Constitution

What is the preamble

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

In order to create a balance between a strong government and its liberties for its people, 4 ideas were created. What were they?

federalism, limited government, separation of power, popular sovereignty

Powers that are given to the Federal government are

enumerated powers

Powers that are given to the state are

reserved powers

Powers that are shared between the state and national government

concurrent powers

What does article 1 cover

Legislative branch

Congress is made up of two houses, what are they

senate and the house of reps

Powers that are shared between both houses of congress are called

joint duties

What is considered the lower house of congress

house of reps

What is considered the upper house of congress

senate

How many members are in the house of reps

435

How many members are in the senate

100

The number of reps that each state has is based off what

population

How many people from each state are in the senate

2

In order for the house of reps to be in session, what must be present

a quorem

What is the term of a representative

2 years

What is a quorem in the house of reps

218

When do congressmen take office

January 3rd

How are vacancies filled in the house of reps

a special election called by the state’s governor

Who is the presiding officer of the house of reps

speaker of the house

How many representitives are sent from the state of of Iliinois

17

What congressional district do we live in

12th

Who is the US representative for our district

Mike Bost

Who are the illinois senators

Tammy duckworth and dick durbin

What is the term of a senator

6 years

How much of the senate is elected every 2 years

1/3

How are vacancies in the senate filled

a governor appointment until the next election

Who is the presiding officer in the senate

vice president

In the event that the vice president cannot lead the senate, who takes over

president pro tempore

Before something becomes a law, it is called what

bill

What kind of bills must start in the house of reps

revenue

Congress cannot suspend the writ of what

Habeas Corpus

What does Habeas Corpus state

no arbitary arrest of a person

What is a law that punishes a person without a trial

Bill of Attainder

What prevents congress from passing a law that makes an action a crime after it has taken place

ex-post facto

What are powers that are written in the constitution

Expressed

What are powers that are not listed in the constitution

implied

What does article two of the constitution cover

executive branch

What are the titles of the president

Commander in chief, chief executive, chief legislator, chief of state, and chief of party

What is the term of office for a president

4 years

When does the president take office

January 20th

Who is the current president

Joe Biden

Who is the current vice president

Kamala Harris

The president is elected by what

the electoral college

How many electoral college votes are needed to win the presidency

270

How many electoral college votes does DC have

3

What are the 5 duties of the president

foreign affairs, domestic admin, appointments, judical procedures, legislation

Who is the only person that can grant federal pardons

President

What does article 3 cover

Judical branch

What does the judical branch set up

courts

What are the three main courts

district, appelate, and supreme

What is the highest court in the united states

supreme

What is not written into the constitution but allows the supreme court to determine whether laws are constitutional or not

Judical review

How many justices are on the supreme court

9

Who is the presiding officer of the supreme court

cheif justice

What is the term of a supreme court justice

life

Who was the first supreme court chief justice

John Jay

How many appellate courts are within the federal judical branch

11

What is the job of the middle courts

to hear appeals from the lower courts

What is the ordinary trial system of the federal judicial branch

district courts

how many courts are in the lowest court system (district courts)

90

What does the secretary of the treasurery do

manages finance for the US

What does the secretary of the state do

Manages foreign affairs

What does the secretary of the defense do

Handles issues with the armed forces

What does the secretary of justice do

Acts as the nation’s lawyer

What does the secretarty of homeland security do

Develops anti-terrorism plans

What does the director of the FBI do

insures that cases and opertations are handled correctly

what does the white house chief of staff do

directing, managing and overseeing all policy development

What does the speaker of the house do

the majority political party leader in the House

What does the president pro tempore do

presiding officer in the senate when vice president is not avalible

Who is the secretary of the treasury

Janet Yellen

Who is the secretary of state

Antony J Binken

Who is the secretary of defense

Lloyd Austin

Who is the secretary of justice

Attorney General

Who is the Attorney General

Merrick Garland

Who is the secretary of homeland security

Alejandro Mayorkas

Who is the director of the FBI

Christopher Wray

Who is the white house chief of staff

Jeff Zientz

Who is speaker of the house

Mike Johnston

Who is president pro tempore

Patty Murray

What is the 1st amendment

Guarentees the right to freedom of religion, speech, press, petition and assembly

What is the 2nd amendment

Gives the right to bear arms

What is the 3rd amendment

Outlaws the quatering of soldiers

What is the 4th amendment

Outlaws unreasonable searches and seizures

What is the 5th amendment

gives the right to due process, no double jeapordy

What is the 6th amendment

right to a public trial, right to a lawyer

What is the 7th amendment

Right to a jury trial

What is the 8th amendment

Outlaws excessive bail, no cruel and unusual punishment

What is the 9th amendment

Etc. Amendment, gives rights that are not listed in the constitution

What is the 10th amendment

Gives powers to the states that are not listed in the constitution

What is the 11th amendment

Lawsuits against states are abolished

What is the 12th amendment

Seperate ballots for pres and Vp

What is the 13th amendment

Aboltion of slavery

What is the 14th amendment

Former slaves are granted citizenship

What is the 15th amendment

Granted black sufferage

What is the 16th amendment

Income tax, taxed by how much people make

What is the 17th amendment

Direct election of senators

What is the 18th amendment

prohibition of alcohol

What is the 19th amendment

Women’s sufferage

What is the 20th amendment

The lame duck amendmentment, shortens this period