HomeCongress Oversight Function Monitors and evaluates federal agencies, programs, and policies. • Ensures laws are implemented as intended. • Uses hearings, investigations, and reports as tools. • Seats in the House of Representatives • Shall Be Apportioned among the States based on population. • Minimum of one representative per state. • 100 Senators Represent the 50 States • Each state has two senators. • Serves six-year terms with staggered elections. • Inherent/Expressed/Implied Powers • Inherent: Powers essential to a sovereign nation (e.g., immigration control). • Expressed: Specifically listed in the Constitution (e.g., taxation). • Implied: Derived from the Elastic Clause (e.g., establishing the IRS). • Commerce Clause • Grants Congress power to regulate trade among states. • Basis for significant federal authority over economic activity. • 1st Amendment • Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. • Ensures separation of church and state. • Impeachment Rules • House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach. • Senate holds the trial and votes on conviction. • Requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate to convict. • Electoral College • Mechanism for electing the President and Vice President. • States allocate electors based on congressional representation. • Majority of electoral votes (270) needed to win. • Parliamentary Governments • Executive derives authority from the legislature. • Prime Minister is usually the leader of the majority party (less conflicts) • Federal Government • National government with powers divided among legislative, executive, and judicial branches. • Balances power between federal and state governments (federalism). • Legislative Power • Authority to make laws. • Vested in Congress (House of Representatives and Senate).

Congress Oversight Function Monitors and evaluates federal agencies, programs, and policies. • Ensures laws are implemented as intended. • Uses hearings, investigations, and reports as tools. • Seats in the House of Representatives • Shall Be Apportioned among the States based on population. • Minimum of one representative per state. • 100 Senators Represent the 50 States • Each state has two senators. • Serves six-year terms with staggered elections. • Inherent/Expressed/Implied Powers • Inherent: Powers essential to a sovereign nation (e.g., immigration control). • Expressed: Specifically listed in the Constitution (e.g., taxation). • Implied: Derived from the Elastic Clause (e.g., establishing the IRS). • Commerce Clause • Grants Congress power to regulate trade among states. • Basis for significant federal authority over economic activity. • 1st Amendment • Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. • Ensures separation of church and state. • Impeachment Rules • House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach. • Senate holds the trial and votes on conviction. • Requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate to convict. • Electoral College • Mechanism for electing the President and Vice President. • States allocate electors based on congressional representation. • Majority of electoral votes (270) needed to win. • Parliamentary Governments • Executive derives authority from the legislature. • Prime Minister is usually the leader of the majority party (less conflicts) • Federal Government • National government with powers divided among legislative, executive, and judicial branches. • Balances power between federal and state governments (federalism). • Legislative Power • Authority to make laws. • Vested in Congress (House of Representatives and Senate).

Outline of Government Structure and Concepts

I. Executive Power

Authority to enforce laws
Vested in the President and administrative agencies

II. Judicial Power

Authority to interpret laws and resolve disputes
Vested in federal courts, including the Supreme Court

III. United States as a Representative Democracy

Citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf
Accountability emphasized through regular elections

IV. Absolute Freedom

Limited by laws to ensure public safety and order
Otherwise leads to anarchy

V. The Constitution

Provides framework for federal authority
Delegates and limits government powers

VI. The Bill of Rights

First ten amendments to the Constitution
Protects individual freedoms and limits government power

VII. Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments
Promotes local governance while maintaining national unity

VIII. Bicameral Legislature

Comprises two chambers: House of Representatives and Senate
Balances representation by population and state equality

IX. Popular Sovereignty

Principle that government derives its power from the people
Reflected in voting and civic participation

X. Checks and Balances

Prevents any branch from becoming too powerful
Each branch has oversight and influence over the others

XI. Tariffs

Taxes on foreign imports
Used to protect domestic industries or generate revenue
Regulated by Congress

XII. Extradition Clause

Requires states to return fugitives to the state of the crime

XIII. Preamble of the Constitution

States purposes and guiding principles of the document
Highlights goals like justice, defense, and liberty

XIV. The 26th Amendment

Lowered voting age to 18
Ratified in response to the Vietnam War, emphasizing "old enough to fight, old enough to vote"

XV. Amendments

Changes or additions to the Constitution
Requires proposal by Congress or a convention, and ratification by states

XVI. Supreme Court

Consists of nine justices
Nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate
Judicial review established by Marbury v. Madison

XVII. Naturalization

Process for non-citizens to become U.S. citizens
Requirements include residency, language proficiency, and citizenship test

XVIII. Primary Role of Congress

Primary function: create and pass legislation
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause) grants Congress flexibility

XIX. Congress and Impeachment

House impeaches; Senate tries and decides on removal
Two Houses differ in size, term length, and powers

XX. Largest Branch of Federal Government

Executive branch, in terms of personnel and functions

XXI. The "Rule of Four"

Supreme Court practice to hear a case if four justices agree

XXII. Precedent

Judicial decisions that guide future cases
Ensures consistency and predictability in law