powers

Representative Democracy

system of government where citizens elect officials to make laws and decisions on their behalf, as opposed to direct democracy where citizens vote on all issues themselves

Impeachment

court process to possibly remove an elected leader from office

Census

count of people in the U.S. taken every 10 years

Declaration of War

formal public statement by a sovereign state that a state of hostility with another country has begun

Amnesty

general pardon offered to a group of lawbreakers

Reprieve

postpone the execution of a sentence

Commutation

reduction in the severity of a sentence or fine imposed by a court

Pardon

legal forgiveness of a crime

Habeas corpus (Latin for "you have the body")

when your charges are read against you

Statement

to break off from England so colonies can form the USA

Goals

all men created equal, life liberty and pursuit of happiness, power from the consent of the governed (citizens)

Grievances

taxation without representation, judges dependant on British King alone, quartering large bodies of troops among them in peacetime

What year was our current Constitution written?

1787

bill of rights

First ten amendments, Anti-Feds would not approve Constitution without it

Articles of Confederation weaknesses

No power to tax, articles could only be amended by unanimous consent

Had to borrow $ from states, no power to regulate trade, act only when 9/13 states consented, no power to force states to obey laws

Who had final authority in all matters under the Articles of Confederation?

The individual states

What city was the Constitutional Convention held in?

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Requirements for an Amendment to be added to the Constitution

It first must be proposed by a ⅔ vote in both house and senate, or by a national convention called by ⅔ of state legislatures, then it must be ratified by ¾ (38) states either by their legislatures or state conventions.

What were some of the characteristics of the Framers of the Constitution?

Young, educated, fairly wealthy, innovative, thought of future of country

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson (and John Adams)

virgina plan

3 separate branches, representation based on population, benefitted LARGE states

new jersey plan

all states represented equally, limited power to tax and regulate trade, benefitted SMALL states

connecticut comprimise

house based on population, senate based on equal candidates for each state, benefitted ALL states ("Great Compromise")

Inauguration Day

President and Vice President sworn into office on January 20th

Flag etiquette

display from sunrise to sunset in fair weather, never let it touch the ground, avoid using it as clothing or for advertising. When soiled or worn, should be disposed of in a dignified manner, often by giving it to the proper people to burn

Presidental use of mass media

Newspaper - Lincoln

Radio - FDR

TV - JFK

Internet - Obama

Social Media - Trump

What fraction of Congress does it take to override a veto by the President?

60% - ⅗ vote

What does the Constitution state no person may be deprived of?

Life, liberty, and property (inalienable rights)

Why has presidential power continued to grow over time?

Responses to national crises, America's increased global role, the expansion of the federal bureaucracy, and Congress's tendency to cede authority to the executive branch

lincoln

13th admendment freed the slaves and the main general for the union army

obama

the affordable heath act (obama care), the government over took GM general motors to save it

jefferson

extended presidential power with the Louisiana Purchase

washington

was the first president to set up the cabinet

truman

he used the atomic bombs

FDR

the new deal and tried to creat jobs for poeple and he did techincally 4th term the 22nd admendment changed that

Teddy Roosevelt

he established the national parks he took on the oil, steel, and rail road and tryed to break up the monopolies, over took the panmal cannal