Key definitions

What is the difference between a representative and a senator?

Representatives: 2 year term, number elected determined by state population, works in the house of representatives

Senators: 6 year term, 2 per state, the more powerful of the 2, works in the senate

What is a federal government?

A government whose power is distributed between central and local authorities.

How does the senate work?

Composed of 100 senators, basically just the American version of the house of lords minus the whole hereditary peers thing.

What was the confederacy (and which 11 states were in it?)

The 11 southern states who fought in the civil war in an attempt to keep slavery (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, both Carolinas, Arkansas and Tennessee)

Summarise the 3 branches of the US government

1) Executive- the president and their closest advisors

2) Judicial- all the courts including the supreme court

3)Legislature- Congress and House of Representatives

What is a convention?

Where both parties select their presidential candidate

What does the House of representatives do?

435 representatives, introduce bills and serve on committees.

What and where is capitol hill?

It is the place in Washington DC where the capitol building, the senate, the supreme court and the house all are.

What is an executive order?

A law passed by the president with no input from congress.

What are checks and balances?

Powers that each of the three branches hold to ensure that one branch cannot become tyrannical.

What is the state department and who is the secretary of state?

The foreign affairs department. The secretary of state is their head.

What is congress?

The senate and the house of representatives

What is the bill of rights?

The US constitution’s first ten amendments

Who is the attorney general?

The US’ legal representative and the president’s legal advisor

What is the national guard?

The US’ primary reserve force for both state and federal use.