Branches of Government Flashcards
Name the three brances of government in order
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
What is the Legislative Branch?
Bicameral Congress as stated in Article I of the Constitution
Requirements to serve in the House
25 years old, 7 years a citizen, legal resident of state representing, 2 year term
Who is the Speaker of the House?
Leader of the political party that has the majority for that term
Requirements to serve in the Senate
30 years old, 9 years a citizen, legal resident of state representing, 6 year term
Who is the president of the Senate?
the vice president, only votes in the event of a tie
Who is the majority leader?
considered most poweral member of the Senate and does not have to share party of president
Number of members in the Senate
100, 2 from each state regardless of size
Number of members of the House
435 members currently, based on state population
What’s the Reapportionment Act of 1929?
Act that fixed the number of House representatives to 435
Least number of representatives each state must have and which states are these?
1, Vermont, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska
How did the 17th Amendment change the bicameral process?
Senators were chosen by state legislatures, and the Amendment gave the vote to the people
Why do we have a bicameral Congress?
The Virginia Plan (larger states) and the New Jersey Plan (smaller states) were in conflict, so Conneticut offered the Great Compromise: bicameral Congress
What’s the Great Compromise?
A way to offer both equal and proportional represention: AKA Connecticut Compromise
Which one is the upper house?
Senate
Which one is the lower house?
House
Why are the houses divided and given different powers?
Framers wanted branches to limit and check each others’ power
What’s the main purpose of Congress?
to make and pass laws
Main powers of the House of Representatives?
- impeach President and other officials 2. decide presidental elections if no majority of electoral college 3. raise taxes
Main powers of the Senate?
- hold impeachment trials 2. ratify teaties with a 2/3 vote 3. confirm appointment of executive officers
Who presides over an impeachment trial?
Vice President if its not the President being impeached, chief justice of the supreme court
What is the Power of the Purse?
the House’s ability to rasie taxes, because they more closely represent the people who vote them in
Name the three brances of government in order
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Why does the Legislative Branch hold the most power in terms of checks?
The framers feared an executive holding too much power like King George III
How are bills passed?
- introduce in either house, except taxes 2. sent to committee 3. sent to subcommittee 4. back to full committee 5. if approved, then over to the other house 6. conferance committee 7. president signs or vetoes
How does debate differ between the two chambers?
unlimited debate in Senate b/c of size, filibuster allowed, limited dabate in the House b/c of size
What is a cloture?
unlimited debate in Senate b/c of size, filibuster allowed, limited dabate in the House b/c of size
How is Congress’s work organized?
Congress uses a committee system
What does a conference committee do?
irons out differences between House and Senate bills before sent to President
What does the Rules Committee do?
weeds out bills that are unworthy of being proposed to the full chamber
Requirements to serve as the President
35 years old, natural citizen, reside in US for 14 years
How many members of the electoral college?
538, each state has as many members of congress as it does electoral votes, plus 3 for DC
What does the Presidential Succession Act of 1967 state?
Speaker of the House is next in line for President after VP
What does the 25th Amendment state about the VP?
VP can now elect a replacement VP, used to be left vacant, VP can serve as President if he becomes disabled
What’s the “fourth branch” of government?
the Federal Bureaucracy, independent agencies that protect consumers and regulate industries
Which branch can propose amendments?
legislative branch by 2/3 vote
Judiciary Act of 1789?
established the Supreme Court and 13 district courts based on the states of the time
What types of courts do we have?
Supreme, federal District Courts, Courts of Appeal, and special courts
Number of Supreme Court Justices?
1 Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices, serve for life, used to be 6 justices and grew as the US expanded
How many votes for Supreme Court to consider a case?
4 justices must agree
What’s a writ of certiorari?
orders calling up the records from lower courts
What’s precedent?
previous rulings made in similar cases
What’s a majority opinion?
written during a split decision, a justice on the majority witll write an argument for their reasoning
Whats a concurring opinion?
when a justice agrees with the majority but bases that argument on a different principle, he/she will write an argument for that reasoning
What’s a dissenting opinion?
written during a split decision, a justice on the minority will air their conflicting arguments
Some examples of special courts?
Tax, Military, International Trade, Customs, Claims (person vs government)
How did the Supreme Court change in 1925?
Supreme Court started enforcing the Bill of Rights and confromed to the federal standard of civil rights
What does de jure mean?
legally enforced
What does de facto mean?
exists in fact
What is a whip in Congress?
an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to enforce discipline and threaten members to vote and act accordingly
