CONSTITUTION (Preamble & Articles, Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, Judicial Branch)

How many members are there in the Senate?

100 members (2 from each state)

Specific powers that Congress has (Article 1, Section 8)

-Make laws -Control trade -Make money -Declare war -Fund the military -Provide funding for government agencies -Create budget -Approve treaties -Approve judges and cabinet members appointed by the president -Override veto

What is the main job of the Legislative Branch?

-Make the laws -Act as the "bank" for the US

Aside from being 35 years old, what are the other requirements to become President?

-Natural-born US citizen -Have lived in the US for the previous 14 years

Article VII

-Ratification - sets up a procedure for the states to ratify the constitution

Article VI

-Supremacy Clause - the Constitution is the SUPREME law of the land

Preamble

-The "introduction" to the Constitution -outlines the main ideas and the purpose of the Constitution

Head of State

-Title/role of the president as ceremonial head of the government/leader of the country

Chief Executive

-Title/role of the president as head of the executive branch of the government

Commander in Chief

-Title/role of the president as head the military

Impeachment

-a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

We the people of the United States

-all citizens of the US

establish justice

-ensure fairness for all

Article II

-establishes Executive Branch of government

Article III

-establishes Judicial Branch of government

Article I

-establishes Legislative Branch of government

All citizens, not just white men who own property

-example of "We the people of the United States"

Fair court/legal system

-example of "establish justice"

Elections, Amendments

-example of "in order to form a more perfect Union"

FBI, TSA, US Marshalls

-example of "insure domestic tranquility"

Military, CIA

-example of "provide for the common defense"

Supreme Court cases, Education, Environmental protection laws

-example of "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity"

posterity

-future generations

secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

-guarantee freedom for future generations

promote the general welfare

-improve the quality of life for all Americans

Provide for the common defense

-protect the country from foreign enemies

do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

-set up a new government for the United States

Article V

-sets up procedure for amending the Constitution

Article IV

-sets up the relationships between the states

In order to form a more perfect union

-to have a better government than the Articles of Confederation

Veto

-to reject (the President can veto/reject a law passed by Congress)

Override (a veto)

-vetoed law goes back to Congress -Congress can re-pass the law with a 2/3 majority in both houses and it becomes a law despite President's veto

How many terms/years can a President serve?

2 terms (or 10 years)

What is the length of a term of office for members of the U.S. House of Representatives?

2 years

How old must a person be to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives?

25 years old

How old must a person be to be elected to the U.S. Senate?

30 years old

How old must a person be to hold the office of president of the United States?

35

What is the length of a term of office for the president of the United States?

4 years

How many members are in the House of Representatives?

435

How many members are in Congress?

535 (There are 435 in the House of Representatives, and 100 in the Senate)

How many members of the Senate AND House are there?

535 members

What is the length of a term of office for members of the U.S. Senate?

6 years

How many justices are there on the Supreme Court?

9

How many lower courts are there? What are they called?

94 - District courts

Federalism (Federal Structure)

A government structure in which power is divided between the national and state governments

What is the role of the Cabinet?

Advise the president

What are 3 specific powers that the President has (Article 2, Sections 2 & 3) that you understand?

Answers may include: Enforces laws, propose laws, veto bills, leads military, appoints justices, conducts foreign policy, makes treaties, etc.

President's title as "Boss" of the Executive Branch. Sets policy and decides how the laws of the U.S. are to be enforced.

Chief Executive

Who leads the Supreme Court?

Chief Justice

President's title as head of the U.S. Armed Forces: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps.

Commander in Chief

What is another name for the Legislative Branch?

Congress

What is the main job of the Executive Branch?

Enforce the laws

What is the length of a Supreme Court Justice's term?

For life (or retirement)

How can a Supreme Court decision be overturned?

Future Supreme Court decision OR Constitutional Amendment

President's title as Leader/example for the American people

Head of State

Who has the power to propose a law to raise revenue (a tax law)?

House of Representatives

What is the main job of the Judicial Branch?

Judge/interpret the Constitution and other laws

The Supreme Court's power to declare laws and actions of the government as unconstitutional

Judicial Review

What is the power of the Supreme Court to declare a law or executive action unconstitutional?

Judicial Review

The Senate is based on which plan?

New Jersey Plan

Who is the leader of the Executive Branch?

President

Who has the sole power to try (bring to trial) all impeachments?

Senate

Who is the leader of the House of Representatives?

Speaker of the House

Who has the power to settle disputes between different states?

Supreme Court

Precedent

Supreme Court Justices use previous court ruling as an example to help them decide cases

What does "Law of the Land" mean?

Supreme Court rulings become the law for ALL states

An act or action that goes against the U.S. Constitution

Unconstitutional

How many terms can a Senator serve?

Unlimited number of terms

How many terms can a representative serve in the House of Representatives?

Unlimited number of terms

Who is second-in-command of the Executive Branch?

Vice-President

Who is the leader of the Senate?

Vice-President

The House of Representatives is based on which plan?

Virginia Plan

Sovereignty (power) is given BY the people TO the government

We the people

insure domestic tranquility

provide law and order within the country