Citizen Handbook Flashcards
What is republicanism?
Citizens elect representatives to carry out their will.
What is federalism?
Establishes a division of power between national (federal) government and state governments.
What are individual rights?
They are guaranteed to citizens and are to be protected by the government.
How did the Judeo Christian tradition influence the United States?
The Judeo-Christian tradition had an influence on America such as ideas about justice, morality, and equality.
How did the Greek government influence the United States?
The Greek government influenced with direct democracy. Democracy gave the people the power to elect to they wanted as a representative.
How did the Roman government influence United States?
The Roman government influence the United States with the Republic. Republic is when a representative is elected by citizens
What is the Magna Carta?
The Magna Carta is a document which limited the power of a leader. It influenced by limiting the power of a leader, without it the president or the leader would have complete authority over everybody.
What is the English Parliament?
Parliament approves laws so the leader can’t make unreasonable laws.
What is the English Bill of Rights?
The Bill of Rights is a list of rights that the government would protect.
What is Enlightenment?
Being enlightened is being free from superstitions and ignorance of the Middle Ages. Benjamin Franklin was considered the best example of enlightenment.
What did John Locke believe?
John Locke believe that everyone had national rights. Natural rights are rights that everyone is given to at birth, and everyone has equal rights.
What did Baron de Montesquieu do?
Emineme Montesquieu influenced the United States by suggesting the separation of powers. The separation of powers are having the government divided into three groups; legislative, executive, and judicial.
What is the declaration of independence?
Take Declaration of Independence is a document that has a list of ideas and logics that freed the US from Great Britain.
What is a preamble?
Preamble is a formal introduction.
What is to ratify?
Ratify fight is to formally approve.
What does the legislative branch do?
It makes laws
What does the executive branch do?
It make sure laws are carried out
What does the judicial branch do?
Make sure laws are fair
What are the relations among the states?
It establishes the importance of the states to recognize and support the laws and policies of the other states.
What are the provisions for amendment?
Establishes the procedure by which the constitution may be revised (amendments).
What is the supremacy of national laws?
It explains that the constitution is more powerful than any state or local law (supremacy clause).
How many of the 13 states have to agree on a law for it to be approved?
There has to be nine of the 13 states for the laws to be ratified.
What is to impeach?
Impeach is to put on trial.
Congress it is divided into what two houses?
It is divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate.
What is a bill?
Bill is proposing laws.
What is veto?
It is to reject.
Who can override a veto?
Congress has the power.
How can a law become a law without the president signature?
It can become a law if two thirds majority votes for the bill.
Which of the three branches of government enforce laws?
The executive branch.
What is to appeal?
Appeal is often used in court, if a party disagrees with the decision they can appeal it. Appealing is to ask for the decision to be reviewed by a higher court.
What is jurisdiction?
Is to have power to hear and decide cases.
What two routes are there of the United States Supreme Court?
There is the state route and the Federal route.
What is article 3?
The judicial branch.
Fill in the blank: the ____ Supreme Court justices.
The nine Supreme Court justices
What are the nine Supreme Court justices responsible for?
They are responsible for interpreting and upholding the Constitution.
Who do the Supreme Court mainly hear cases from?
They hear from lower courts.
What to cases go directly to the Supreme Court?
Cases involve states and ambassadors.
What separated people based on their race?
Segregation
what year did the Supreme Court rule that segregation is unconstitutional?
In 1954, it was in the case of Brown versus the Board of education(Topeka,Kansas)
Even if a decision is unpopular, what does the Supreme Court do?
The Supreme Court make sure that people’s rights are protected even when it’s not popular
What is article 2?
Executive branch
The president is not directly elected by citizens, but by what?
The president is elected by electoral college
Who can the president select?
The president can select the Supreme Court ,justices and cabinet members and ambassadors but the Senate must approve.
Who writes the treaties? And who must approve it or reject it?
President writes the treaties but the Senate must approve or reject it.
What is the president in war?
The president is commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces but only Congress can declare war.
What is article one?
Is legislative branch.
What is article 4?
Relations among the states
What is article 5?
Provisions for amendment.
What is article 6?
Is national debts, supremacy of national law, oath
What is Article 7
Ratification of constitution.
What clause is often called the necessary and proper clause?
The elastic clause
What is the length of a term of office for members of the house of reps?
2 years. Art.1 Sec2.1
How old must one be to be elected to the house of reps?
25 years old Art.1 Sec 2.2
Who has the power to propose laws?
House of Reps
Who has the sole power of impeachment?
House of reps
What is the length of a term of office for a member of the US senate?
6 years
What does the elastic clause allow?
It allows Congress to stretch powers
Who approves the presidential appointments?
Congress
How old must want me to be elected to the Senate?
30 years old
Who has the sole power to try on impeachments?
The Senate
Who has the power declare war?
Congress
What are the powers of the president?
- Propose laws
- veto bills
- Serve as commander in chief of Armed Forces
- Negotiate foreign treaties
- Appoint federal judges, ambassadors and other high officials. 6. Grant pardons to federal offenders
What is the length of term of office for the justices of the U. S. Supreme Court?
For life
Who has the power to review all laws and treaties of the United States?
Federal courts
Who has the power to settle disputes between different states?
Federal court
Who presides over a impeachment trial of the president?
Chief justice of Supreme Court
In the first amendment, what does it mean for freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition?
Freedom of religion means there is a law to allow any religion in the US. Freedom of speech is to see what you want freedom of the press is news and social media. Freedom of assembly is to protest/gathering. Freedom of petition is to influence something
In the second amendment, what is bearing arms?
Every citizen is allowed to have guns and won’t be taken away
In the third amendment, quartering of troops, what does it mean?
Citizens will not have to house soldiers during trial of peace. But if they have to during war, the owner will be told and ask
In the fourth amendment, searches and seizures, what does it mean?
There won’t be any unnecessary searches Apperson’s house. And if there is the search her must-have a warrant
In the Fifth Amendment, criminal proceedings: due process &eminent domain, what is it?
Due process means no one will be punished twice for the same crime. Eminent domain means that it’s better for everyone
Six amendment-criminal proceedings: what is criminal proceedings ?
To trial by jury, confine your accusers, and to having a Attorney to help you in court
Seventh amendment-civil trials?
It means you have a right to a jury to determine the facts if the case is more than $75,000. If not the judge will be trick will determine the case before it was more than $20.also when a person sues another person
8th amendment-punishments for crimes?
Can’t be forced to pay excessive fines or punished excessively. If being bailed out and must be reasonable. No cool or unusual punishments
9th
Amendment-unenumerated rights?
Alright given here do not take away any others. Have more rights than the ones listed
10th amendment-power reserved to the states?
Any power not given to a government by the Constitution goes to the states
Civil rights amendments, what is the 13th amendment?
Freed slaves and banned slavery
The civil rights amendments14th amendment?
Guarantee citizenship to those born in the US; due process and equal protection of laws
The civil rights amendments-15th amendment?
Extends the right to black males to vote
The civil rights amendments-19 amendment?
Voting rights extended to woman
The civil rights amendments-26th amendment?
Voting age lowered 21 to 18
Presidential terms-22nd amendment?
Limits the president to two terms
What is popular sovereignty?
Asserts that the people are the ultimate source of authority in a government
What are checks and balances?
Each branch of the government has the power to limit actions of the other two
What is the First Amendment?
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition
What is the second amendment?
Bearing arms
What is the third amendment?
Quartering of troops
What is the fourth amendment?
Searches and seizures
What is the Fifth Amendment?
Criminal proceeding: due process; eminent domain’s
What is the sixth amendment?
Criminal proceedings
What is the seventh amendment?
Civil trials
What is Eighth amendment?
Punishment for crime
What is the ninth amendment?
Unenumerated rights
What is the 10th amendment?
The power reserved to the states
What is the 13th amendment?
Freed slaves and banned slavery
What is the 14th amendment?
They guarantee citizenship to those born in the US
What is the 15 amendment?
Extends the right to vote for blackmails
What is the 19th amendment?
Voting rights extended to women
What is the 26th amendment?
Voting age lowered from 21 to 18
what is the 22nd amendment?
Limits president to do terms
What is judicial review?
Supreme Court has a right to decide whether acts of the Congress are constitutional or not
What are checks and balances?
Principles of the US Constitution gives each branch of government the power to check or limit the actions of the others ( other branches )
What are the natural rights?
Life liberty and property
What are the shared powers of the national and state?
Provide public welfare, administer criminal justice, charter banks, raise taxes, borrow money
Who does the local government hire?
They hire people who are closer to the people, such as police officers ,firefighters ,garbage collectors
What does the local governments spend money on?
They spend money and Counties cities and towns
Who provides laws about marriage and divorce?
State Government
Who provides public safety?
State Government
Who makes local governments?
State government
Who regulates the trade with in the state?
Stay Government
Who conducts elections?
State Government
Who regulates foreign and interstate trades?
National government
Who sets weights and measures?
National government
Who can declare war, and who maintains Armed Forces?
National government
Who makes copyright and patent laws?
National
Who makes postal offices? ( There are no Postal Service is named after a state)
National
Who makes foreign policies?
National
Who creates federal courts?
National
Who coins money?
National
Who admits new states?
National
In the federal system, why was a constitution written question
To strengthen the national government
Responsibilities and powers of the federal government are given to it by…?
The constitution
Government is prevented from establishing a national religion by what amendment?
The first. Amendment
The government has the right to seize property if…
The owner is paid a fair compensation (price for something), under, the provision of the general public will benefit from the seizure (eminent domain), Fifth Amendment
When the president is impeached, he has been formally charged by Who?
The House of reps
What is a citizen?
Someone who has all the rights and privileges of a particular nation
What is naturalization?
It’s a process of becoming a citizen
What’s a interest group?
The organization represents the concerns of a particular group; the NRA, American Association of Retired Persons
