Social studies

Constitution and 3 Branches of Government Study Guide

Constitution

• Articles of Confederation

  • Why did they fail? (Main problems with them) Because the government couldn’t tax, Congress had a depleted treasury, the states were constantly fighting.

• What is the Constitution?- the supreme law of the United States, the foundation of the United States.

• Key principles of the Constitution

  • How are these similar/different from the key principles of the Declaration of Independence?-

• 7 Articles of the Constitution- outlines the government's structure

• What is an amendment- added overtime to address new issues.

3 Branches of Government

Legislative Branch

• Roles of the Legislative Branch (not just passing bills) to represent the people, writing and pass laws declaring war, regulate commerce and trade, collect taxes and control how money is spent, create/approve federal budget

• How a bill becomes a law- a member of Congress introduces a bill, the bill goes to a committee for a review, if approved, the full chamber debates and votes, if it passes it goes to the other chamber for the same process, if both chambers pass it, the president can sign it into law.

• Checks and balances

  • How is the Legislative Branch checked? 

  • How does the Legislative Branch check other branches? -Can override presidential veto, confirm or reject judicial nominations, can impeach and try federal officials.

• How is Congress divided?

  • How many members are in each part of Congress? Senate- 100 members 2 for each state, House of Rep- 435 members (depends on population of state)

  • Where does each part of Congress represent? (location)

  • How long do representatives in each part of Congress serve for?-Senate- 6 years, House of Rep- 2 years

• Age requirements for Congress- Senate 30 years old, House of Rep- 25 years (age is set by constitution)

Executive Branch 

• Members of the Executive Branch-president vice president cabinet members White House staff hence a federal agencies

• Responsibilities of the Executive Branch-enforce federal allows, nominate federal judges, serve as commander-in-chief of the military conduct foreign policy sign or veto legislation

• Requirements to become President-natural, born citizen of the United States, at least 35 president of the United States for 14 years

• President’s Cabinet

  • How many departments are there? -15

  • What do they do? Department advised the president and specific areas of policy they also oversee major executive departments and implement the president policies within their department and they serve as a line of succession for the president.

• Executive Orders

• How the Executive Branch is checked by other branches of government 

• How the Executive Branch can check other branches of government- can veto power over legislation passed by Congress is appointed of federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, pardoning power for federal crimes and the ability to call special sessions of Congress

Judicial Branch 

• What are the 3 types of Federal Courts District courts, circuit courts, and supreme courts.

• Roles of the Judicial Branch interpret and apply laws, determine constitutional ability of laws, protective individual rights, and ensure fair rights

• How the Judicial Branch is checked by other branches of government-

• How the Judicial Branch can check other branches of government 

• Number of Supreme Court Justices.  9

• How are Supreme Court Justices chosen by the president 

• Term length for Supreme Court Justices- life

• Types of cases heard by Federal Courts- bankruptcy, Civil, Criminal 

• Requirements for Federal Judges- nominated by president, confirmed by senate, must take oath to support the constitution 

Possible Short Answer Topics 

• How a bill becomes a law I will become solar when a member of Congress proposes a bill. The bill goes to a committee for a review if approved the full chamber of debates and votes if it goes to another chamber for the same process, if both chambers pass it the president can sign it into law or the president can beat it and then has to start all over and be changed for the president to sign it again.

• Checks and balances of each branch 

• Functions/responsibilities of each branch 

• Main ideals of the Constitution- popular sovereignty, federalism, separation of powers, individual rights.    

• Comparing and contrasting the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence- they both structure  the rights of America, but the declaration is for the people and the constitution is for the government.