Chapter #3 - The Constitution: Supreme Law of the Land

27

# of amendments

26th amendment

18 year old suffrage

Marbury v. Madison

1803

Bill of Rights

1st 10 amendments to Constitution

length of term - House of Representatives

2 years

propose an amendment

2/3 vote needed in both houses

ratify an amendment

3/4 or 38 states must ratify

length of term - President

4 years

length of term - Senator

6 years

What article is legislative branch in?

Article I

What article in the constitution is the Executive branch in?

Article II

What article is the Judicial branch in?

Article III

John Marshall

Chief justice in Marbury v. Madison

President

Commander in Chief

President's constituency

Electoral college - voters of the nation

Enabling Act

Necessary and Proper Clause ; Elastic Clause

Legislature name in a Parliamentary government.

Parliament

Cabinet

President's formal group of advisors.

Executive privilege

President's right to withhold information from Congress and the Courts.

leader of a parliamentary government chosen by the House of Commons.

Prime minister

13th amendment (Civil War Amendment)

abolishes slavery.

15th amendment

allowed Blacks the right to vote

Enabling Act

allows Congress the power to pass laws that are necessary to make government effective.

23rd amendment

allows District of Columbia citizens to vote for president.

Fundamental law

broad outline of the powers and structures of government.

17th amendment

called for senators to be directly elected by the voters, not legislatures

senate

can ratify treaties

Supremacy Clause

clause in the constitution that says state laws may not challenge or contradict laws where the national government has the constitutional authority.

Executive branch

enforce law - President

Treaty

formal agreement between leaders of nations - needs Senate approval.

1st amendment

freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition

19th amendment (1920)

gave women the right to vote

Judicial Review

gives the Supreme Court the right to declare acts of Congress to be unconstitutional.

14th amendment (Civil War Amendment)

guarantees citizenship to Blacks.

Senatorial Courtesy

idea that the Senate will not confirm a presidential nomination that is opposed by both senators from the state of the appointed.

Executive Agreement

informal agreements between leaders of nations.

Judicial branch

interpret law - Supreme Court

7th amendment

jury trial in civil cases

Legislative branch

lawmaking - Congress

11th amendment

lawsuits against a state.

length of term - federal judges

life

veto

prevents a bill from becoming a law

checks and balances

prevents accumulation of power in the hands of the few.

Checks and Balances

principle of government that allows each branch to exercise some control over the other 2.

8th amendment

prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

3rd amendment

prohibits quartering of soldiers

18th amendment

prohibits the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol

5th amendment

protection for the accused; double jeopardy; eminent domain

4th amendment

protects against unreasonable search and seizure.

Representative constituency

qualified voters of the Congressional district

Senator constituency

qualified voters of their state.

10th amendment

reserves powers to the states.

2nd amendment

right to bear arms, state militias

12th amendment

rules for election of President and Vice-President.

6th amendment

rules for fair trial - right to defense lawyer.

Presidential government

system of government where the executive office acts independently of the legislative.

Parliamentary government

system of government where the legislative and executive powers are combined

Statutory law

the detailed rules of government passed by a legislature.

Separation of Powers

the division of the powers of government among 3 branches.

Federalism

the relationship between the federal government and the state governments.

who originally could vote?

white, male, property owners

Supreme court constituency

appointed by President, confirmed by Senate

John Adams

appoints "midnight" justices

Congress

approve defense spending and declare war.

Preamble

opening paragraph of the Constitution

24th amendment

outlaws poll taxes

Constituency

people who choose government officials and to whom the officials are accountable.

9th amendment

people's rights are not limited to the constitution

Popular Sovereignty

power of government belongs to the people.

delegated powers

powers explicitly given to the national government.

reserved powers

powers that are kept/maintained by the states.