1-48 Flashcards
What are the four ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence?
Everyone is equal, everyone has the right to life, liberty, + pursuit of happiness, the government is supposed to protect these rights, and if the government doesn’t protect these rights make a new government and protect them
Example sentence: The Declaration of Independence outlined the ideals of equality, life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.
What were the problems with the AOC?
They couldn’t collect taxes
No national army
No executive branch
No national court system
what is the purpose of the preamble?
To introduce the constitution and sell ideas to people
What is the purpose of each government branch?
Legislative - makes the laws
Executive - enforces the laws
Judicial - judges the laws
Describe what it is meant by “checks and balances”
Checks are the limits on the power of each of the three branches of the government
Balances are how the three branches of government share power
How many articles are in the constitution?
7
How many people are in the House of Representatives? How was the number divided up among?
435; divided by population
What are the three qualifications for being in the House of Representatives?
25 years old
US citizen for at least seven year
Live in the state you represent
How many people are in the senate? How was their number divided among?
100; each state has two
What are the three qualifications for being in the Senate?
30 years old
US citizen for at least nine years
Live in the state you represent
Who is the president of the Senate and what is their power in the Senate?
The vice president is president of the Senate. They only vote in case of a tie.
What does the Senate do when the president appoints an ambassador, federal judge, Supreme Court justice, or cabinet member?
The senator must confirm the appointment by majority vote.
Explain the meaning of elastic clause
This clause says that Congress can make “any laws that are necessary and proper” carry out their responsibilities under the constitution.
What is the meaning of habeas corpus?
if you are arrested, you must be brought before a judge just so that you might have broken the law and that there is possibly enough evidence to convict you – it protects you from being arrested without cause.
An ex post facto law is not legal. What would an ex post facto law do?
It would punish you for something that was not illegal at the time you did it. Congress cannot create ex post facto laws for this reason.
Describe three ways that a bill passed by Congress may become a lot
The president signed the bill
The president does not sign the bill and let it sit on his desk for 10 days while Congress is in session
The president vetoes it the Congress override his veto with 2/3 of majority vote
Describe two ways a bill passed by Congress may not become a law.
The president vetoes the bill and Congress does not override his veto
The president let it sit on his desk for 10 days and Congress is not in session
How long is the term of each office for these jobs: President, House of Representatives, Senate, and Supreme Court
President = 4
House of Representatives = 2
Senate = 6
Supreme Court = for life
What is a census and what is it used for?
An official count of the US population every 10 years; it is used to fairly divide up the House of Representatives among the states
What does the word quorum mean and what are the quorum rules for Congress?
A quorum is the the minimum number of people who needs to be present for a meeting of Congress to be official; the “rule” is a simple majority of members must be present.
Describe what a filibuster is, why is it used, and how it can be stopped?
A filibuster is when the senator speaks nonstop during a debate over the bill.
It is used to delay voting on the bill that the Senator does not want to be passed
It can be stopped when the Senator gets their way or when cloture occurs (60 or more senators vote to stop the filibuster)
Explain the two steps of the electoral college elects the president and vice president.
The people in each state vote for the candidate they want to recieve their state’s electoral college votes.
The candidate who earns a majority of electoral votes (270+) wins.
If the electoral college does not give a majority vote to a candidate, and does not choose the president and vice president, who chooses them?
President is chosen by the House of Representatives.
Vice president is chosen by the Senate.
What are the three qualifications for being president?
35 years old
US born citizen
Live in the states for the past 14 years
What is the maximum years a person could be the president?
10 years
How can a federal judge or justice of Supreme Court be removed from the office?
Impeachment
Who decides on an impeachment trial and where does the impeachment trial take place?
The House of Representatives decide on an impeachment trial and it takes place at the Senate.
How does the president so the United States recognizes that the government of another country is the true government of people of that country?
The president accepts a formal visit from an ambassador of that country.
How is the president power to make treaties with other countries limited?
Must be 2/3 vote of Senate
Who becomes the president if the president dies or is removed from office?
Vice president
Describe the main responsibilities of Supreme Court
To judge any and all laws to see if they are constitutional
Describe the two ways that a person can be convicted to treason
Confessing treason in court
Testimony of guilt of two witnesses
If you were on trial, what kind of trial are you guaranteed?
Public trial by affair and a imparcial jury of your peer
What is the republic form of government?
Represent alive of democracy, system of government where people, elect, representatives and representatives make, and enforce laws
How many amendments in constitution?
27
Describe the only way that amendments to the constitution have been proposed.
Congress has voted by a 2/3 majority to propose the amendment.
Describe the only way that amendments to the constitution have been ratified.
3/4 of the states legislatures have voted to ratify the amendment.
Why is the constitution supreme law of the land?
Article 6 says so
Name the five freedoms protected by first amendment
speech
religion
press
assembly
petition
What is so controversial about the second amendment?
Everyone has different viewpoints about gun and gun control.
Name the five important rights about a trial guaranteed by the sixth amendment.
Speedy trial
Public trial
Fair jury
Know what your accused of
Force people to testify for you
Have a lawyer
What is the rule about bail?
They may not be excessive, considering the crime you are accused of
How was slavery ended in the United States?
The 13th amendment.
Explain the meaning of “due process of law”.
All the rules must be follow during arrest and trial.
In 1870, which group of American was guaranteed the right to vote by 15th amendment?
Former slaves (male citizens over 21).
In 1920, which group of Americans was guaranteed the right to vote by the 19th amendment?
Woman (all male and female over 21)
If the president goes crazy, or is so sick that they cannot do their job, how can the president be removed from office?
The vice president and a majority of the cabinet must inform Congress that the president is no longer to do their job.
In 1971, which group of Americans was guaranteed the right to vote by the 26th amendment?
All citizens over the age of 18.
