Studied by 78 peopleThe three levels of government are:
Judicial, Executive, Legislative
The legislative branch is represented by:
Congress
Congress consists of:
Senate and House of Representatives
The people congressmen represent are:
Constituent
Which can the legislative branch do?
Power to make laws
The judicial branch is represented by:
Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, District Courts, and Special Courts
The executive branch is represented by:
president, executive departments, executive offices, and independent federal agencies.
What can the executive branch do?
Power to carry out or enforce the laws and to direct foreign policy.
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
nine; including the Chief Justice
What can the judicial branch do?
Power to see that the laws and the manner of their enforcement conform to the Constitution
What is a check the executive branch has over the legislative branch?
The president can veto laws the legislative branch makes with a Presidential Veto.
What is a check the legislative branch has over the executive branch?
The legislative branch can override a veto with enough votes.
What is a check the judicial branch has over the legislative branch?
The judicial branch can declare laws unconstitutional.
What is a check the legislative branch has over the judicial branch?
The legislative branch confirms the president's nominations for judicial positions.
What is a pocket veto?
An indirect veto of a legislative bill by the president or a governor by retaining the bill unsigned until it is too late for it to be dealt with during the legislative sessions.
How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?
270/538
Who was the first president to be impeached?
Andrew Johnson
What do executive orders do?
Clarify existing laws and direct administrative agencies
How can executive orders be blocked?
By congress passing a bill to neutralize it or by the supreme court deeming it unconstitutional.
Who was the first president to resign?
Richard Nixon
What article in the constitution deals with the executive branch?
Article 2; states that the president is responsible for and in charge of enforcing laws made by congress.
How many executive cabinets are there?
15
How many presidents have been protestant christian?
All but one
Why was the 22nd amendment created?
limit the number of times someone could be elected or serve as president. (FDR was elected 4 times)
What powers does the legislative branch have?
Makes all laws, declares war, regulated interstate and foreign commerce and controls taxing and spending policies.
How many times has congress declared war since 1941?
0
What amendment allowed for U.S. Senators to be voted by direct voters?
17th Amendment
How many Senate members are allowed per state?
2
Each senator is elected to office for a period of how many years?
6 years
True or False: congress has the power to change its size
True
How many seats does the House of Representatives and the Senate have?
House of Representatives has 435 seats, while the senate has 100
How many seats do the three classes of the Senate have?
Classes 1 and 2 have 33 seats, and class 3 has 34 seats.
What fraction of the Senate must agree to reach a supermajority?
2/3 (67 senators)
When does the Senate convene a new "congress"?
Every 2 years
What was considered the first landmark supreme court case?
Marbury v. Madison (1803): Marshall held that the Supreme Court could overturn a law passed by Congress if it violated the Constitution, legally cementing the power of judicial review.
How long are supreme court justice terms?
They never end; Judges can serve until they are either impeached or retired.
What is the average level of education for a supreme court justice?
Some sort of education in law
Do state courts set the precedent for each state's constitutions?
The constitution and laws of each state establish the state courts.
Who determines the number of supreme court judges?
Congress
What are the three ways a federal supreme court judge can be removed from their postition?
Retirement, death, and impeachment
Who is the current Chief Justice?
John Roberts
What was important about Plessy v. Ferguson?
Enshrined the doctrine of “separate but equal” as a constitutional justification for segregation
True or False: Supreme Court justices can’t be impeached.
False
Who was the latest justice nominated to the court?
Ketanji Brown Jackson
What is Federalism?
The decision of the Founders to split power between state and national governments.
What are checks and balances?
A system to prevent the concentration of power in one branch or one individual.
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