Connecticut Compromise
Also known as the Great Compromise, this problem arose during the Constitutional Convention about the government’s ability to tax and how states should be represented in the national government.
It was resolved by Roger Sherman’s Bicameral Legislature
Edmund Randolph
This person proposed the Virginia Plan
Virginia Plan
This plan proposed proportional representation based on population in the Constitutional Convention. It was favored by the more populous states.
William Paterson
This person proposed the New Jersey Plan
New Jersey Plan
This plan proposed equal representation of the states in the federal government. It was favored by smaller states
Executive
The governor or president make up this branch of government
Legislative
This branch of government is made up of the house and the senate
Judicial
This branch of government is made up of the federal and supreme courts, as well as state courts
check
Each branch of government has the power to do this to another
Bicameral
This type of legislature consists of two houses: one with equal representation and one with proportional representation
House
The following qualifications are to run for the (House/Senate)
25 years old
7 years a citizen
Inhabitant of your state
Senate
The following qualifications are to run for the (House/Senate)
30 years old
9 years a citizen
Inhabitant of your state
Lori Trahan
Acton’s Representative in the House of Representatives
Census
This national event happens every 10 years, where the population is counted.
Reapportionment
The process by which Congress allocates the number of representatives to each state based on the census
Redistricting
The process by which the state legislatures redraw the state boundaries of congressional districts based on the number of seats in the House for that state
Gerrymandering
Redistricting for political purposes
House Rules and Procedures
Sessions start at noon on January 3rd and continue for the year
Congress votes and sets its own rules on how to proceed
They set their own salary: however it is not collected until the next cycle (after re-election)
They don’t usually benefit from the laws they pass
Keep written records of their procedures
Mike Johnson
The current Speaker of the House (R)
Steve Scalise
The current House Majority Leader (R)
Hakeem Jeffries
The current House Minority Leader (D)
Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey
MA’s senators
seniority
The hierarchy in the House is driven by ______.
Filibuster
1 person takes the floor of the senate and does not stop talking to tory and block a law. The only rules are that they cannot sit down and cannot stop talking, however they can take questions to take a break. They do not have to speak about the bill.
Cloture
A motion to end debate on a bill and take a vote. It requires at least 60 senators.
Impeachment
Federal officials, judges, the president, or the vice president are on trial in the senate. The House acts as the prosecutor and the Senate as the jury. ⅔ votes are required to remove the person from office.
Vice President
Who is the president of the Senate?
President pro tempore
The longest serving member of the Senate: 4th in line for the presidency (mostly ceremonial due to them being really old)
Patty Murray
Who is the current President pro tempore?
Quorum
The minimum number of members present to do business (50% + 1) = 51
Pocket Veto
The President does not sign the bill while Congress is not in session → the bill dies
Line Item Veto
Although the president does not have this power, a governor may reject a specific provision of a bill
Enumerated Powers
These powers are specifically stated int he wording of the constitution
Implied Powers
These powers come from the enumerated powers but are not directly worded
Imposts
From Article 1, Section 8.1: Taxation
These are general taxes imposed on everyone
Excises
From Article 1, Section 8.1: Taxation
Domestic Sales tax
16
Which amendment creates income tax?
Commerce
From Article 1, Section 8.3: _________
This Congressional power to regulate _______ solves the issue of State Tariff Wars and the British Market Flood
Naturalization
From Article 1, Section 8.4
Congress controls this action of becoming a U.S. Citizen
Bankruptcy
From Article 1, Section 8.4
Congress controls this action of not being able to pay off your loans
Counterfeiting
From Article 1, Section 8.6
The Secret Service regulates dealings with false currency
Patent
From Article 1, Section 8.8
The exclusive right or grant of an invention
Copyright
From Article 1, Section 8.8
The owner of a product has the rights to any copies of their work
Federal Judiciary Act of 1789
From Article 1, Section 8.9: Federal Courts
This act established the courts of the United States
International Law
From Article 1, Section 8.10: _____________
This addresses the issue of the Barbary Pirates
In current day, this deals with people who are using pirated movie sights
Washington D.C.
From Article 1, Section 8.17
This creates the nation’s capital
The founders wanted to create a space for the national government that was not subject to any state
23
Which amendment allocates 3 electors to Washington D.C. in the electoral college?
Elastic Clause
This clause is a source of significant powers in Congress: depending on the construction, a law can be interpreted in several ways and gives Congress the jurisdiction on the interpretation
Implied Powers
This type of powers can be very vast
Loose Construction
A loose interpretation that includes lots of powers (Hamilton)
Strict Construction
A narrow way of interpreting laws: only do what is written (Jefferson)
Habeas Corpus
From Article 1, Section 9.2: _______
This limitation on Congressional power stems from the idea of Individual Rights coming from the Magna Carta.
You cannot be put in jail without a body of evidence
Ex Parte Merryman
From Article 1, Section 9.2: Habeas Corpus
A controversial federal court case —> Congress has the right to suspend Habeas Corpus, but the president does not
Bill of Attainer
From Article 1, Section 9.3: Illegal Punishment
When the president passes a law to punish someone without a trial
Ex Post Facto
From Article 1, Section 9.3: Illegal Punishment
“after the fact” —> you cannot punish someone for doing something illegal if it was legal at the time that it was done
Appropriation Bills
From Article 1, Section 9.7: Public Money
You must know the exact price of something before it is approved for use —> checks the president
Iran Contra Affair
From Article 1, Section 9.7: Public Money
In the 1980s, Reagan violates the Appropriation Bills to give financial support to Iran in guise of helping Nicaraguan rebels fight communism
Coin Money
From Article 1, Section 10
A state cannot ______. This fixes the issue of state currencies which happened in the confederation
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Article 4.1
This requires states to respect judgements of other states
Courts + law (cannot move to another state to avoid penalties or lawsuits)
Can make limited public policy exceptions
Privileges and Immunities Clause
Article 4.2
States cannot discriminate against other states
However, can change instate/out of state tuition for college due to taxes
Fugitive Slave Clause
Article 4.2
This gives states the absolute right to recapture slaves even if slavery is outlawed in that state
Extradition
Article 4.2
If you commit a crime and are arrested in another state, you are brought back to the state to stand trial
Guarantee Clause
Article 4.4
Guarantees a republican form of government to the states (representative legislature)
Congress protects the states from invasion by other countries or significant domestic threats
suffrage
No state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal __________ in the Senate
Supremacy Clause
Article 6
This clause establishes the following:
All debts from the Confederation will still be paid
This establishes the legitimacy of the government
Establishes the Supremacy Clause
If a state law is in conflict with the federal law, the federal law prevails (“supreme law of the land”
For judges: the US Constitution > State Constitution
This is a change from the loose independent confederation states. Now, states are united by the federal government
Members of the state or federal government take an oath of office to defend the Constitution
Religious tests may not act as qualification
9
Article 7
______ states were needed to ratify the Constitution
Federalists
These people supported the ratification of the Constitution
Antifederalists
These people opposed the ratification of the Constitution and said it gave too much power to the government. Their protests eventually led to the Bill of Rights being added
The Federalist Papers
Under the pen name of “Publius”, John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton wrote essays for the newspaper to convince the public in New York to support the ratification of the Constitution
Electoral College
By this process, states elect the president/vice president. Each state appoints electors to this group to select a president.
This is a filter of democracy and also checks Congress —> they cannot influence who gets chosen. Senators and Representatives are not allowed to run for electors
Natural born
To become president, you need to be a _________ citizen, be at least 35 years old, and have to have lived in the US for at least 14 years
22
This amendment limits the president to two terms, or 10 years
538
How many electors are there in the electoral college?
Slate
To elect electors, the Democratic/Republican parties draft a ______ of elector names and run it on an all or nothing vote
1796
This election year saw the first time political parties were present (Federalist vs Democratic Republican)
1800
This election resulted in a tie, and was sent to the House of Representatives. They chose Thomas Jefferson over Aaron Burr
12
This amendment makes it that the president and vice president must run for office together
270
How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidential election?
11
What is the fewest number of states a candidate must win over to win presidency?
Large State Advantage
This type of advantage uses the fact that 11 states can win the entire election for a president
Small State Advantage
This type of advantage shows that states such as South Dakota have 295k people per elector (3 in total), and states such as New York have 640k people per elector (31 in total). This means that you can win the electoral college without the popular vote
Election Day
1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November every 4 years.
Presidential Succession
Vice President
Speaker of the House
Senate Pro Tempore
Secretary of State
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of the Treasury
Attorney General
Presidential Succession Act
Created in 1947, this act establishes the presidential line of succession
25
This amendment formalizes the line of succession in 1967 beyond the presidency:
Section 1: The Vice President replaces the President
Section 2: When there is a vice president vacancy, the president elects a new one with senate approval (majority)
Section 3: A written letter of transferring power from president to the vice president written to the speaker and the president pro tempore
If the president transition is contested, both houses of Congress vote to remove
Unelected Administration of 1974
During this time, No P/VP was elected after Nixon and his VP were convicted of tax fraud. Nixon chooses Gerald Ford as the new VP, and then Nixon resigns due to Watergate. Gerald becomes the president without an election.
Emergency powers
The president has the power in times of war to react immediately (ex: internment camps)
War Powers Act
This act in 1973 is after the Korean War and Vietnam. The president still has the authority to react, but any deployment of soldiers for longer than two months must be approved by congress
Commander in Chief
The president has this title that means “Commander of the Armed Forces”
Cabinet Chief
The president hast this title which establishes them as head of the cabinet
Cabinet
This group of people runs business and reports to the president. They are appointed by the president but must be approved by the senate
Attorney General
The head of the department of justice is called ________
Executive Agreements
This measure of diplomacy by the president does not require senate approval, but it does not have the same weight as treaties
Appoint
The president may _______ SCOTUS members and ambassadors with senate approval
Commissions
The president may issue _____ but they are not fully activated until signed and delivered
Reprieve
A presidential power. The accusation is still on record, but the person receiving this does not need to serve punishment
Pardon
A presidential power. This is total (legal) forgiveness that is not on someone’s criminal record
Commutation
A presidential power. The reduction of a sentence
Amnesty
A presidential power. A pardon for a group.
State of the Union Address
The president delivers this to a joint session of Congress. Their job is to lay out the agenda and issues to discuss