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
