Constitution Flashcards
What is a constitution?
a document that states the overall rights and laws of a country
Why did we need one?
Our framers didn’t want our government to end up like King george
What are the four branches of government/who leads them?
Legislative - HR + Senate
Executive - president
Judicial - supreme court = Chief justice + eight justices
What are the qualifications needed to become a Senator?
30 years old 9 years US citizen live in state that you represent term length: 6 years 100 people in all
What are the qualifications needed to become a representative of the House?
25 years old 7 years US citizen live in state term length: 2 years 435 people in all
What are the qualifications needed to become President?
35 years old
natural born US citizen
14 years lived in US
Only exception is if you were alive and citizens at the time of the adoption of the constitution
term length: 4 years, but can run again for a total of 8 years, no more than that
What are the qualifications needed to become a Justice?
Justices are hand picked by the president
What powers do the Federal/State governments have and which powers are denied to both governments?
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What are the steps taken to pass a bill?
~ bill is suggested
~ sent to house/senate
~ house (ex.) debates bill and makes changes if necessary
~ votes for bill to be sent to other house and if 2/3 way yes it is sent to other house/if not, bill is killed
~ sent to other house and they go through same process
~ if they make changes it is sent back to the other and once an agreement is come to it is sent to the pres.
~pres can either pass or veto the bill
~ if he vetos the bill congress can overrule him by getting 2/3 of the senate + HR and get the bill passed even if he didnt sing it
Name five steps to the Presidential Election:
~what is a primary election versus a presidential election
~What does it mean that the presidential candidate must win a majority of the electoral votes? What is an electoral vote? How many are there in the US?
~What if there is a tie in the election? Who decided the final vote?
1:meets qualifiations
2:announces running
3:primary election
4:campaigning
5:general el
~primary you vote for your party only pres is for all parties
~The candidate must
~electoral vote
Name at least 5 constitutional amendments. What is an amendment?
1: first amendment - freedom of speech, the press, right to peacefully assemble, right to petition
2: second amendment - right to keep and bear arms
3: third amendment - right to not have soldiers living in your house without your permission
4: fourth amendment - protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures
5: eighth amendment - right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment
6: tenth amendment - powers not given to the country are given to the states or people
What is the bill of rights?
The bill of rights is the first ten amendments in the constitution - they were the original ten amendments written by the framers
What is an elastic clause?
A clause that specifies one power of the government but does not tell them how to express this power/does not set limits to power
What is the process of Impeachment?
First, the House of Representatives brings the impeachment charges on the government official. Then, the Senate holds the trial. If two thirds of the Senate vote for conviction ( sentence for crime ). After that, if the person is found guilty, they are never allowed to hold a government position again
