Studied by 15 people
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.
Note 
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