civics
How many Senators are there total and how many per state?
100 senators, 2 per state
How Many Circuits are there in the United States Federal Court System?
12
Length of term for House of Representive?
2 years
How long is a term in the Senate?
6 years
How many justices are there in the Supreme Court?
8 associate judges led by a chief justice, for a total of 9.
How many US District Courts are there?
94
Explain Jurisdiction
A courts authority to hear and decide cases
What is a docket?
A courts calendar
What is a congressional District and how many representatives are there per district?
A given area of a state based on a population size, which is determined by a census. 1 representative per district.
What is the cabinet?
A group of presidential advisors that includes the heads of the 15 top-level executive departments.
What is an ex post facto law?
A law that makes an act a crime after the act has been committed.
Explain what a bill of Attainder is?
A law that would punish a person without a jury trial
What is a standing committee?
A permanent committe that continues its work from session to session
What is a conference committee?
A temporary committee which helps the house and the senate agree on the details of a proposed law.
Define Gerrymandering
An oddly shaped district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group.
Give an example of Congress' power of approval and removal
Approval or rejection of presidential nominations various high ranking positions.
Where are the legislative powers of Congress found in the Constitution
Article 1, section 8
Where are the powers of the president located in the Constitution
Article 2
Where is the Electoral College explained in the constitution?
Article 2
What are the Qualification for being President of the United States?
At least 35 years of age, a native-born citizen, a resident of the United States for at least 14 years
What is a joint Committee?
Committees which contain both members of the House and the Senate
When a justice on the supreme court votes with the majority, but for different reasons than the majority has, what type of opinion is it?
Concurring opinion
What is a writ of Habeas Corpus?
Court order which requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why the person is being held.
What is a select Committee?
Created to do a special job for a limited period
What department works with native american tribes and manages America's natural resources and public lands?
Department of the Interior
What determines a states total number of electors (electoral college members)?
Each state receives the total number of its House Representatives and senators combined.
What is the elastic clause, and where is it found specifically?
Found in article I, section 8 under clause 18. Gives Congress power to do what is necessary and proper to carry out the expressed powers.
What is a precedent?
Guidance given to judges for a model on how to proceed with a case based on a similar previous case
Explain the Impeachment Process?
House of Representatives start the process, where they accuse a public offical of misconduct in office. If a majority of the house votes for impeachment, it then moves to the Senate, who act as a jury and must decide by a 2/3 majority vote wehter to convict and remove the individual
If a bill requires spending money, where must it originate?
In the House of Representatives
What is judicial review?
Judicial Review refers the power the Supreme Court has to say whether any federal, state, or local law or government action goes against the Constitution
What is the primary purpose of the Department of Homeland Security?
Oversee America's defenses against terrorist attack.
What is the State Department responsible for? (what job do they do)
Plan and carries out the United States foreign policies
What does it mean for Congress to have implied powers?
Powers not explicity stated in the US Constitution
Nonlegislative Powers refer to what?
Powers that Congress have that do not relate to making laws
What is a majority opinion?
Presents the views of the majority of the justices in the Supreme Court. States the facts of the case, announces the ruling and explains the courts reasoning behind their decision
Who stands in for the Vice President as acting president of the Senate?
President Pro Tempore
How are Supreme Court justices selected?
Presidential appointment
Chief Executive, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Legislative Leader, Head of State, Economic Leader and Party Leader are all examples of what?
Presidential roles.
Explain presidential succession?
Presidential succession refers to the process wherein in an individual is assigned to take over for duties of office of the presidency should the acting president be unable to perform those duties for any reason.
What is the name of the leader of House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
The Watergate Scandal and the Senate Investigation of it is an example of what nonlegislative power of Congress?
Special Investigations
List 4 expressed powers of Congress
Taxing, Spending, Regulating Commerce and foreign relations
Who is the president of the Senate?
The Vice President
What is the Congressional power of oversight?
The ability of Congress to act as a "watchdog" on government activities. Standing committees regularly do this.
What does it mean to pigeonhole a bill?
To not act on it to the point that it dies.
What are the three tiers, starting from the beginning, of the US Federal Court System?
US District Courts, Appeals Courts, Supreme Court
What are the three ways appeals courts can present their decision on a case?
Uphold, reverse and remand
What is a dissenting opinion?
When a justice on the supreme court disagrees with the majority, he/she has a dissenting opinion. They may write out their dissenting opinion as well.
What is the electoral college?
an indirect method of election where individuals represent the states popular vote
What is an expressed power?
listed, specific powers that Congress has which are found in Article 1, section 8
What circuit of the federal judicial system is Arizona?
the 9th circuit
