Government Final

Constitutional Requirements

Natural Born Citizen, 35 years old, live in the US for 14 years

The Term Of Office

4 years, 2 terms

The Vice President

If for any reason both the presidency and vice president would leave office, there is an order of succession. (President, Vice President, Speaker of the House)

How to be elected president

270 votes by the electoral college

Impeachment Process

If the House votes 218 for yes. Then the President has been "Impeached". The Senate must have a ⅔ vote to convict and remove.

Powers of the President

Pardon, Reprieves, and Amnesty

Pardon

The president can forgive a person for a federal crime and release the person from all penalties

Amnesty

similar to a pardon, but is usually given before a person is put on trial.

Repreive

The President may temporarily halt a sentence. Most commonly used to postpone a death sentence.

The State of the Union Address

In late January each year, the President tells Congress and the American people how the country is doing

Bureaucracy

A group of government agencies that enforce laws.

The Cabinet

advise the President on any subject he or she may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office.

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Civil Servant

a person who works for a government

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

25th Amendment

Presidential succession

Executive Branch

carries out and enforces laws

Judicial Branch

Evaluates and interprates laws

Criminal Law

Government charges an individual with violating specific laws

Civil Law

Case involves a dispute between two parties (one can be the government) over a wide range of matters

Supreme Court

* Decides individual cases
* Resolves conflicts among states
* Maintains National supremacy in the law
* Ensures uniformity in interpretation of national laws

Justices on Supreme Court

9: 8 associates and 1 chief justice

How long can justices serve?

appointed for life

when determining what branch does what, constitution = ?

judicial

Civil Liberties

protections against government - this means either federal or even state

* Protected by the 1st and 4th amendments

Civil Rights

positive acts of government to protect our rights - our constitutional guarantees 

* Protected by 5th and 14th amendments

Establishment Clause

Cannot favor one religion over another or over no religion

Free Exercise Clause

People are free to practice or not practice the religion of their choice 

What Amendment contains the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause?

The First Amendment

Bicameral

2 chambers

Incumbents

Someone who is already occupying the office

Congress has how many members?

535

Senate has how many members?

100

House has how many members?

435

Terms for senate

6 year

Terms for house

2 year

Connecticut Compromise

All states get 2 senators

Filibuster

postpone the vote of a bill by talking about any random topic

Lobbyist

a person trying to change your opinion or strengthen your opinion about a topic

Gerrymandering

changing boundaries to get the outcome they want of a vote

Bill of Rights

Limited powers of monarchy and listed rights guaranteed to all English citizen

Hobbes Beliefs

He favored a monarchy – People could raise issues with the King, however the King would make the final decision

Lockes Beliefs

People have “natural rights” given to them by their creator  freedoms included: life, liberty and property

Social Contract

an agreement, governing the behavior of individuals and organizations within a certain context such as a workplace, a culture, a nation or a social media site.

AOC (Articles of Confederation)

the first constitution of the 13 independent American colonies

Downside of the AOC

they couldn’t tax the states causing there to be no money put back into the country

Shay’s Rebellion

series of armed attacks on courthouses to prevent judges from foreclosing on farms

Anti-Federalist Beliefs

* Strong state government
* Weak National Gov
* Direct Elections
* Shorter terms 
* Rule by common man
* Additional protections for individual liberties

Federalist Beliefs

* Weaker state governments
* Strong National Gov
* Indirect Elections
* Longer Terms
* Government by Elite
* Thought Liberties were already protected in Con.

New Jersey Plan:

small state representation. Each state had one vote in Congress and it wasn’t based on population. Ex. Senate

Virginia Plan:

large state representation. The number of votes in Congress was based on a state’s population. Ex. House of Rep.

Great Compromise:

agreement between small and large states which defined the legislative structure under the Constitution. Senate and House.

Checks and Balances

Allow one branch to not have to much power to overrule the other

Federalism

 way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people.

Supremacy Clause

the Constitution and federal laws take priority over any conflicting rules of state law.