7th Grade Civics - 3 Branches of Government

Ex Post Facto

"after the fact."

Appeal

(judicial) when one party to a lawsuit requests a further hearing

Amnesty

(n.) a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution

Legislative Branch

*CREATES or MAKES laws *Article I *Branch that has the power to DECLARE WAR *Branch that has the power to override a VETO with a 2/3 VOTE *Branch that has the power to approve of federal appointments - like Supreme Court Justices *Branch that has the power to create a FEDERAL BUDGET *535 members

Executive Branch

*ENFORCES or carries out laws *Article II*Branch that has the power to VETO a bill sent to it by CONGRESS because they want it to become a LAW *Branch that has the power to APPOINT federal JUDGES *Branch that has the power to LEAD the Armed Forces during a WAR *Branch that represents our nation in the world - they meet with leaders from other countries *35 years old *Natural Born Citizen *Resident for 14 years *Serves a 4 year term

Judicial Branch

*INTERPRETS laws *Branch that has the power to declare laws or actions by the government UNCONSTITUTIONAL *Article III *Serve for life *9 Justices *Consists of ALL the courts in the U.S. *Branch that has the power SENTENCE or decide the punishment for lawbreakers *Branch that has the power to SETTLE DISPUTES between STATES

Congress

*Main group within the LEGISLATIVE Branch *Collect taxes *Borrow Money *Declare War *Regulate Trade *Raise an Army *Impeach the president *Propose amendments

Senate

*Part of CONGRESS that each state is guaranteed TWO representatives *Must be 30 * Serves for 6 years *Leader is Vice President *Resident for 9 years *100 members total

House of Representatives

*Part of CONGRESS that has representation based on POPULATION *NC has 13 * Must be 25 *Resident for 7 years * Serves for 2 years *435 members

% issues of the constitutional convention

- representation by state or authority? - local authority vs national authority - majority rule vs checks and balances - bill of rights - slavery

FIrst Continental congress

-55 delegates, Rhode island did not attend

Resolution

-A decision to do or not to do something

Political participation

-Activities involving or regarding the political sphere

Great Compromise

-Decided that congress would be split into 2 parts -Senate and HOuse

Delegate theory of Representation

-Follow wishes of representatives

Quartering Act

-People had to keep soldiers in their homes -Replaced stamp act in 1765

Magna Carta

-Stated that King John had to respect certain basic rights

Classical republicanism

-best kind of government is one that promotes the common good of the people-

Roll Call vote

-every member vote is recorded. Rarely used

Bill of rights

-first 10 ammendments -Secures fundamental rightss

Enumerated powers

-list of powers written out in article one section 8

Caucus

-meeting between delegates from teh same party

Political Philosophies/Policies

-protecting rights. Maintaining Democracy. Abiding by the constitution

Enforcement powers

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Power to investigate

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Table

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Presidential Succession

1. Vice President 2. Speaker of the House 3. President Pro-Tempore of the Senate 4. Secretary of State 5. Secretary of Treasury

Declaration of Independence

1776 philadelphia. LIberated colonies from british rule

Writ of habeas corpus

A court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person

Pardon

A declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment

Impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

Unconstitutional

A law that is not agreeable with the constitution and is no longer valid

Ex post facto laws

A law which punishes people for a crime that was not a crime when it was committed. Congress cannot pass these laws.

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

Filibuster

A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

Bill

A proposal for a law

Reprieve

A respite; postponement of a sentence

Government

A system that governs and directs a society. The Regulation of public affairs.

Pocket Veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

Veto

A vote that blocks a decision

Habeas Corpus

A writ that requires a person under arrest to be brought before court. The secured right to trial by jury.

Cabinet

Advisors to the President

Jurisdiction

An area of authority or control; the right to administer justice.

Writs of Assistance

An order from a court

Elastic Clause

Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution; one of the powers of Congress that allows them to make any laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out their other powers. Also called the "Necessary and Proper Clause"

Exclusive Jurisdiction

Authority of only federal courts to hear and decide cases

Concurrent Jurisdiction

Authority shared by both federal and state courts

Trustee theory of Representation

Based on own persona beliefs

Locke

Believed that people are ale born pure and innocent and that we are all entitled to natural rights

Petition of Rights

Certain rights and liberties that the king is unable to infringe on

Supremacy Clause

Clause stating that the constitution is the supreme law of the land

Assembly

Group of people with a common purpose.

President

Head of the EXECUTIVE Branch

Popular Sovereignty

Idea that POWER lies with the PEOPLE

Separation of Powers

Idea that PREVENTS one person or group from having too much CONTROL over the government

Checks and Balances

Idea that allows different branches of government to LIMIT the POWER of other branches of government

Separation of Powers

Idea that led to the Constitution creating the THREE BRANCHES of our government

Rule of Law

Idea that nobody is above the LAW

Social Contract

If citizens follow the law, the government will guarantee protection for their natural

Circuit Court

Intermediate federal appellate courts. Cover 13 "circuits" across America. Hear appeals from District Courts in their jurisdiction.

French and Indian War

Lasted 7 Years. Fought on American Land. French and indians fought Britain. British victory, France forced to surrender american territory

Bills of Attainder

Laws that punish a person without a jury trial

Supreme Court

Main group within the JUDICIAL Branch

Conservative

Minimal government involvement. People must work hard to make money. People are inherently selfish. Traditional Law

Anti-Fedralists

More State rights. Central government could be destructive.

Separation of Powers

PRINCIPLE that led to the creation of the THREE BRANCHES

Checks and Balances

PRINCIPLES that created the idea that each branch should have powers that LIMIT the powers of other BRANCHES

Self-Government

People can govern themselves. Minimal federal involvement.

Implied Powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution

gerrymander

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Salutary Neglect

Refers to an unofficial British policy of avoiding strict enforcement of parliamentary laws. Meant to keep the American colonies obedient to England.

Politics

Relating to governmental affairs

Sons of liberty

Secret meetings. Samuel adams. Group of patriots that wanted independence.

Committees of Correspondence

Set up by colonies to help get independence

Sovereignty

Supremacy. A country that has independent authority and the power to set/enforce laws without being accountable to another party/ authority figure.

Suffrage

The right to vote

State of Nature

The state of the world before human influence

Lobbying

To influence an official. A form of bribery.

Pigeonhole

To put a legislation aside.Used when politicians do not want a bill to mass.

Rights of Englishmen

Traditional rights/ Civil protection. Rule of law, private property rights. Can be traced back to the Magna Carta, that protected people against government involvement

Legitimacy

acceptance of authority

Rousseau

believed that people aare consented to give up certain freedoms to their ruling entity in exchange for their rights being protected

Stamp Act

colonialists paid taxes on every legal document they used-1765

natural rights

fundamental human rights that everyone is born with/ entitled to

Seniority

higher in age/power

Fedralism

large bounded government

Standing vote

members o house get into groups according to their views on a proposal

Constituents

people a member of Congress represents

Expressed Powers

powers directly stated in the constitution

federalists

pro strong central government

Patronage

representing/sponsoring a group in an official capacity. Gains support and recognition for the party

Commerce

the buying and selling of goods

Gerrymandering

the illegal redistribution of voting districts

Compromise

to reach a consensus between two opposing sides

Secede

to withdraw alliance from ones own country