Unit 2 (A)

What are examples of checks that the Legislative Branch has in the law making process?

An example of checks that the Legislative Branch has in the lawmaking process is that congress can override the president's veto.

How can Congress encourage spending and business expansion in the private sector?

Congress can encourage spending and business expansion in the private sector by influencing tax rates on businesses and the people, stimulus check, government spending. (reducing taxation and regulation)

Why is Congressional "power of the purse" important in oversight?

Congress can ensure that the President and his administration is not spending too much money. (It is important in oversight because they determine how much money different programs have. Congress can defund you. Warfare is funded but they can reduce funding for the military. (review, and possibly modify, agency budgets).)

Why must the judicial branch be an independent branch of government?

Courts must act impartially and make fair decisions without undue influence by outside forces. By being an independent branch of government, with judges appointed life terms it allows for the courts to focus on the ruling of cases rather than elections and other political formalities that are open to influence.

What happens when the Supreme Court decides the outcome of a case?

Decisions of the Supreme Court become the law

How do expressed powers and implied powers differ?

Expressed powers of Congress are listed in the U.S. Constitution while the implied powers of Congress (are not listed) come from Clause 18, often called the "necessary and proper clause"

What does it mean for the president to be the "party leader" and what might the president do to fulfill that role?

He will uphold the beliefs of his party. (By being party leader, the president represents his party while in office. The party leader is typically responsible for managing the party's relationship with the general public, and leads the competition against political rivals. As such, they will take a leading role in developing and communicating party policy, especially election platforms, to the electorate. )

What are qualifications, characteristics, and allowances for members of the House and Senate?

House-must be 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, and a legal resident of the state. They serve a 2-year term. Representation is based on population. State legislatures redistrict after reapportionment. Senate- must be 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years, and legal residents of the state they represent. They are elected to 6-year terms. Both the Senate and the House set their own.

What is the significance of the Supreme Court case of Marbury vs. Madison?

It established a Judicial Review.

What are the Constitutional qualifications for president?

Must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years before taking office.

Why are federal judges appointed to life terms?

People who favor life terms believe that this system allows judges to make decisions without being concerned about how it might affect their chances for reelection.

How is a justice who follows judicial restraint likely to be different from an activist?

People who follow judicial restraining look for the original meaning, compared to activists who look to view and are for change. (Those who support judicial restraint believe that the Court should avoid overturning laws passed by democratically elected bodies, like Congress or state legislatures. Those who support judicial activism believe the opposite: that the Court must step in when Americans' rights are violated.)

Why do power struggles occur in a divided government?

Power struggles occur in a divided government because one branch would like to have more power than another in order to pass laws, veto bills etc. Power struggles can also occur due to party power struggles. If one party is in the white house, and another party runs congress this can create a power struggle in order to do what is best for their own party. (Power struggles can occur because one party controls the White House and the other controls Congress, and Congress cannot give away its constitutional powers through legislation.)

Explain Congress's role in the election of a new president. In particular, discuss what happens if none of the candidates receives a majority of votes. (SA)

The Constitution requires Congress to count the electoral college ballots. If none of the candidates receives a majority of votes, the results will go to congress, and congress decides. They will debate and discuss who will win.

Analyze why the Supreme Court is vital to our democracy. In your answer, be sure to talk about the separation of powers and checks and balances. (E)

The Supreme Court is vital to our democracy because their ruling becomes a law. The Supreme court makes sure that the law is being interpreted equally throughout the country. In addition, they also make sure that the laws do not violate the rights of every individual.​​ They have the ability to rule executive action as unconstitutional. Also, they review legislation to make sure that they are not violating the Constitution.

Which two individuals share the duty of presiding over the Senate?

The Vice President and the President Pro Tempore both share the duty of presiding over the Senate.

What is the purpose of the State of the Union address?

The address calls attention to the president's ideas about how to solve key problems facing the country.

How has the role of the amendment process affected the election of leaders to the federal executive branch? (SA)

The amendment process has affected the election to the federal executive branch by limiting who can be the president. In addition, amendments 15, 19, and 26 have played a big part on the amendment process.

Why does the House of Representatives have limits on the amount of time spent on debating bills?

The complex rules in the House are geared toward moving legislation quickly once it reaches the floor (There is more diversity of opinion on the House floor during session than on the Senate floor because there are more seats, there are more elections, so there are more chances of new people coming in.)

To preserve the democratic principles of checks and balances, when may courts decide questions of law?

The court decides questions of laws when they are brought to the court as formal cases.

How is the judiciary branch checked by other branches?

The executive branch can appoint judges to the judicial branch, as well as use pardon powers to pardon crimes. The congress approves federal judges appointed to the judicial branch.(The executive branches of government enforce the decisions of the courts. The president appoints federal judges with the advice and consent of the Senate. The state and federal legislative branches have the power to create some courts, set judges' salaries, and change laws to clarify their meanings.)

Why did the Founding Fathers choose to establish the Electoral College system?

The founding fathers felt that the election of a president could not just be trusted to the people as they felt that someone from one side of the country could not know enough information about a candidate from the other side of the country to make an informed decision. They also felt that giving the power of the election to congress would make congress too powerful. They instead compromised on the Electoral College system based on population.

Which court has the power to overrule the decision of a federal appeals court?

The highest court in the state, or the U.S. The Supreme Court has the power to overrule the decision of the federal appeals court.

How does the Judicial branch check other branches of government?

The judiciary may limit the executive and legislative branch through its ability to declare laws and government actions unconstitutional.

Explain the difference between a majority opinion, a concurring opinion, and a dissenting opinion. Why do you think the justices in an appellate court write these opinions? What significance does each type of opinion have? (E)

The majority opinion states the decision of the court. Dissenting opinion is a document issued by judges in which they state the reasons for the disagreement. Finally, a Concurring opinion is a document that is issued by judges, who agree with the majority opinion, but they have a different reason than that which is stated in the majority opinion. I think the justices in an appellate court write these opinions so that they can decide appeals. Each type of opinion has significance. They can determine whether or not they should uphold the trial court's decision, reverse the trial court's decision, or send the case back to the lower court to be tried again.

Who has the best chance of winning election as president?

The person who is more moderate has the best chance of wining. ( the best chance of winning is one that has lots of positive government experience, a good personality, good leadership skills, someone who understands the needs of the people, someone who communicates well with foreign and domestic, and someone who inspires the nation and can be trusted to faithfully execute the law of the US.)

A Florida House member representing Cape Canaveral and other areas where NASA is active is most likely to request membership on which of these standing committees?

They would most likely request a membership for the Science, Space, and Technology committee.

What does it mean to "faithfully execute laws" and who is supposed to do that?

When Congress passes a law, it is the president's responsibility to put that law into action. The President is supposed to make sure that they are carried out.

What is a major complaint against judicial activism? What is a major complaint against judicial restraint?​ (SA)

A major complaint against judicial activism is that they are doing more than what they are allowed from the Constitution. A major complaint against judicial restraint is they are too rigid, they do not allow for change.

When determining whether or not a country is aiding an enemy of the United States, the president has what advantage over Congress?

The president has access to classified information (top secret)

Why do you think a president might want to nominate someone to the Supreme Court who shares the president's ideological perspective? (SA)

The president might want to nominate someone to the Supreme Court because it will be easier to get an agreement on cases. If a President is for something, a nominee with that same view would keep that stance in cases, making the decisions agreeable with the president.

In what ways might the presidential candidate and the vice presidential candidate on the same ticket be alike and different? (SA)

The presidential candidate and the vice president candidate are alike in that they are both in similar parties. They are different because one can be extreme and the other one is more moderate, their political viewpoints can be different, where they come from, their race and gender.

Explain how legislative oversight is an example of checks and balances.

Their oversight can limit the president's power

Why might there be more diversity of opinion on the House floor during session than on the Senate floor? (SA)

There may be more diversity of opinion on the House floor during session than on the Senate floor because there are so many members, and they don't have the time.

What do presidential candidates often focus on during primaries?

They focus on state specific issues. (Presidential candidates tend to focus on rallying their own party support by addressing issues that are relevant to their party and region. They campaign to win the votes of party leaders and local party members in order to gain more support. )

Why do presidential candidates focus on swing states?

They focus on swing states because they can go either way. (Campaigns will spend lots of money on swing states that are closely divided in hopes of "swinging" the state in their favor. By gaining support from the swing states, it gives the candidate more chances of winning.)