chapter 2 study guide

Question 1

article six of the constitution states that the constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States shall be supreme law of the land

Answer 1

Supremacy Clause

Question 2

a bill must be introduced by a ______.

Answer 2

legislator

Question 3

Laws should be written in _______ and ________ _______.

Answer 3

clear; understandable language

Question 4

What is the difference between a bill and a statute?

Answer 4

A bill is a proposed law and a statute is a passed law.

Question 5

If a person loses a trial in the Superior Court, they can appeal their conviction to an _______.

Answer 5

Appeals Court

Question 6

Courts make law when _____

Answer 6

they decide legislative intent, interpret laws, or find the law unconstitutional.

Question 7

These make rules and regulations that carry the weight of law

Answer 7

State and Federal agencies

Question 8

New laws are made to either ______ or ______.

Answer 8

repeal older laws; simply change that law

Question 9

laws passed by the State or Federal legislatures

Answer 9

statutes

Question 10

Some of the laws that state legislatures write are:

Answer 10

criminal law, motor vehicle law, and civil law

Question 11

laws made by local/city or county legislatures

Answer 11

ordinance

Question 12

prevents a bill from being enacted into law

Answer 12

the veto power of the chief executive

Question 13

when a law is not written clearly, judges will attempt to determine the _______.

Answer 13

legislative intent

Question 14

when an appellate court issues a decision in a case and changes the interpretation of the law

Answer 14

precedent

Question 15

when state and federal laws conflict, the courts will find the state law invalid based on ______.

Answer 15

the supremacy clause

Question 16

Agencies are considered

Answer 16

hidden law makers, making rules and regulations that effect business and industry.

Question 17

This has the power to pass statues binding on the people of every state.

Answer 17

Congresss

Question 18

the supreme court can strike down a state law claiming that there was a constitutional right to die under the authority of ________.

Answer 18

the supremacy clause of the constitution

Question 19

a law stating it is a criminal violation to loiter on the corner without a good reason is an example of _______.

Answer 19

an unclear law

Question 20

a law stating it is a criminal violation to loiter on the corner without a good reason is an example of _______.

Answer 20

an unclear law

Question 21

These 2 are the supreme law of the land:

Answer 21

Ratified treaties and the U.S. Constitution

Question 22

a court made law

Answer 22

precedent

Question 23

This takes general laws written by legislatures and develop rules and regulations to make the law more specific:

Answer 23

Agencies

Question 24

All appeals courts can establish

Answer 24

precedents

Question 25

For a treaty to be passed it must be:

Answer 25

signed by the president and ratified by 2/3 of the senators present

Question 26

outlines those areas that Congress can write laws to

Answer 26

Article 1 on the Constitution

Question 27

an agreement, or contract between countries

Answer 27

treaty

Question 28

courts will not enforce

Answer 28

vague laws

Question 29

Agencies will hold ______ before proposed regulations are passed.

Answer 29

public hearings

Question 30

State laws are enforceable only in the state in which it was written

Answer 30

Jurisdiction of the Law

Question 31

The government needs an _________ _________ to get a fugitive back from another country.

Answer 31

extradition treaty

Question 32

Essay Question: Explain why a court would not enforce a law that was vague? Provide an example of such a law in your answer.

Answer 32

Law should be written in such a way that citizens know what behavior is expected of them. If a law is written so vaguely than an ordinary citizen would not be able to tell what actions are prohibited, in order to ensure fairness, courts will not enforce a vague or over broad law. Loitering laws are one example of laws that can be unconstitutionally vague.