1.1 America Background Flashcards
How many colonies was/is america made up of?
13
How many buildings does the us government have?
3
Why are there 2 levels of government?
Because each of the colonies wanted to keep some of their own powers
Where is the federal government based?
Washington DC
give an example of a state law that applies in one state but not in another?
Death penalty applies in Texas but not in Massachusetts
What are the FBI
A federal police force that can work on certain crimes in certain states upon invitation
What are the state police?
Police who can act on certain crimes in their state
what are the 2 parts that congress is made up of
House of Representatives and the senate
Which is the building branch contains the congress
The legislative branch
What power does the congress have?
Pass laws
Confirm budget
Approve foreign policy
Confirms all appointments
How often is each part of the congress elected?
House of Representatives every 2 years
Senate every 6 years
Why are mid terms important?
It makes it harder for one party to control all at any one time, it shows how popular a president is and how powerful a president is
What things do the state government do
Control: drug laws Education laws Gun laws Death penalty Healthcare Minimum wage Law enforcement State tax
What things do the federal government do?
Defence Organise healthcare Federal tax FBI US Marshals CIA foreign Affairs
What does the federal government do?
Make laws for all 50 states
What does the state government do?
Day to day running of state
Create laws that apply to each individual state
Each state controls it’s own
What is the us head of state called
The president
What is the building brand called where the head of state is?
The administrative branch
What powers does the head of state/building branch have
Propose laws Propose budget Control foreign policy Controls military Nominate important appointments Has veto Runs country
How often is the head of state elected
4 years
2 main political part in USA
Republicans and democrats
What is the highest court in America?
The Supreme Court
What is the building branch called where the high court is?
Judiciary branch
What powers does the court have?
Defend the constitution
Interpret constitution
Interpret laws
When is the new judge appointed
When the judge dies
Who appoints the new judge
The president
What is the constitution
A rule book on how Americas government should be run
Who is subject to the constitution
Everyone
Who can change the constitution
No one unless 3/4 state agree
What percentage of States have to agree to the change
75%
When was it written
1787
What happens if a law goes against the constitution
It must be changes or amended
Order presidents 23-32
Benjamin Harrison Grover Cleveland William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt William Taft Woodrow Wilson Warren Harding Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover Franklin Roosevelt
What is the proportion of senators are elected every 6 years
1/3
What does it mean if not all of the senators are elected in one go
There can be no dictatorship as each party can still get seats in congress
When does the new president take over
They are elected in November and take over the following January
