am civi- D) U.S. Consitution

Checks and Balances purpose

prevent one branch of government from becoming too powerful

mutual oversight among the 3 branches

3 branches of government

Legislative, Executive, Judicial

Checks and Balances mechanisms

presidential vetoes of legislation

congressional power to override vetoes and impeach officials

Judicial review by the supreme court to assess the constitutionality of laws

branches picture

constitution:

1) legislative = The US Capitol → congress: a) house of repres b) Senate

2) Executive = The White House → president / vice-president

3) Judicial = The Supreme Court → Supreme court

Federalism definition

Division of power btw the Federal government and the state governments

ensure autonomy of state within the federal framework

Federalism powers

Federal: printing money, regulating interstate and international trade, declaring war and conducting foreign policy

State: govern issues like drinking age, school curricula and capital punishment

legislative branch role

creating law

Executive branch role

approving/vetoing legislation

executing laws

conducting foreign policy

commanding the military

delivering the annual State of the Union address

Judicial branch role

Oversees cases related to federal law

has ultimate authority, deciding on cases involving consitutional law and judicial review

Plessy vs Ferguson date

1896

Plessy vs Ferguson

Upheld racial segregation under “separate but equal” doctrine

legitimized Jim Crow laws and systemic racial discrimination

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka date

1954

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

Overtuned Plessy vs Ferguson

declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional

Bill of Rights date

1791

Bill of rights

first 10 amendments focusing on infividual liberties

1st: freedom of speech and religion

2nd: Right to bear arms

5th: right to a fair trial

13th amendments

1865: Abolished slavery

14th amendment

1868: Birthright citizenship and equal protection under the law

15th amendment

1870: Voting for Black men

19th amendment

1920: Voting rights for women

22nd amendment

limited presidents to 2 terms after Roosevelt’s 4 terms

failed Amendments

ERA: equal rights amendment

highlight the difficulty of achieving consensus for constitutional changes