3 Branches of Government Flashcards
What part of Congress is responsible for approving or rejecting Presidential nominees?
The Senate
Who approves the president’s appointment of Cabinet secretaries and Supreme Court Justices?
The Senate
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
President
When people have a disagreement that they can’t resolve on their own. Often, one side feels that the other side violated their rights in some way.
Civil Case
Number of states that have their own system of courts
50
Serve the interests of the citizens who live in their district (section of a state) for a term of two years
Representatives
these electors technically vote for President of the U.S.
Electoral College
At the top of the federal court system
Supreme Court
Another name for enumerated powers
expressed powers
both federal and state courts have jurisdiction
Concurrent Jurisdiction
Hears cases involving federal laws, the US constitution, or disputes between citizens of different states
Federal Courts
the U.S. Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison established this power
Judicial Review
The only court created by the Constitution
Supreme Court
decided by a trial court without the case going to trial
summary judgment
a principle of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches
checks and balances
Number of electoral votes needed to win a presidential election
270
The main duty of whom is to carry out or enforce our nation’s laws
The Executive Branch
Must be at least 25, a US citizen for at least 7 years, and live in the state they represent
Representatives
The role of the president that makes them head of their political party
Party Chief
the structure of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that sets up three branches with their own distinct responsibilities
separation of powers
Powers of congress listed by the constitution
enumerated powers
an order that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law
executive order
If you break a law of the US, your case will be heard in a
Federal Court
The federal court system was created by
Congress
Another name for the Necessary and Proper Clause
Elastic Clause
a formal statement from a court that orders someone to do or stop doing something
court order
The rough draft of a law is called a
bill
Who has these powers: raising and spending money, regulating commerce, and dealing with foreign countries
Congress
Powers not given to Congress are reserved for the ___.
states
What vote is required to remove an official from office?
two-thirds vote
an adjective that means “lawmaking”
Legislative
The highest court in the land
Supreme Court
Limits Presidents to 2 terms since 1951
22nd Amendment
Congress was created by what document?
the Constitution
The authority to hear a certain case
Jurisdiction
Hears cases involving state laws or the state’s constitution
State courts
Who has the power to declare state laws unconstitutional
State supreme courts
President lives and works here in Washington, D.C.
White House
The role of the president that makes him the living symbol of the U.S. and preside over ceremonial duties
Chief of State
laws that make an act a crime after the act has been committed
ex post facto laws
When someone is accused of a crime, the type of case is
Criminal
Who holds trials for impeachment?
The Senate
a written document that is or may become a law
Legislation
When a group of twelve people listen to the evidence and decide who wins the case
jury trial
How long is a presidential term?
4 years
Clearly listed powers delegated to the Congress.
enumerated powers
the procedure to see if the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case
writ of certiorari
Total number of electors in the electoral college
538
The yearly speech Presidents give to update people on how things are going.
State of the Union
The decision of a jury
verdict
the power of a court to be the first to hear a case on a specific topic
original jurisdiction
How long is a presidential term?
4 years
order of succession: Vice President; Speaker of House; President Pro Tempore; Cabinet in order departments were created
25th Amendment
The two appellate-level courts of the federal court system
Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court
The number of House representatives depends on the ___ of a state.
population
Leader in the House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
Advisors of the President
Cabinet
The leader of the senate; only votes to break ties
Vice President
What is the main job of congress
to make laws
Main officers of the Executive Branch
President and Vice President
What Constitutional principle limits Congress’ powers?
Checks and balances
Must be at least 30, a US citizen for at least 9 years, and live in the state they represent
Senators
How many justices are in the U.S. Supreme Court panel?
9
What part of the constitution limits or denies certain powers to the federal government?
The Bill of Rights
when President rejects a bill passed by Congress
veto
courts that decide on cases involving interpretations of the Constitution and laws passed by Congress
federal courts
The goal is not to find out whether someone is innocent or guilty, but to decide which side’s version of the story is correct
civil case
How many senators are there?
100 total
which branch of the government makes laws?
legislative branch
Which article of the constitution establishes the judicial branch?
Article III
If you appeal a case, you are going to
Appellate court
a government that has reduced powers by a constitution, or written agreement
limited government
The decision in a case is called the
Verdict
Who has the authority to impeach an official?
The House of Representatives
The clause that creates implied powers of congress
necessary and proper clause
Congress shall have the power to borrow money, what other power is implied from this?
Establish a federal bank
The President has the power to call one or both houses of Congress to a special meeting.
Special Session of Congress
an attempt to stop a case from going to trial
summary judgement
a form of government based on a written set of laws that all citizens agree to
constitutional government
Presidential appointments of Federal judges, foreign ambassadors, and members of the president’s cabinet require confirmation from the
Senate
The first court to hear a case
trial court
The courts above the trial court
appellate courts
The act of choosing and placing someone in a job
appointment
Which article of the constitution establishes the legislative branch?
Article I
Members of the Senate are called ___ and members of the House are called ___.
Senators, Representatives
The set of rules and standards by which society governs itself.
Law
The type of trial you often see on TV involving a person who has been accused of a crime
criminal cases
Refusing to confirm appointments is a check the Senate has on
the president
“Natural Born” citizen; 35 years old; resident for last 14 years. These are the requirements for what?
President
The role that allows the president to enforce U.S. laws, create policies, hire and fire officials within the executive branch, and appoint Federal judges.
Chief Executive
the title given to judges of the U.S. Supreme Court
Justice
Deals with disputes about laws that apply to the entire United States
Federal Court System
The Supreme Court’s power of deciding what is constitutional
Judicial Review
interprets the laws made by the legislative branch
judicial branch
a verb that means “to make laws”
Legislate
Laws that punish a person without a trial jury
bill of attainder laws
Resolves the kinds of issues you hear about in everyday life, such as family matters, accidents, crimes, and traffic violations
State courts
laws that apply to the entire country
federal laws
Serves the interests of the citizens across their entire state for a term of six years.
Senators
the head of the executive branch
president
Word that means congress is made up of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
bicameral
A temporary power of the President to delay someone’s punishment
Reprieve
When more than one judge listens to a case, the group of judges is called a
panel
The role that makes the President the head of the nation’s armed forces
Commander in Chief
issued when a higher level court agrees to hear an appeal of a lower court’s decision
writ of certiorari
The leader of the Senate when the vice president isn’t there
president pro tempore
the power of the judicial branch to review the actions of the executive and legislative branches and determine whether or not they are unconstitutional
judicial review
When there is no jury, so the judge gives the verdict
bench trial
The court that gets to decide what is constitutional
Supreme Court
powers not stated explicitly in the Constitution
Implied powers
Mostly deals with disputes about state laws
State court Systems
the power of the U.S. President to choose members of his or her cabinet, ambassadors to other nations, and other officials in his or her administration
presidential appointments
Lawyers use this when trying to prove their client’s side of the story
Evidence
the power to hear appeals of cases that have been tried in lower courts
appellate jurisdiction
Asking an appellate court to review a case is called
making an appeal
Members of which house work for people in a specific section of their state?
House of Representatives
Accusing someone of misconduct in office.
impeachment
a decision by an executive authority such as a president or governor to reject a proposed law or statute
veto
The role that allows the president to make treaties with other countries and shape policies for dealing with other nations
Chief Diplomat
All bills that raise money must start in
the House of Representatives
people appointed by the president to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers to the president
cabinet
The President has the power to legally forgive a person for a Federal crime and to free them from all punishment.
pardon
Congress shall have the power to establish naturalization laws, what other power is implied from this?
The power to limit immigration
How many members are part of the House of Representatives
435
Members of which house represent the needs of their entire state?
Senate
What are the houses of congress?
House of Representatives and Senate
the branch of government that enforces the laws made by the legislative
executive branch
When the losing side thinks there’s been an error, they can ask a higher court to review the verdict
Appeal
the trial court in the Federal system
District court
a person who makes laws
Legislator
Which article of the constitution establishes the Executive Branch?
Article II
