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Government > Chapter 3 > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the constitution

A

Nation’s Fundamental law - “supreme law of the land,” Rules book we as a country live by

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2
Q

What is the constitution’s greatest strength?

A

Its flexibility - Ability to adapt and change over time

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3
Q

Make up - 3 parts

A
  • Introduction (preamble)
  • 7 Articles
  • 27 formal amendments
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4
Q

7 articles/chapters:

A
  • Creates the legislative branch
  • Creates the Executive branch
  • Creates the Judicial branch
  • Relationship among states and the federal government - federalism
  • Amending the Constitution
  • Supremacy Clause
  • Ratifying the Constitution
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5
Q

The Constitution is built on 6 basic principles:

A
  • Popular sovereignty
  • Limited Government
  • Separation of Powers
  • Checks and Balances
  • Judicial Review
  • Federalism
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6
Q

Popular sovereignty

A

people are the source of its power “We the people…”

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7
Q

Limited government

A

government is not all powerful

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8
Q

what is our limited government based on?

A

The rule of law

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9
Q

the rule of law:

A

that everyone is subject to and never above the law including the government

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10
Q

Separation of Powers

A

The power that is granted to the government is shared by 3 branches

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11
Q

Checks and Balances

A

Each branch is subject to restraints and checks of the other two

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12
Q

judicial review

A

power of the courts to determine whether what the government is doing is according to the Constitution

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13
Q

Federalism

A

division of power between the Federal/National government and the local/state governments

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14
Q

Process of constitutional change: 2 ways

A
  • Formal amendment
  • Informal amendment
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15
Q

Formal Amendment:

A

change in the written wording of the constitution (permanent)

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16
Q

What must happen always for a formal amendment to be adopted?

A
  1. Proposed
  2. Ratified
  3. Always proposed on a national level (2/3 majority)
  4. always ratified on a state level (3/4 majority)
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17
Q

Why is the process of ratifying a formal amendment so difficult

A

because if it wasn’t then it would happen all the time

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18
Q

what are the 11th-27th amendments?

A

11th: Immunity of states to certain lawsuits
12th amendment: Changes in how president/vice president are chosen
13th amendment: abolished slavery
14th amendment: states every person born in USA is a US citizen with equal protection under the law (to incorporate former slaves)
15th amendment: no denial of the right to vote - gave right to vote to African Americans
13th 14th and 15th - Civil War amendments
16th amendment: Federal income tax
17th amendment: popular (people) election of senators
18th amendment: prohibition of alcohol - “noble experiment”
19th amendment: women’s suffrage (right to vote)
20th amendment: date changes in congressional and presidential terms (from march to january)
21st amendment: repeal of prohibition (only amendment repealed)
22nd amendment: Presidential term limits (2)
23rd amendment: D.C. gets votes in the Electoral College
24th amendment: ban on poll taxes
25th amendment: sets up presidential succession and disability
26th amendment: 18 year olds get voting rights
27th amendment: congressional pay change (one of the original bill of rights proposed by Madison in 1789)

19
Q

11th amendment

A

immunity of states to certain lawsuits

20
Q

12th amendment:

A

Changes in how president/vice president are chosen

21
Q

13th amendment:

A

abolished slavery

22
Q

14th amendment:

A

states every person born in USA is a US citizen with equal protection under the law (to incorporate former slaves)

23
Q

15th amendment

A

no denial of the right to vote - gave right to vote to African American

24
Q

13th 14th and 15th

A

Civil War amendments

25
Q

16th amendment

A

Federal income tax

26
Q

17th amendment:

A

popular (people) election of senators

27
Q

18th amendment:

A

prohibition of alcohol - “noble experiment”

28
Q

19th amendment:

A

women’s suffrage (right to vote)

29
Q

20th amendment:

A

date changes in congressional and presidential terms (from march to january)

30
Q

21st amendment:

A

repeal of prohibition (only amendment repealed)

31
Q

22nd amendment:

A

Presidential term limits (2)

32
Q

23rd amendment:

A

D.C. gets votes in the Electoral College

33
Q

24th amendment:

A

ban on poll taxes

34
Q

25th amendment:

A

sets up presidential succession and disability

35
Q

26th amendment:

A

18 year olds get voting rights

36
Q

27th amendment:

A

congressional pay change (one of the original bill of rights proposed by Madison in 1789)

37
Q

Informal amendments:

A

Day to day changes made over time (not written) - mostly temporary

38
Q

Five basic ways to bring about informal amendments:

A
  • Basic Legislation
  • Executive Action
  • Courts decisions
  • Party Practice
  • Custom
39
Q

Basic Legislation:

A

Everytime Congress passes a law

40
Q

Executive Action:

A

Powers granted to the president (executives’ agreements)

41
Q

Courts decisions:

A

the nations courts determine the constitutionality of cases

42
Q

Party Practice:

A

ideas brought forth by political parties

43
Q

Custom:

A

unwritten traditions

44
Q

only amendment to be repealed:

A

21st amendment repealed the 18th

Government (9 decks)

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