U.S. Government Chapter 3 REVIEW

Bill of Rights-

the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

judicial review-

the power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action. It is an informal change to the constitution.

Define the following: preamble-

the short, noteworthy introduction to the Constitution that states all of the goals of the Constitution

What part of the Constitution states who becomes president if the President dies in office?

25th Amendment

How many of those resolutions have been ratified?

27

How many amendments have been formally added to the Constitution?

27 Amendments

How many of these resolutions have been sent on to the states?

33

How many articles were in the original Constitution?

7 articles

How long is the ratification deadline?

7 years

What are 5 ways that the Constitution can be informally amended?

The constitution can be informally amended by the passage of basic legislation by Congress, actions take by the President, key decision of the Supreme Court, the activities of political parties, custom and usage.

formal amendment-

or addition that becomes part of the written language of the Constitution itself through one of four methods set forth in the Constitution.

cabinet-

president advisory body, traditionally made up of the heads of the executive departments and other officers.

checks and balances-

system of overlapping the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the others.

treaty-

a formal agreement between two or more sovereign states.

Describe the four possible methods of formal amendment:

1) Formal amendments may be proposed by a 2/3 vote of each house of Congress and be ratified by 3/4 of the state legislatures, 2) proposed by Congress and then ratified by conventions, called for that purpose, in 3/4 of the states, 3) proposed by a national conventions called by Congress at the request for 2/3 of the state legislatures and be ratified by 3/4 of the state legislatures, and 4) may be proposed by a national convention and ratified by Conventions in 3/4 of the states.

How many amendments were added to the Constitution in the 20th century?

12

How many joint resolutions to the Constitution have been proposed in Congress?

15,000

Which two principles are illustrated by the formal amendment process?

By Congress: Proposal by a 2/3 vote in each house of Congress and ratification by 3/4 of State legislatures or by conventions in 3/4 of the States. By a National Convention: Proposal by a national convention called by Congress and ratification by 3/4 of State legislatures or by conventions in 3/4 of the States.

Name the Unratified Amendments:

Child Labor Amendment, Congressional Apportionment Amendment, Corwin Amendment, District of Columbia Voting RIghts Amendment, Equal Rights Amendment, Titles of Nobility Amendment.

Who regulates foreign and interstate commerce?

Congress (Commerce Clause)

Which president broke the "no third term" tradition?

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)

What is the purpose of checks and balances?

Each branch can "check" the power of the other branches to make sure power is balanced (no one branch is stronger than the others).

What are the roles of each branch of government?

Executive- enforces laws Legislative- makes laws Judicial- interprets laws

Why did Thomas Jefferson want a bill of rights added to the Constitution?

He wanted to protect essential liberties against infringement from others and the government. He was also an Anti-federalist.

Why, as Jefferson states, would a bill of rights strengthen the judicial branch of government?

It would give fair and equal treatment before the law and reserve powers in the federal system.

Alexander Hamilton believed that what was the essential safeguard in The Federalist No. 78 and 51?

Judicial review

What are the 6 basic principles of the Constitution?

Popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, federalism.

What event led to the 13, 14, and 15 amendments?

The Civil War

executive agreement-

a part made by the President directly with the head of a foreign state; a binding international agreement with the force of law but which (unlike a treaty) does not require Senate consent.

Article IV (4) states:

The states must protect immunities and privileges between states.

Identify 2 examples of presidential powers that illustrate the informal amendment process:

Use of powers as commander in chief of the armed forces (can declare war) and executive agreements.

The 26th amendment (lower voting age) was proposed during what conflict?

WWII

Who described the Supreme Court as a "constitutional convention in continuous session"?

Woodrow Wilson

amendment-

a change in, or addition to, a constitution or law.

federalism-

a system of government in which a written constitution divides power between a central, or national, government and several regional governments.

a) Which amendment required the longest amount of time to ratify? b) How long did it take?

a) The 27th Amendment took the longest time to ratify. b) It took 203 years.

a) What has been the most common method for adding an amendment to the Constitution? b) Which method has been used only once?

a) The most common way to add an amendment to the Constitution would be to propose it by a 2/3 vote of each house of Congress and be ratified by 3/4 of the state legislatures. b) The second method was only used once but it says it may be proposed by Congress and the ratified by Conventions, called for the purpose, in 3/4 of the states.

a) How can the judicial branch check the legislative branch? b) How can the executive branch check the legislative branch?

a) the judicial checks the legislative by declaring acts of Congress unconstitutional. May override a Presidential veto and may impeach the President. b) The executive can check the legislative by being able to veto a legislation, and they can call special sessions of Congress.

informal amendment-

an amendment that the Constitution does not list specifically, but change in society or judicial review changed the rule of law de facto.

separation of powers-

basic principle of American system of government that the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches of government.

constitutionalism-

basic principle that government and those who govern must obey the law; the rule of law

veto-

chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature, literally (Latin) "I forbid."

rule of law-

concept that government and its officers are always subject to the law.

unconstitutional-

contrary to constitutional provision and so illegal, null and void, of no force and effect.

senatorial courtesy-

custom that the Senate will not approve a presidential appointment opposed by a majority-party senator from the State in which the appointee would serve.

electoral college-

group of persons chosen in each state and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President.

articles-

lays out the structure of the government and has 7 numbered sections that follow the Preamble.