Chapter 2 - The Organization of Government

Question 1

Congress (The Legislative Branch)

Answer 1

H of R and the Senate

Question 2

The Senate

Answer 2

• 30 yrs old
• 9 yrs a citizen
• 100 senators (2 from each state)
• Term of 6 yrs.
• President = Vice President of US
• Majority leader = leader of controlling party

Question 3

Senate Committees

Answer 3

• Appropriations
• Armed Services
• Budget
• Finance
• Foreign Relations
• Homeland Security/Gov’t Affairs
• Veterans’ Affairs

Question 4

Filibuster

Answer 4

Senators keep talking to discourage voting on the bill.

Question 5

Cloture

Answer 5

3/5ths of other senators tell the person to sit down (60 votes).

Question 6

House of Representatives

Answer 6

• 25 yrs old
• 7 yrs a citizen
• According to population
• Term of 2 yrs.
• Leader = speaker of the house
• Inhabitant of state chosen
• Have a time limit when speaking

Question 7

H of R Committees

Answer 7

• Appropriations
• Armed Services
• Budget
• Education and Labor
• Foreign Affairs
• Homeland Security
• Transportation and Infrastructure
• Ways and Means

Question 8

Legislative Process

Answer 8

1. A bill is introduced to H of R and sent to subcommittees.
2. Committees have hearings and vote.
3. Moves from committees to floor of the H of R or Senate.
4. If passes at one, goes to the other.
5. The other usually changes it.
6. Goes to conference committee to reconcile differences.
7. Once an identical bill passes, goes to the President (10 days to sign).
8. If President doesn’t sign in 10 days, it becomes a law or if he vetos it, Congress can override the veto by 2/3rds vote.

Question 9

Executive Branch

Answer 9

• President
• 4 yr. term
• 35 yrs. old
• Has a cabinet and agencies

Question 10

Cabinet

Answer 10

• 15 departments

- All secretaries except for Department of Justice = Attorney General

Question 11

Agencies

Answer 11

• Specialize in a particular area of law

- Can make regulations/policies w/o going through process of making a law.

Question 12

Judicial Branch - Supreme Court

Answer 12

• Chief Justice is leader.
• 9 justices
• If I lose at appeal level, I come here, but they don’t have to accept the case.

Question 13

Judicial Branch - District Courts

Answer 13

• Initial level for a lawsuit/trial court

- at least one in each state

Question 14

Judicial Branch - Circuit Courts of Appeal

Answer 14

• 11 courts

- Come here if I lost at district court

Question 15

Writ of Certiorari

Answer 15

• Means the S.C. will hear my case.

Question 16

Personal Jurisdiction

Answer 16

• The court must have this over the defendant.

- Has this if the defendant has some level of minimum contacts with the particular state in which the court sits.

Question 17

Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Answer 17

• A court must have this.

- Can only hear specific cases dealing with the subject.

Question 18

Venue

Answer 18

If more than one court has jurisdiction over a case, then the issue becomes a question of venue. Can move case to another area.

Question 19

To have a case heard in federal courts, it must…

Answer 19

1. Involve a federal question/law

2. Diversity of Citizenship - defendants from different states than every plantiff and amount over $75000.00.

Question 20

Common Law and Precedent (stare decisis)

Answer 20

• The evolution of law through court decisions.
• Precedent = earlier court decisions have this.
• US uses this law system like England.

Question 21

Civil Law

Answer 21

The countries that give little or no weight to prior judicial decisions have adopted this.

Question 22

State vs. City

Answer 22

State Laws = statute

City Laws = Ordinances