1 semester GPH Study Guide

Explain how the judicial branch checks the other two branches of government.

-can check both branches of government with the power of judicial review -serves as jury to remove judicial officials through impeachment, organize lower federal courts, fix their jurisdictions, set the size of the Supreme Court, determine judicial salaries, confirm judicial nominations, intimate amendment changes -the power to nominate federal judges, enforce court orders, and pardon individuals

Explain how the legislative branch checks the other two branches of government.

-pass laws that create executive agencies and departments -can override presidential vetoes by two-thirds vote of Congress -Congress serves as a jury to remove executive officials through impeachment -specifically ratifies all treaties and confirms appointments by the President -selects President (House)and Vice-President (Senate) in case of no majority-control of the budget-sole power to declare war

The Constitution represents what six major democratic principles

1. Federalism 2. Popular sovereignty 3. separation of powers 4. judicial review 5. limited government 6. checks and balances

Summarize the Bill of Rights

1. Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. 2. Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well-regulated militia. 3 No quartering of soldiers. 4Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. 5Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy. 6 Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial. 7 Right of trial by jury in civil cases. 8Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments. 9Other rights of the people. 10Powers reserved to the states.

How are amendments added to the Constitution

1. a two-thirds vote in each house, may initiate an amendment 2. two-thirds of the states may ask Congress to call a national convention to discuss and draft amendments.

What basic issues were the delegates in agreement (or consensus)?

1. government was made stronger but remain a limited government. 2. Powers of government should be divided 3. states should not coin money, interfere with creditor's rights, or individually dictate commercial agreements with other nations

The national government is obliged to do what three things for the states

1. guarantee each state a republican form of government 2. must protect states 3. must respect the territorial integrity of the state

Trace the chronologic steps for which a bill becomes a law.

1. member introduced the bill (Either side) 2. bill is referred to a committee based on its subject 3. approves the bill, it is placed on a calendar 4.Committee that place limitations on the number and duration of members' speeches 5. Changes and added to the bill 6. final vote and sent to other side and repeated step s 7. If both approved bill is sent to the president to pass and become law or vetos and sent back 8. If vetoed there can be a congress vote and then passed.

What are the three responsibilities outlined in the Constitution that states have for each other

1.Full Faith and Credit 2. Privileges and Immunities 3. Extradition

How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights

10

Summarize amendments 11- 16

11. Removed cases in which a state was sued without its consent from the jurisdiction of the federal courts 12. required presidential electors to vote for the president and vice president on the same ticket 13; abolished slavery 14; granted citizenship to all persons "born or naturalized in the United States," 15; person's prior history as a slave could not be used against them to vote (all races could vote) 16. Empowered the Congress to levy a tax on income

How many original states made up the United States of America?

13

Summarize amendments 17- 21

17. Provided for the election of U.S. senators by direct popular vote instead of by the state legislature. 18. Authorized Congress to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol (No booze) 19. Empowered the right to vote women 20. Shorten Lame Duck period 21. Repealed the Eighteenth Amendment and empowered Congress to regulate the liquor industry. (Go booze)

In what year did the U.S. declare its independence?

1776

Describe the Connecticut Compromise

2 houses; one lower house with proportional representation according to the population, and the other house being an equal representation

Summarize amendments 22- 27

22. Limited presidents to two full terms in office 23. Granted voters in the District of Columbia the right to vote for president and vice president. (Washington DC not a state still) 24. Forbade requiring the payment of a poll tax to vote in a federal election. (NO vote tax) 25. Provided for succession to the office of president in the event of death or incapacity and for filling vacancies in the office of the vice president 26. Extended the right to vote to eighteen-year-olds 27. Banned Congress from increasing its members' salaries until after the next House of Representative elections

What are the qualification requirements for a House Member?

25 years old, citizens of the United States for seven years, and residents of the state they represent

How many amendments do we have

27

Describe the Three-Fifths Compromise

3 out of every 5 slaves are counted in the population

What are the qualification requirements for a Senator

30 years old, be a US citizen for nine years, and be a resident of that state they represent

How many justices make up the Supreme Court?

9

What do the two chambers of Congress represent

> House - people > Senate - states

Implied powers are given to Congress under what article and section of the Constitution?

ARTICLE I, Section 8

the elastic clause is found in what article and section of the United States Constitution

ARTICLE I, section 8 (the Elastic Clause)

Identify the significances of the following historical documents: Petition of Rights

Address abuses of royal power

Federalist ideas are outlined by what three political philosophers?

Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison

What was our first constitution called?

Articles of Confederation

What is the name of the top justice on the Supreme Court

Chief Justice

Constitutional law is guided by what three important legal principles

Common law Judicial review Precedent

What type of committee negotiates disagreements on a bill between the two chambers?

Conference committees

Absolutism depends upon what principle power?

Consent to taxation

Analyze the Preamble by explaining its interpretations;In order to form a more perfect union

Constitution is made to replace previous union; the Articles of Confederation

Democracy is dependent upon what type of voter?

Educated citizen voters

Describe the Enlightenment.

Emphasized reason and science in the study of philosophy, human culture, and the natural world

Identify the contributions of the following to American democracy: Mayflower Compact,

First document to establish a self government popular sovereignty

Identify the significances of the following historical documents; the English Bill of Rights

Forced Monarch to agree to acknowledge rights

Who had the strongest influence on the writers of the United States Constitution?

French political philosophers

Who was named the President of the Constitutional Convention?

George Washington

From what great empire did we declare to break away?

Great Britain

What are the terms for a House Member? Senator? President? Supreme Court Justice?

House Member- 2 years Senator- 6 years President- 4 years Supreme Court Justice- life

What are the ways a bill becomes law after it is sent to the President?

If president approves then it becomes a law If vetoed both chambers vote by a 2/3 majority to override the veto, if not it doesn't pass

A republic is what type of government?

Indirect democracy

Why was taxation the central issue in the imperial rupture

It was taxation without representation

Who is considered to be the "Father of the Constitution

James Madison

Who was the first to promote the philosophy of liberalism?

John Locke

In what type of monarchy would kings or queens depend on the nobility

Limited Monarchy

Identify the significances of the following historical documents: Magna Carta

Limited government

who is the leader of the...Senate

Majority Leader

What type of opinion is the official decision of the Supreme Court on a case?

Majority opinion

McCulloch v. Maryland dealt with what two rules of the Constitution that expanded national government powers

McCulloch v. Maryland dealt with what two rules of the Constitution that expanded national government powers

Summarize the major ideas of the following political theorists: Thomas Hobbes

Monarchical government was needed to establish security and order to a chaotic natural world. Social contract theory

In which American city was the Constitutional Convention held

Philadelphia

What are the four English contributions to American ideals and principles of government

Popular sovereignty, common law, limited government, repressive government

Analyze the Preamble by explaining its interpretations;Ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

Power of government comes from the people

Analyze the Preamble by explaining its interpretations;We the people of the United States of America

Power of government comes from the people

What original state did NOT attend the Constitutional Convention?

Rhode island

What are the four provisions to the Magna Carta

Separation of church and state Bill of rights No taxation without representation Due process with a proper trial

who is the leader of the... House of Representatives

Speaker of the House

What speech is the President mandated to make each year?

State of the Union address

What is the highest form of law in the American legal system?

Supremacy clause

Summarize the major ideas of the following political theorists: Baron de Montesquieu-

The powers of government should be separated and balanced in order to guarantee the freedom of the individual.

Who was the first to develop the idea of social contracts

Thomas Hobbes

Where is the seat of our national government

Washington D.C.

What determines the amount of electors per state?

a number of electors equal to the whole number of senators and representatives

Analyze the Preamble by explaining its interpretations;Establish justice

administer law and provide a court that ensures quality equality for all

Identify the contributions of the following to American democracy: Massachusetts Body of Liberties.

bill of rights basis, right to jury trial, due process, freedom of speech

Define the following Presidential sources of power: Executive privilege-

claim asserted by the President to justify withholding of documents and information from other branches of government

What are the Vice-President's constitutional duties

designated as the presiding officer of the Senate (tie breaker) succeeds to the presidency if the President dies, resigns, or is removed from office

Analyze the Preamble by explaining its interpretations;Insure domestic tranquility

government has power to stop rebellions and calm tension

Analyze the Preamble by explaining its interpretations;Promote the general welfare

government operates for general good of the people

Analyze the Preamble by explaining its interpretations;Provide for the common defence

government protects nation

Define the following Presidential sources of power: Executive agreements

international agreements between governments, similar to treaties, that that bind both the US and a foreign nation

Define the following Presidential sources of power: Executive order

is a legally binding edict issued by the President, which have legal force unless in conflict with a law approved by the legislative or a court decision by the judicial branch of government

Identify the contributions of the following to American democracy: Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

limited power to the government, can vote for judges

What are the qualification requirements for President?

must be a citizen of the United States by birth at least 35 years old a resident of the United States for 14 years

Describe the New Jersey Plan

one vote per state for equal representation

Analyze the Preamble by explaining its interpretations;Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

pass the story of our government for the benefits of generations

Summarize the major ideas of the following political theorists: Jean Jacques Rousseau

political authority should reflect freedom, equality, and justice within the state, regardless of the general will of the people

Describe the Virginia Plan

proportional representation according to the population

Identify the contributions of the following to American democracy: House of Burgesses

representative government

What are the different types of committees

standing (permanent), select (temporary), or joint (both chambers)

What were the framers concerning the most to guard against when writing the constitution?

the concentration of power in one person's hands

Summarize the major ideas of the following political theorists: John Locke

the state was brought into being to protect only the natural rights of the citizen to life, liberty, and property. Liberalism