Constitution Flashcards
1
Q
I. The Preamble:
A
a. Introduction of the Constitution
2
Q
II. The Constitution is Based on Five Principles:
A
checks and balances, federalism, limited government, popular sovereignty, republicanism, and separation of powers
3
Q
- Popular Sovereignty:
A
- Government based on the consent of the people
4
Q
- Limited Government:
A
- Theory that the governments power is restricted
5
Q
- Federalism:
A
- Sharing of power between state and National government
6
Q
- Separation of Powers:
A
- Division of powers into the three branches
7
Q
- Checks and Balances:
A
- System that allows each branch to amend or veto acts of another branch so one doesn’t have too much power
8
Q
What are the three parts of the Constitution?
A
- The Preamble
- 7 Articles
- 27 Amendments
9
Q
a. Responsibility of the Legislative Branch
A
Make Laws
10
Q
b. bi-cameral means
A
Two branches
11
Q
c. House of Representatives
A
- representation based on population
12
Q
How long is a term for a member of the house?
A
2 year term (no limit)
13
Q
Qualifications to be a member of the house:
A
- U.S. citizen
- 25 Years of Age
- 7 Year resident of that district and live there
14
Q
Current number of people in the house:
A
435
15
Q
Who calls these elections?
A
- special elections
- governor of the state
16
Q
What is the head of the House called? Who is the current head?
A
- Speaker of the House
- Mike Johnson
17
Q
What is the sole power of the house?
A
impeachment: formal accusation of wrong doing
18
Q
d. Senate:
A
Representation based on the state
19
Q
How long is a senate term?
A
6 years; 1/3 elected every 2 years “continuing body”
20
Q
Senate qualifications:
A
- U.S. Citizen (1 year minimum)
- 30 years old
- 9 years citizen
21
Q
senate representation based on?
A
equal representation
22
Q
Who is the head of the senate?
A
Vice President
23
Q
When does the Vice President vote in the senate?
A
To break ties
24
Q
In the absence of the Vice President in the senate, who presided over them?
A
President pro tempore
25
Impeachment trial of President is carried out in the senate and is presided over by:
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice
26
What bills originate in the House?
Revenue/raising taxes
27
For a bill to become a law it must pass both houses by a majority vote, true or false?
TRUE
28
How many days does the president have to sign or veto a bill?
10 days
29
If a bill is rejected by the president, Congress can override a veto by what vote?
two/thirds
30
If the president holds a bill for 10 days without signing it and Congress is still in session, the bill doesn't become a law. What is this called
Pocket Veto
31
F. Powers Of Congress: What are these called?
Enumerated/delegated/expressed powers
32
What are these enumerated/delegated powers of Congress?
- laying/collecting taxes
- pay debt/borrow money
- regulate trade
- make $$$
- establish post
- declare way
33
The last clause in section 8 (18) is called the elastic clause because it allows congress to:
Stretch or expand its powers
34
G. Powers denied in the federal government (section 9)
- Habaeus Corpus can not be suspended
- No attainder or expose facto
- No titles of nobility
35
H. Powers denied to the states in section 10 of article 1:
a. can't start a treaty, alliance, or confederation
b. can’t lay imports
c. no war with other states
36
II. Article Two: The Executive Branch:
Enforce the laws
37
The executive branch is headed by who?
President and Vice President
38
Term of office for the president is how many years?
4 years
39
How is the president elected?
- through the electoral college
majority of electoral votes
40
Electoral votes from each state is determined by what?
- Two senators and # of reps
41
Qualifications to serve as President:
1. Natural born U.S. citizen
2. 35 Years Old
3. 14 Year Resident
42
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Vice President
43
If the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
The Speaker of the House
44
Powers of the President include:
1. Commander-in-chief during war
2. Make treaties with a two/thirds of senate approval
3. Pardon people convicted of federal crimes
4. Nominate federal judges/supreme court justices with senate approval
45
Duties of the President include:
1. Give a state of union address
2. Veto or sign bills
3. Represent our nation in talks with foreign countries
4. Enforce laws congress makes
46
I. Impeachment
formal accusation of wrong doing
47
If impeached the president must? What happens if he is found guilty?
Stand trial, if found guilty they will be removed from office and may not run for re-election.
48
III. ARTICLE THREE- The Judicial Branch
interpret the laws
49
how many levels of court are there?
three, supreme, court of appeals and district courts.
50
Supreme Court
the highest federal court in the United States, the only one set up by the Constitution.
51
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9 justices, headed by the Chief Justice
52
court of appeals or appelet court
reviews cases from the lower courts
53
Who appoints federal court judges?
nominated by the president and confirmed by the senate
54
What is the only crime defined in the Constitution?
treason
55
how can you be found guilty of treason?
wage war against the US or aiding US enemies
56
Judicial Review
The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional
57
Which case established judicial review?
Marbury v. Madison
58
what does article IV talk about?
how the states should get along
59
what does article V talk about?
Amending the Constitution
60
what does article VI talk about?
how federalism works
61
what does article VII talk about?
Ratification
62
What does the Constitution say is the supreme law of the land?
US or federal laws
63
Amendment 1
Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
64
Amendment 2
Right to keep and bear arms
65
Amendment 3
No housing soldiers
66
Amendment 4
Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures
67
Amendment 5
due process, double jeopardy; self incrimination
68
Amendment 6
Right to a speedy and public trial
69
Amendment 7
Right to trial by jury
70
Amendment 8
No cruel and unusual punishment
71
Amendment 9
People's rights are NOT limited to those in the Constitution.
72
Amendment 10
Any rights not given to federal government are given to the states and people.
73
Amendment 11
Individual cannot sue a state in a federal court.
74
Amendment 12
Separate ballots for President and Vice President.
75
Amendment 13
abolished slavery
76
Amendment 14
Rights of Citizens
77
Amendment 15
You cannot prevent a person from voting because of race/color
78
Amendment 16
Allows income tax
79
Amendment 18
Prohibition of alcohol
80
Amendment 19
Gave women the right to vote
81
Amendment 20
President takes office on January 20th instead of March 4th.
82
Amendment 21
Repeal of Prohibition
83
Amendment 22
President can only serve two terms.
84
Amendment 23
Washington D.C. residents can vote for president.
85
Amendment 25
Presidential succession
86
Amendment 26
Voting Age Set to 18 Years
87
which branch can punish pirates?
legislative
88
illinois senators
dick durbin and tammy duckworth
89
who prints $
legislative
90
who decides what a law means
Judicial Branch
91
enforces the law
executive
92
declares war
Legislative Branch (Congress)
93
branch that includes employees that work for the environmental protection agency:
executive branch
94
negotiates treaties with other countries
executive
95
branch that declares laws unconstitutional
judicial
96
selected by the electoral college
executive
97
Appoints Supreme Court Justices, federal judges, ambassadors, and cabinet members
executive
98
selected by popular vote
Legislative Branch
99
Approves presidential appointments
Legislative Branch
100
makes state of union speech
executive (president)
101
collects taxes
legislative
102
What is congress?
Both the house of reps AND the Senate
