chapter 3 The Constitution Flashcards
the constitution
the supreme law of the land
what is the structure of the constitution
Preamble I. Legislative Branch - write the laws II. Executive Branch -enforce the laws III. Judicial Branch - judges laws, make sure government follows IV. Relations among the states V. Amending the constitution VI. Supremacy of the constitution and oaths VII. Ratification
what are the 6 principles?
- popular sovereignty
- limited gov
- separation of powers
- checks and balances
- judicial review
- federalism
popular sovereignty
government’s power comes from the people
limited government
government’s power is not absolute
separation of powers
government’s power is divided between branches
checks and balances
each part of the government must have controls of the other parts
judicial review
the courts CAN review all government action
federalism
government’s power is shared between national and state government
Article I
Legislative Branch
Article II
Executive Branch
Article III
Judicial Branch
Article IV
Relations Among the States
Article V
Amending the Constitution
Article VI
Supremacy of the Constitution and oaths
Article VII
Ratification
What was the purpose of establishing the constitution?
- form a more perfect union
- establish justice
- ensure domestic tranquility
- provide for the common defense
- promote the general welfare
- secure the blessing
What are the qualifications for members of the HoR?
- Must be 25 years old
- An american citizen for 7 years
- Resident of the state he or she represents
what are qualifications for members of the senate?
- must be 30 years old
- must be a citizen for at least 9 years
- must live in the state elected in
What title is given to the leader of the HoR?
Speaker of the house
What title/ position does the president of the senate hold?
vice president
Where must revenue bills originate?
House of Representatives
What are some of the powers of congress?
Collect taxes
Borrow money to help gov.
Regulate foreign and interstate trade
Determine how aliens become citizens/ pass laws relating to bankruptcy
Requires the use of gauges of time, distance, weight, volume, area, and the like
Say that it is a crime to falsify coins, paper money, bonds, stamps, etc
Provide and regulate the transportation and delivery of mail
Provide copyrights and patents
Create the lower, federal courts
Prohibits acts that were committed outside of the US, and the commission inside the US of any wrong doing against a nation we are at peace with, as a federal crime
Only congress can declare war
Provide and maintain nation’s armed forces
Acquire land from the states of various federal purposes
Where is the necessary and proper clause found and why is it nicknamed the Elastic Clause?
-Congress has the power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper, which has a loose jurisdiction. Allows congress to expand its powers.
5 powers denied to congress by the constitution
- Can’t interfere with the powers of the states
- Congress can’t pass laws that make an act a crime after the act was committed
- State has power to borrow money and collect taxes
- Congress can’t pass laws that someone punish someone without a jury trial
- Congress can’t suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus
5 powers denied to the states by the constitution
- Can’t make agreements/ negotiate with other states
- Can not coin money
- Can not tax imports
- Can not keep a standing army/ navy
- Can not lay any duty of tonnage
function of the electoral college
selects the pres and vice pres
formula used to determine how many electors each state will have?
the number of representatives and senators the state has
why was clause III deleted?
replaced by the 12th ammendment, which fixed our electoral college
qualifications for president
- Natural born citizen
- Must be 35 years old
- Resident of the US for at least 14 years
5 powers or duties of the president, described in the Constitution
- Commander in Chief of Army/ Navy
- Grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the US
- Make treaties
- Appoint ambassadors, public ministers and consuls, judges of supreme court, and all other officers of the US
- Nominate, with the advice and consent of the state
what circumstances can a president be removed from office
- Treason
- Bribery
- High crimes and misdemeanor
what is the term of a federal judge
life term
Under what circumstances does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?
In all cases affecting Ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be Party