Citizenship handbook notes (some workbook, no names, and no amendments)

What group of people is the electoral college made up of (be more specific than electors)

all senators, house members, and 3 people from the District of Colombia

what are most cases heard by the supreme court

appeals

what are local budgets mainly spent on

education

how often is a cencus had in the house of reps.

every 10 years

what is it called when the president lets a bill sit for 10 days or until congress's session is over

pocket veto

who presides over the case when the president is impeached

the chief justice

when is election day

the first tuesday after the first monday in november

why was the electoral college created

the founding fathers did not want the president elected by congress or the people

what is another name for the house of representatives

the lower house

what is it called when the ruling of a supreme court case is written up

the opinion

Who nominates the candidates

the parties

who elect the senators

the people

another name for senate

the upper house

qualifications for the house of reps.

-25 years or older -citizen for 7 years -resident of the district you are representing

qualifications for senate

-30 years or older -citizen for 9 years -resident of the state you are representing

requirements to be pres.

-35 or older -citizen for 14 years -born in the us

what are the two important ideas of john locke reflected in the constitution

-all people are born with natural rights -the purpose of a government is to protect the rights of people and if one does not do so, the people have the right to overthrow it

list the ways to become a citizen

-be born in the US -have a parent who is a united states citizen -be naturalized -be 18 or younger when parents are naturalized

list the steps to creating an amendment

-change is proposed by 2/3 of congress or 2/3 of states -must be ratified by 3/4 of the states

what are the duties of the president given by the constitution (5 of them)

-commander in chief of the armed forces -makes appointment of ambassadors with senate approval -sees that federal laws are carried out as they are designed -make treaties with senate approval -commissions officers in the armed forces

what are some powers only states have

-create corporate law -regulate trade within the state -maintain public schools -establish local gov -marriage and divorce -conduct elections -provide for public saftey

what do states have in common with the federal government in their government structure

-have their own constitution -has 3 branches as gov

what are the steps to becoming naturalized

-live in us for 5 years -apply for citizenship -take citizenship exam -undergo interviews -take citizenship oath before a judge

list some powers that the federal and state govs. share

-provide for the public welfare -administer criminal justice -charter banks -raise taxes -borrow money

why was the elctoral college established

-so states have equal say in elections -the fathers of the constitution didnt want people or congress to choose the president

how many senators can be elected at the a time from one state

1

How many members are in the senate

100

List the date and result of the Marbury v. Madison case

1803, the court established the power to review the act of congress and declare laws unconstitutional if they violate the constitution

length of terms in the house of reps.

2 years

How many votes are needed for conviction

2/3 of senate

how many votes does a candidate need to win in the electoral college

270

How many justices must agree before a petition can be heard

4

How many members are in the house of reps.

435

how many representatives are allowed in the house of representatives

435

how many electors are in the electoral college

538

how many electors does MS have

6

length of terms in the senate

6 years

How many justices are there

9

what is a federalism

a government in which power is divided among states and a central authority

what is constitutional government

a government regulated by a written or unwritten statement of principles and functions

what is bicameralism

a two-housed form of government

what can the supreme court declare unconstitutional

acts of the president and laws of congress

unique responsibilities of the senate

approve or deny the presidential nominations and presidential treaties

which state has the most representatives in the house of reps.

california

what is conducted that may result in the reapportionment of a state's number of representatives in the house of reps.

cencus

What are the charges on which the president, vice president, and all civil officers of the us may be impeached for

conviction of: -treason -bribery -high crimes and misdemeanors

what smaller units does local government consist of

counties, cities, and towns

list congresses powers

create laws, collect taxes, coin money, establish post offices, fix standard weights and measurements, and declare war

what is a democracy

government by the people

what power over impeachment does the senate have

holds the trial

How many votes are needed from the house to impeach

majority

unique responsibilities of the house of reps.

originate bills that deal with taxes

title of the presiding officer of the senate

president of the senate

what does the president of the senate (vice president) do

presides over sessions of the senate and votes on issues only in the case of a tie

what does the president pro tempore do

presides over sessions when the vice pres cannot be there

what power over impeachment does the house of reps. have

presses the charges

what are the members of the house of representatives called

representatives

what are the members of the senate called

senators

what did montesquieu believe in

separation of powers

title of the presiding officer of the house of reps.

speaker of the house

what act set up the system of federal courts

the Judiciary Act of 1789

who do the individual people of the house of reps. represent

the people of their district

what is jurisdiction

the power to hear and decide cases

what is congress's most important power

the power to make laws

What heads the judicial branch of the united states government

the supreme court

who presides over the case when someone who is NOT the president is impeached

the vice president (president of the senate)

who do the individual people of the senate represent

their states

what is the supreme court's most important job

to interpret the law

what is judicial review

to judge whether federal, state, and local governments are acting within the law, and to decide if the presidents actions are constitutional

what are the powers of the supreme court

to judge whether federal, state, and local governments are acting within the law, and to decide if the presidents actions are constitutional, as well as interpreting the law