3 Branches if government 🗽🗒️

what is congress?

Bicameral law making body

Senate

100 members

2 per state

30 years old at least

U.S. citizen for 9 years

6 year terms

Vice president is leader, and president pro tempore takes over if they are out

More informal, party leaders largely determine population

House of Representatives

435 members

based on population

2 year terms

U.S. citizen for 7 years

Speaker of the House is leader

They are highly structured and have strict procedure rules, and a hierarchy.

Enumerated

Powers that can be done bc they are specifically in the constitution.

denied

Powers that is strictly forbidden.

Implied

Powers that are assumed (elastic clause)

Examples of enumerated powers for congress

collect taxes

congress can take money to pay things off

can regulate anything to do with the economy

govern inferior courts

create and operate postal service

determine naturalization

govern public land

senate approves treaties

weights, measures, and copyright.

standing committee

permanent divisions of congress that handles a specific part of congressional business

Conference committee

Join committee to work out exact wording of laws

subcommittee

Committee within a committee used for specific tasks such as reviewing individual bills.

Habeas corpus

the requirement that those arrested must but allowed to see a judge at least once to determine the legality of their detainment

Select committee

a temporary committee created for a specific purpose, often to investigate or consider particular issues or legislation.

veto

the power to kill a bill by rejecting it, preventing it from becoming law.

Executive order

Acts as temporary law (limit= can’t get rude of impeachment)

OMB (Office of management and budget)

helps president draw budget to submit to congress

NSC (National Security Council)

coordinates flow of info and advice to the president on national security.

bureaucracy

complex organization with hierarchal structure use standardized procedures to ensure regular non arbitrary (biased) outcomes

appointment 

president elects someone for certain roles e.g.federal judges, cabinet members, ambassadors, ministers (approved by senate)

Impeachment

Starts in House of Rep. by bringing charges, than the trial is held in senate.

precedent

established interpretation of a law after a Supreme Court case

regulations

rules made by federal agencies that act as law as if passed by congress. Not part of executive hierarchy (part of executive branch tho), and not all agencies make them

Government Agency

Organizational units that provide a particular service, function, or concern.

What makes an agency Independent

They don’t belong to cabinet or president (can appoint/nominate). They are responsible for administrating a certain set of branch duties

cabinet

top government officials who advise the president and head the major executive departments.

Primary Election

chance to pick candidate to represent political party.

judge

make rulings on issues regarding the law as cases proceed. Ensure trails are orderly and follow procedures. Determine sentence in case of guilty verdict.

jury

body of people that need to give a verdict on a case.

Majority opinion

• What it is: The official opinion of the Court, written by one justice from the majority side.

• Why it’s written: Explains the reasoning behind the Court’s decision and sets a precedent for future cases.

dissenting opinion

• What it is: Written by one or more justices who disagree with the majority opinion.

• Why it’s written: To explain why they believe the majority is wrong—these opinions can influence future cases if the Court later changes its position.

Federal Court System Hierarchy

1. District Courts (Trial Courts) – The lowest level; handle cases first and determine facts.

2. Courts of Appeals (Circuit Courts) – Review cases from district courts for legal errors.

3. Supreme Court – The highest court; reviews cases from appeals courts or state supreme courts.

Step begins in district Court

1. Case begins in a district court.

2. The losing side appeals to a court of appeals.

3. The losing side in the appellate court may petition the Supreme Court through a writ of certiorari.

4. The Supreme Court decides whether to hear the case (they accept very few).

5. If accepted, both sides present briefs and oral arguments before the Court’s decision.

Steps for bill process

• Idea Introduced – A bill is drafted and introduced in either the House or Senate.

• Committee Review – The bill is sent to a committee for study, debate, and possible changes.

• Subcommittee Hearings – Experts and the public may testify; bill can be revised further.

• Full Chamber Debate and Vote – The entire House or Senate votes on the bill.

• Other Chamber Consideration – If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber and goes through similar steps.

• Conference Committee – Resolves differences between House and Senate versions.

• Final Approval – Both chambers vote on the final version.

• Presidential Action – The president signs the bill into law or vetoes it.

• (Optional) Congressional Override – Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses.

Marbury v. Madison

• Background: William Marbury sued Secretary of State James Madison for not delivering his commission as a federal judge, which had been promised by the previous president (Adams).

• Decision: The Supreme Court ruled that part of the law Marbury used to bring his case was unconstitutional.

• Precedent: This case established judicial review, the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws or actions of the government unconstitutional.

President Qualifications

35 years old

natural born citizens

resident of the US for 14 years

Judicial review

Right for the Supreme Court to declare acts from other branches, and acts against the government unconstitutional.

Key Roles of the President

1. chief Executive – Enforces federal laws, appoints officials, and oversees the executive branch.

2. Chief Diplomat – Directs foreign policy, negotiates treaties, and meets with foreign leaders.

3. Commander in Chief – Leads the U.S. Armed Forces and can order military action.

4. Chief Legislator – Influences laws by proposing bills and using the veto power.

5. Chief of State – Acts as the ceremonial head of the nation, representing the U.S. at official events.

6. Chief of Party – Serves as the leader of their political party and supports party members in elections.

speaker of the House

The Speaker of the House leads the House of Representatives, runs debates, sets the agenda, assigns bills to committees, represents the majority party, and is second in line for the presidency in line of succession.

appeal

when someone asks a higher court to review a lower court’s decision because they believe a legal error was made.

gerrymandering

drawing electoral college districts to favor political outcome (usually political)

Government corporation

is a business owned by the government that provides services to the public for a fee, like a private company.