Ch 9. Study Guide

What is federalism?

A sharing of power between states and national government

What checks and balances does each branch have over the others?

Executive over the judicial branch. The president appoints all federal judges. legislative branch must approve appointments that the president makes; the Senate must approve treat's that the president makes and the legislative branch may investigate the executive branch.

How does a bill become a law?

If a bill has passed in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and has been approved by the President, or if a presidential veto has been overridden, the bill becomes a law and is enforced by the government.

What is judicial review?

It is the power of the Supreme Court to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.

What is the main duty and responsibility of each branch of government?

Legislative—Makes laws (Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate) Executive—Carries out laws (president, vice president, Cabinet, most federal agencies) Judicial—Evaluates laws (Supreme Court and other courts)

What is majority rule? Why does it exist?

Majority rule is a decision rule that selects alternatives which have a majority, that is, more than half the votes. It exist because it is used most often in influential decisions,making bodies, including all the legislatures of democratic nations.

What is the process of creating a new Amendment to the Constitution?

The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.

What powers does each branch of government have?

The Legislative Branch to make the laws. Congress is made up of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives.The Executive Branch to enforce the laws.The Judicial Branch to interpret the laws.

What does each section of the preamble mean?

The Preamble is the opening statement to the United States Constitution. The preamble explains the reasons why the Framers of the Constitution made our government a republic.

What are the three branches of government? How do they work?

The three branches of government are Legislative, Executive and Judicial branch. The Legislative Branch make the laws. The Executive Branch enforces the laws. The Judicial Branch to interpret the laws.

Why are there two branches in the legislative branch? Who does each branch represent?

To balance the interests of both the small and large states. The members of the two houses of Congress the House of Representatives and the Senate are elected by the citizens of the United States.

What are checks and balances? How do they work? Why do we have them?

checks and balances, each of the three branches of government can limit the powers of the others. This way no ones branch becomes too powerful. Each branch checks the power of the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between them.

What are interest groups? What is its purpose?

interest groups represent interests that support and lobby for areas of special need. Groups like advocate for their special interests and form a base of support that will assist them in moving along their public issue.

What is popular sovereignty?

the idea that political authority belongs to the people

What is interstate commerce?

trade between two or more states