Government Final Exam Study Guide 12th grade

legislative branch

the cogress; The legislative branch makes the laws of the United States, controls all of the money, and has the power to declare war

executive branch

The President and Vice President

The executive branch enforces the laws of the United States, spends money as allowed by Congress, declares states of emergency, appoints Judges to the Supreme Court, and grants pardons for crimes.

judicial branch

The Supreme Court

The judicial branch oversees laws, judges when a law is unconstitutional, and makes arrangements for prisoners.

article I

creates congress, legislative branch, describes House of Reps and Senate

article II

creates executive branch, presidency, carries out laws passed by Congress

article III

establishes Supreme Court to head judicial branch, gives Congress power to create laws

article IV

explains relationship of states to one another and the national government; each state gives citizens of other states the same rights

article V

provides rules for amending and changing the constitution

article VI

contains supremacy clause; establishes the constitution as "supreme law of the land"

article VII

constitution would take effect after its ratified by 9 of 13 states

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Judicial over Legislative

Determines how Congress meant the law to apply to disputes.

Determines which laws Congress intended to apply to any given case

Judicial over Executive

Declares who the President is.

Determines if actions are unconstitutional.

Determines if branch is enforcing laws properly.

Legislative over Judicial

Approves judicial appointments

Creates lower courts;

May impeach judges

Legislative over Executive

Approves presidential nominations.

Controls budget.

Can pass laws over the President's veto.

Can impeach the President.

Executive over Legislative

Can veto or sign laws.

Call congress into special session.

Enforce laws.

Executive over Judicial

Appoint Judges.

Pardoning.

Enforce court orders

senate

6 years

House of Representatives

2 years

president

4 years

supreme court

live - for good behavior

legislative parts/officials

makes laws;

1. congress

2. sentate

3. house of representatives

435 elected representatives total; representatives based on each states population

executive parts/officials

carries out laws;

1.president

2. vice president

3. cabinet

nominated by the president and must be approved by the senate (with at least 51 votes)

judicial parts/officials

evaluates laws

1. supreme court

9 justices nominated by the president and must be approved by the senate (with at least 51 votes)

Speaker of the House

I have the most powerful position in the lower house. I assign bills to committees and appoint select and conference committee members.

Vice-President

I serve as president of the Senate. Although I cannot participate in debates, I can vote in case of a tie.

President Pro Tempore

I preside over the Senate in the absence of the vice-president. The caucus of the majority party chose me for this post.

House Majority Whip

As majority party leader in the lower house, I exert pressure on party members to vote with the party. I am responsible for getting my party's program enacted into law.

Senate Majority Leader

I have the role of leadership in the upper house responsible for passage of the majority party's programs. I inform and pressure party members to vote for programs. I also determine the order in which bills are to be debated.

House Majority Leader

I am the leader of the minority party in the lower house responsible for informing party members and organizing resistance to programs submitted by the majority.

Senate Minority Leader

I am the leader of the smaller party in the upper house responsible for resisting programs submitted bu the majority.

12th Amendment

-1804(Election of the President/ Vice President)

-Ballots

-count votes

-majority votes= President

-if a tie, House of Rep chooses

-equal representation

-If not chosen by March 4th, VP becomes president

20th Amendment

-1933 (comemencement of terms of office)

Section 1: terms of Pres and VP end Janruary 20th

-Senators and Reps at 12:00 PM Jan 30th

Section 2: Congress assembles once each year at leaset, noon on 3rd day of January (extension of presidential succession)

Section 3: If President dies/ fails to qualify, the VP becomes Pres.

Section 4: In case of death of President= House, VP=Senate

Section 5: section 1 and 2 take affect Oct. 15th

Section 6:inoperative unless ratified as amendment to constitution by Legislatures of 3/4 states within 7 years of submission

22nd Amendment

1951 (limit on Presidential tenure)

Section 1: limit to 2 terms (6 years)

Section 2: inoperative unless ratified as amendment to constitution by Legislatures of 3/4 states within 7 years of submission

25th Amendment

1967 (Presidential succession)

Section 1: Death/impeachment= VP becomes President

Section 2: When vacant VP office, Pres nominates VP with a majority vote in House

Section 3: [Presidential disability] If president is unable to fulfill duties, he declares through a document to the President Pro Tempore and Speaker of the House, and the VP takes over until necessary

Section 4: When VP and majority vote of either house claim that Pres. is disabled, the VP is given duties

-When President writes to Pro Tempore and Speaker that no disabilitis exist, powers resume unless the majority writes within 4 days that he is incapable still. Congress decides within 48 hours if not in session and 21 days of letter recipitation

Secretary of State

chief of foreign affairs.

its how we get along.

Hillary Clinton

Secretary of Treasury

in charge of the nations finances.

in charge of the money.

Timothy Geithner

Secretary of Defense

in charge of the army, marines, air force, navy.

armed forces.

Robert Gates

Attorney General

the lawyer for the country.

represents the United States.

Eric Holder

Secretary of Interior

protects the parks, recreational facilities.

Ken Salazar

Secretary of Agriculture

in charge of the safety of food produced.

farming.

Tom Vilsack

Secretary of Commerce

concerned with business and industry.

buying and selling of goods.

Gary Locke

Secretary of Labor

control over the department and enforces and suggest laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies.

helps foresee the nation's workforce.

Hilda Solis

Secretary of Health and Human Services

concerned with health matters.

the wellbeing of the nation.

Kathleen Sebelius

Secretary of Transportation

planes, trains, and automobiles.

public transportation.

Ray Lahood

Secretary of Energy

in charge of developing technology for better, more efficient energy sources as well as energy education.

electricity, fossil fuels.

Stephen Chu

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

city areas.

affordable housing.

try to help people get into houses.

city planning.

Shaun Donovan

Secretary of Education

school, teaching.

sets on an agenda or curriculum for what should be taught in school.

Arne Duncan

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

veterans.

health care for veterans.

hospitals for veterans.

people who have fought in war.

Eric Shinseki

Secretary of Homeland Security

protecting the American homeland and the safety of American citizens.

terrorism.

Janet Napolitano