American goverment mid term worksheet 2 Flashcards
A constitution is
a nation’s basic law. it creates political institution, allocate power within government, and often provides
guarentees to citizens. A constitution is also an unwritten accumulation of traditions and precedenets that have established acceptable means of governing
What happened on juy 4, 1776
a small group of men met in philadalphis and passed a resolution which was The declaration of independence
The constitution vested many powers in congress. List some of these powers
1- levy taxe. 2-pay debts. 3-borrow money. 4- coin money. 5- regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
6- establish uniform laws of banking. 7-punish piracy.8-punish countefeting. 9- create standard weights and measures. 10-establish post offices and post roads. 11- protect copyright and patent
separation of powers- the constitution creates how many branches
what are they?
3 separate branches.
1- executive(president)
2legislative(congress)
3- Judicials(the courts) supreme courts, courts of appeal
what is the system of check and balance?
features of the constitution that limits government power by require each branch to obtain the consent of the others for its actions- limiting and balancing power among the branches
what is judicial review?
the power of the court to decide whether the laws are constitutional
the members of the three branches of government are protected from removal from office by term limits. What are the term limits for each of the following:
President, federal judges, senators, members of the house of representatives
president 4 years, federal judges lifetime. senators 6 years, members of the house of representative 2 years
Who elect senators? Federal judges? members of the house of representative
state legislators elect senators, the president elects federal judges, voters elect members of the house of representative
amending the constitution- the constitituon can be amended .
An amendment to the constitution is proposed by two-third votes in each house of congress and then must be ratified by 3/4 of the state legislature
The————– is the collective name of the first ten amemdments to the constitution
The bill of right
1st amendment
freedom of speech, press, and assembly, and freedom to petition government
2nd amemdment
No government establisment of religion, freedom to excercise religion, right to bear arm
4th amendment
no unreasonable search and seizures
5th amemdment
no second persecution for the same crime. No compulsion to testify against onself. no loss of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. no taking of private property for public use without just compensation
6th amendment
right to a speedy and public trial by a local, impertial jury. right to be informed of charges agaisnt oneself. right to legal counsel, right to compel the attendanc e of a favorable witness. right to cross examine witnessed