3 Branches of Government and Articles of Constitution Flashcards
(Article 1) The power to _____________ is given to a ____________ made up of two chambers to represent different interests: a ___________ to represent the states; a ____________ to be more responsive to the people’s will
make laws, legislature, upper house (senate), lower house (HOR)
(Article 1) The US Congress is _______ - divided into 2 chambers or houses
bicameral
(Article 1) ______________ - “lower” house
House of Representatives
(Article 1) Qualifications for House of Representatives (age)
at least 25 years of age
(Article 1) Qualifications for HOR (citizen)
citizen for at least 7 years
(Article 1) Qualifications of HOR (living location)
live in the state he/she represents
(Article 1) Qualifications of HOR - representation is based on: __________
population
(Article 1) Qualifications of HOR - term of office
2 year terms
(Article 1) Qualifications of HOR - election process
directly elected by the people
(Article 1) Qualifications of HOR - the number of representatives was set at __________ in 1929. The number is still ________ today
435
(Article 1) Qualifications of HOR - the __________ of the House is responsible for choosing the heads of various house committees
speaker
what is impeachment
two step process formally removing president from office
(Article 1) ____________ - “upper” house
senate
(Article 1) qualifications for senate (age)
at least 30 years of age
(Article 1) qualifications for senate (citizen)
citizen for at least 9 years
(Article 1) qualifications for senate (living location)
must live in the state he/she represents
(Article 1) qualifications for senate - representation is ________ - 2 senators for each state
equal
(article 1) qualifications for senate - term of office
6 years
there are a total of ______ senators (2 from each state)
100
(article 1) qualifications for senate - election process
serve 6 year terms in office
the vice president’s only duty listed in the constitution is to preside over the _______
senate
the senate elects its other officers, including the presiding officer: ________ who serves when the vice president is absent
president pro tempore
the ____ amendment changed the way senators are selected
17
senators are now _________ elected by the people
directly
all bills must originate in the __________
HOR
a bill - __________ - becomes a law by passing through both houses of congress of congress and being signed by the _________
a proposal, president
in 1845, election day was set at ________________
tuesday after the first monday in november
the 20th amendment, changed the date of congressional opening to _________
january 3
what is a quorum
one more than half the members of congress
what is revenue
government money from taxes
what is a veto
president doesn’t approve/ says no to proposed law
what is a pocket veto
president never signs or vetoes/ignores the law
5 powers delegated to congress
- taxation
- commerce (trade)
- borrowing
- courts
- post office
3 powers denied to the federal government
- slave trade
- direct taxes
- titles of nobility and gifts
what is article 2
executive branch - the presidency
(article 2) gives the power to the president to __________
enforce/carry out laws
what are the 3 parts of the executive branch
- presidency (selected by electoral college)
- vice-presidency (also selected on the same ticket)
- cabinet (appointed by the president)
what is the term of office for president
4 years
the constitutional convention had trouble deciding how the president was to be chosen. the system agreed upon _________ election by electors
indirect
what is the electoral college system
group of citizens who select the president. the number of electors is equal to the total number of senators (100) + total number of representatives (435) + 3 for DC
date of elections
tuesday after the first Monday in november
2 presidential qualifications
- must be 35 years of age
2. must be a natural born citizen
(article 2) vacancies. if the president ______, ____________ or is ___________ or is unable to _____________ the __________ becomes the president
dies, resigns, impeached, fulfill his duties as president, vice president
the presidential oath of office is usually administered by the
chief justice
2 powers of the president
- makes treaties with other countries and appoints people
2. makes temporary appointments
3 reasons why a president can be impeached
- treason
- bribery
- high crimes and misdemeanors
impeachment is _________. the house of representatives formally “_______” the president and the senate formally “________.” both houses must vote in favor of impeachment for a president to be _______ from office
removal office, accuses, convicts, removed
what is article 3
judicial branch - us supreme court
the constitution sets up not only the supreme court but also the _________
lower courts
there are currently __ justices of the supreme court. leader = _______
9, chief justice
the supreme court 2 types of jurisdiction
- original jurisdiction - location or court where initial case takes place
- appellate jurisdiction - court at which cases that are appealed are held
most supreme court cases are heard on _____ from lower courts
appeal
______ is the highest court in the land
supreme court
supreme court makes the _______ in all cases that it hears
final decision
congress also has the power to set up a system of ____________
lower federal courts
justices serve_____ terms
life
holds office for life
judicial
serves as commander in chief of the air force, army, marines, and navy
executive
elected to a two year term
house of representatives
can override a veto
legislative (house and senate)
appoints ambassadors to other foreign nations
executive
only two from each state
senate
can overrule a lower court
judicial
delivers the annual state of the union address
executive
can make laws relating to gun control
legislative (house and senate)
elected to a four year term
executive
can lower the federal income tax
legislative (house and senate)
can declare war
legislative (house and senate)
must be at least 35 years of age
executive
can veto a bill
executive
can formally accuse the president of treason, bribery, or other high crimes
house of representatives
trial by jury
judicial
hears cases relating to the us constitution
judicial
has power to make treaties on the condition of senate approval
executive
settles disputes between states
judicial
can convict a president of treason, bribery, or other high crimes
senate
3 branches of government
legislative, executive, judicial
makes laws
legislature
execute laws
executive
interpret laws
judicial
leader title of the upper house (Senate)
vice presidency/president pro tempore
leader of the lower house (house of representatives)
speaker of the house
leader of the executive branch
president
leader of the judicial branch
chief justice
number of senates
2 per state
number of representatives
435
number of cabinet officials
15
number of justices
9
election/appointment for senate
direct election
election/appointment for house of representatives
direct election
election/appointment for president
electoral college
election/appointment for cabinet officials
appointed by the president with congressional approval
election/appointment for justices
appointed by the president, confirmed by the senate
age requirement for cabinet officials
no age requirement
age requirement for justices
no age requirement
term of office for cabinet officials
no term of office (tends to change with political party)
what is the title of a supreme court judge
justice
what is the highest court in the land
supreme court
how does one get to be a member of the cabinet
president
remove judges from office
L over J
veto bills
E over L
appoint judges
E over J
override veto
L over E
call special sessions
E over L
control appropriations
L over E
fail to enforce a court order
E over J
declare a law unconstitutional
J over L
grant a reprieve
E over J
replace some existing courts
L over J
set free a person being held by the FBI
E over J
propose an amendment
E over L
confirm appointments
L over E
ratify treaties
L over E
declare the president’s actions unconstitutional
J over E
preamble
statement at the beginning of an official document
legislative
having to do with law making
term of office
the limited amount of time an elected official serves
electors
political party members from a state that formally elects the president
vacancy
an open seat in the house of congress
quorum
the minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action
congressional record
official statements published daily by the government printing office (meeting minutes of congress)
adjourn
to formally end a meeting; dismiss
immunity
freedom from persecution
revenue
money raised by the government through taxes
veto
rejection of a proposed law
pocket veto
a bill on the desk of the president for 10 days that has not been signed
bill
proposed law
commerce
trade
naturalization
the legal process by which a person is granted citizenship
copyrights
formal document that protects an author’s words; give the author an exclusive right to the words for a specific period of time
patents
formal document that permits an inventor to manufacture and sell the product for a specific amount of time
militia
citizens trained as soldiers; national guard
appropriation
official approval by govt spending
titles of nobility
formal declaration of status such as duke, duchess, and earl
executive
having to do with the enforcement of laws
oath of office
official affirmation of dedication to a public office
judicial
having to do with the interpretation of laws
common law
laws made by judges in process of resolving individual cases
statute law
laws that are written down or formally on record
original jurisdiction
the authority of a trial court (court that originally heard a case)
appellate jurisdiction
the authority of a court to hear a case that is appealed by a lower court (a higher court can hear a case on appeal from a lower court)
extradition
an “accused” person is returned to state where crime occurred
amendments
changes or additions to the constitution
supremacy clause
established the constitution as the highest law of the US
