Constitution Flashcards
What is Rule of Law?
The idea that the government is subject to, not above the law
What is Judicial review?
Principle of the Constitution : The courts (judicial branch) can determine whether what the government is doing is constitutional
What does ratification mean?
Formal approval of something
What is an Informal Amendment?
A day-to-day change to the Constitution, subject to change, that does not change its wording
What is an Executive agreement?
A pact the President makes with the head of another country
What is Marbury v. Madison?
The court case that established Judicial Review
What are the 5 ways an informal change to the Constitution can be made? (How are informal amendments made?)
- Basic Legislation: Laws passed by Congress
- Executive Action: Powers granted the president
- Court Decisions: the nation’s courts determine the constitutionality of cases
- Party Practice: ideas brought forth by the political parties
- Custom: unwritten tradition
Four methods of formal amendment
- Proposed by Congress by a 2/3 vote in both houses, then Ratified by 3/4 of State legislatures
- Proposed by Congress by a 2/3 vote in both houses, then Ratified by conventions in 3/4 of the States
- Proposed at a National convention called by Congress when requested by 2/3 State Legislature, then Ratified by 3/4 of State legislatures
- Proposed at a National convention called by Congress when requested by 2/3 State Legislature, then Ratified by conventions in 3/4 of the States
What are the 6 basic principles the Constitution is built around?
- Popular sovereignty – People are the source of its power
- Limited government – Government is not all powerful
- Separation of powers – Government power separated into three branches
- Checks and balances – each of the three branches can check and restrain each other
- Judicial review – The courts (judicial branch) can rule whether what the government is doing is according to the Constitution
- Federalism – division of power between the Federal/National government and the state government
What is one check for the Legislative branch?
President can veto laws made by Congress
What is one check for the Executive branch?
Congress can override a President’s veto
What is one check for the Judicial branch?
The President nominates members of the Supreme Court, and Congress confirms them
What are the 7 articles of the Constitution?
Article 1: Creates the legislative branch
Article 2: Executive branch
Article 3: Judicial branch
Article 4: Relationship between states and federal government
Article 5: Amending the Constitution
Article 6: Supremacy of national law
Article 7: How the constitution was ratified
11.
Immunity of states to certain lawsuits
12.
Changes in how president/vice president are chosen
13.
Abolished Slavery
14.
Every person born in USA is a US citizen with equal protection under the law (to incorporate former slaves)
15.
No denial of the right to vote (gave right to vote to African Americans)
16.
Federal income tax
17.
Senators elected by popular vote
18.
Prohibition of Alcohol – “noble experiment”
19.
Women’s suffrage (right to vote)
20.
Date changes in congressional and presidential terms (from March to January)
21.
Repeal of prohibition (18th amendment
