Civics Unit: Understanding the Government Study Guide

• What is the role and function of the legislative branch of government?
• The legislative branch is the law making body. The Congress is set up to make the nation’s laws. Congress is made up of 2 bodies: The House of Representative and the Senate
• How many members are there in each house of congress?
• House of Representatives has 435 members. Representation is based on population of the state, every state has at least one representative but larger states have more and smaller have less.
• Senate has 2 senators from each state so there is equal representation.
• What are the requirements to become a member of congress? Terms? Responsibilities?
• House of Representatives - elected by the people for 2 year terms. Leader of the house is called the Speaker of the House, and they regulate debates and controls the agenda. If the President dies or leaves office, the Speaker is next in line after the Vice President to become President.
• Senate - Elected to 6 year terms. Their terms overlap so that ⅓ of the members are up for election every 2 years. They are elected by the people. The Vice President is the president of the Senate and casts a vote if there is tie. Congress can also borrow money, require people to pay taxes, coin money, and declare war. 
• How does a bill become a law?
• All laws start as proposals called Bills. A new bill may be introduced in either the House or the Senate. After that the bill is debated, if both houses vote to approve the bill, it is sent to the President and then he/she can sign it to become a law. 
• What is the Elastic Clause?
• Not all powers of Congress are specifically listed. Congress can make all laws which are necessary and proper for carrying out its specific duties. This clause is known as the elastic clause because it enables Congress to stretch its powers to deal with the changing needs of the nation. 
• There is debate about Congress misusing the elastic clause and that it should only be used rarely and when necessary. 

Article 2

• What are the powers and responsibilities of the president and executive branch?

• The executive branch  carries out the laws and runs the affairs of the national government. The President is the head of the executive branch. The President directs foreign policy and has the power to make treaties with other nations and to appoint ambassadors. The President is also the commander in chief of the armed forces (but only Congress can declare war). President can suggest new laws and work for their passage. The President can grant pardons and call special sessions of Congress. President is elected for 4 year term, no President can be elected for more than 2 complete terms. The President must be at least 35 years of age, be a natural born citizen, and must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.

• What are vetoes, executive orders and pardons?

• Vetos -The power of the President to refuse to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevent its enactment into law is the veto. 

• Executive Orders -  Executive orders are issued by the President of the United States, acting in his capacity as head of the executive branch, directing a federal official or administrative agency to engage in a course of action or refrain from a course of action.

• Pardons -A pardon is the use of executive power by the President, that exempts the individual to whom it was given from punishment.

• What are the requirements to become president (given above) and vice-president? Terms? Responsibilities?

• Vice President- Be at least thirty-five years of age.Be a natural-born United States citizen .Lived in the United States for at least fourteen years (these are for both President and Vice President.The term of office for both the vice president and the president is four years.

• Responsibilities of the Vice President -Other than to succeed to the presidency upon the death or resignation of a president, a vice president's only constitutional duty is to preside over the Senate. Vice presidents cannot vote in the Senate, except to break a tie, nor may they formally address the Senate, except with the senators' permission.

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• What legislative function does the vice-president serve?

• In addition to serving as presiding officer, the vice president has the sole power to break a tie vote in the Senate and formally presides over the receiving and counting of electoral ballots cast in presidential elections.

• How is the executive branch organized?

• The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the president, vice president, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. 

• In the executive branch -The President leads the country and commands the military.

• The Vice President becomes President if the President can no longer do the job and is also President of the Senate.

• Department heads advise the President on issues and help carry out decisions made by the Government.

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• Article 3

• How is the federal court system organized?

• What cases does the Supreme Court decide to hear?

• What is Judicial Review?

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Checks and balances 

• Explain checks and balances and give an example of each branch checking the others

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Amending the Constitution

• How do you amend the Constitution?  Pg 148

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Federalism  (check your notes… not in the text)

• What is federalism?

• What are examples of reserved, delegated and concurrent powers?

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Electoral College

• Why did the framers of the Constitution create the electoral college?
• How do we elect the president of the United States?