gov unit 3

Unit 3 (Legislative and Executive Branch) Study Guide

Legislative Branch

• Reapportionment Act of 1929: The act fixed the number of Representatives at 435, ending the practice of increasing the size of the House after each census

• Wesberry v. Sanders: This 1964 Supreme Court case established the principle of “one person, one vote,” requiring that congressional districts within each state have roughly equal populations

• Importance of the lawmaking function of Congress: Congress’s primary role is to make laws that affect the entire nation. This function is crucial for maintaining a democratic system and addressing the needs of the country

• How number of seats in the House of Representatives is determined: The number of seats each state gets in the House of Representative is determined by the state’s population as counted in the most recent census

• 17th Amendment: This amendment established the direct election of US senators by popular vote, replacing the original method of selection by state legislatures

• Way Congress can override a Presidential veto: Congress can override a presidential veto with a ⅔ majority vote in both the House and Senate

• Powers of Congress (Article I Section 8): These include the power to levy taxes, regulate commerce, declare war, raise and support armies

• Filibuster (Reason for, who has the power): A filibuster is a tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislation by extending debate indefinitely, only Senators have this power

• Ending a filibuster: A filibuster can be ended through a cloture vote, which requires 60 Senators to agree to end debate

Executive Branch

• Presidential Succession Act of 1947: This act established the order of succession to the presidency beyond the Vice President

• Actions a president can take on a bill sent from Congress: The President can sign a bill into law, veto it, or take no action (which results in the bill becoming law after 10 days, excluding Sundays, unless Congress adjourns)

• How a number of presidential electors can have is decided: Each state gets a number of electors equal to its total number of Senators and Representative in Congress

• 12th Amendment: This amendment modified the Electoral College, requiring separate votes for President and Vice President

• 22nd Amendment: This amendment limits presidents to two terms in office

• 25th Amendment: This amendment clarifies the presidential succession process and establishes procedures for addressing presidential disability

• Powers of the President (Article II): These include serving as Commander-in-Chief, making treaties (with Senate approval), appointing federal judges and other officials, and granting pardons

• Power of the President to execute laws: The president is responsible for faithfully executing the laws of the United States

• Military powers of the President: As Commander-in-Chief, the President has ultimate authority over the armed forces

• Executive Orders: These are directives issued by the President to federal agencies and officials, carrying the force of law

• Federal workers appointed by the President: The President appoints Cabinet members, federal judges, ambassadors, and other high-level officials, subject to Senate confirmation

• Formal qualifications for the presidency: To be President, one must be a natural-born US citizen, at least 35 years old, and have been a resident of the US for 14 years