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8th Grade Social Studies > Constitution > Flashcards

Constitution Flashcards

1
Q

The Constitution has lasted for over 200 years due to what?

A

Its framework and flexibility

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2
Q

Why does our government divide the power among the 3 branches(separation of powers)?

A

To prevent one single branch/group from having too much power.

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3
Q

What are the main purposes and bodies of each branch of government?

A

Legislative (Congress) - Makes/writes laws
Executive (President) - Enforces/carries out laws
Judicial (Supreme Court) - Interprets the constitution and its laws

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4
Q

What type of government is the United States?

A

Democratic Republic - Ultimate authority and power is derived form the citizens

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5
Q

A democratic republic is based on which 2 types of government?

A

Democracy - the government is chosen directly by the people (elections)
Republic - Government authority is derived through the will of the people (representatives)

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6
Q

Because the U.S. Is a democratic republic, the government is chosen through _____

A

Democratic elections

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7
Q

Name the 5 duties of the legislative branch (congress)

A
  1. Makes/writes laws
  2. Confirms presidential appointments
  3. Approves treaties
  4. Grants money
  5. Declares war
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8
Q

Name the 6 duties of the executive branch (President).

A
  1. Proposes laws (but can’t write them)
  2. Administers (enforces) laws
  3. Commands armed forces (the president is the commander in chief)
  4. Appoints ambassadors (including judges to the supreme court)
  5. Conducts foreign policy
  6. Makes treaties (but can’t put them into effect)
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9
Q

Name the 2 duties of the judicial branch (Supreme Court).

A
  1. Interprets the constitution and other laws

2. Decides whether something is Constitutional

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10
Q

What two groups is the legislative branch divided into? Explain how both groups choose the number of people per state.

A

House of Representatives - Number of representatives based on state population
Senate - Based on equality - each state receives 2 senators

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11
Q

The Constitution states that congress must meet at least _____ time(s) each year

A

1

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12
Q

A new session (meeting) of congress starts every year on _____

A

January 3rd

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13
Q

What qualifications are required to become a representative? (3 things)

A
  1. U.S. Citizen 9 years prior to running to become a representative
  2. At least 25 years old
  3. Must live in the state elected
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14
Q

The Constitution states that each state would receive 1 representative for every _____ people. However, in _____, the total number of representatives became fixed at _____.

A

30,000
1911
435

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15
Q

A representative serves a _____ year term. Why?

A

2 - Representatives are closer to the people, so they are elected very often. Voters decide on who is doing the best job to represent them.

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16
Q

What is the leader of the House of Representatives called? How is he chosen?

A

The Speaker of the House - the majority party of the house selects one person to lead them.

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17
Q

Who is the current Speaker of the House?

A

Paul Ryan

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18
Q

What is the leader of the minority parties of the House of Representatives called? How is he/she chosen?

A

The Minority Leader of the House - the majority party of the minority parties chosen one person to lead them.

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19
Q

Who is the current Minority Leader?

A

Nancy Pelosi

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20
Q

How much money do representatives and senators make per year?

A

$174,000

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21
Q

How many senators are chosen per state?

A

2

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22
Q

Who are Tennessee’s 2 senators?

A

Bob Corker

Lamar Alexander

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23
Q

Senators serve a _____ year term.

A

6

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24
Q

What qualifications are required to become a senator? (3 things)

A
  1. At least 30 years old
  2. Lives in state elected
  3. U.S. Citizen for 9 years prior to running for senate
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25
Q

What is the leader of the senate called?

A

The Vice President

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26
Q

Who is the current Vice President/Leader of the Senate?

A

Joe Biden

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27
Q

When the Vice President (leader of the senate) is not able to attend a meeting, who leads the senate?

A

The President Pro Tempore

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28
Q

Who is the current President Pro Tempore?

A

Orrin Hatch

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29
Q

_____ total senators + _____ total representatives + _____ electors for the District of Colombia given by the _____ amendment = _____ total electors who vote for president.

A

100
435
3
538

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30
Q

In order to win presidency, a candidate must receive _____ electoral votes (it is the majority of _____)

A

270

538

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31
Q

Define Impeachment

A

A formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity and the outcome of which can lead to the removal fo that official from office or other punishment.

32
Q

If an official is impeached, is he/she removed from office?

A

No; a trial must be held to determine whether they are guilty.

33
Q

Name the 2(3) U.S. presidents who have been impeached.

A

Bill Clinton, Andrew Johnson, and Richard Nixon would’ve been impeached had he not resigned

34
Q

Who has the power to impeach an official?

A

The House of Representatives

35
Q

If the _____ impeaches someone, then the _____ determines whether there is enough evidence to hold a trial. If so, a trial is held in the _____ where _____ serve as jurors. If the official is proven guilty, then he/she is _____

A 
House of Representatives 
Senate
Senate
Senators
Removed from office/other form of punishment
36
Q

What is the Elastic Clause?

A

A clause that provides flexibility for the government to deal with certain situations and gives congress the ability to stretch its delegated powers to deal with new and unexpected issues.

37
Q

The federal government has used the Elastic Clause to provide _____ such as _____. An example of this is the _____

A

Public services
Funding for the arts + humanities
Louisiana purchase

38
Q

The Elastic Clause allows Congress to make decisions even if what?

A

The Constitution doesn’t necessarily state that it has the power to do that.

39
Q

What its the head of the executive branch called?

A

The president

40
Q

What qualifications are necessary to become a president? (3 things)

A
  1. Natural born U.S. Citizen
  2. At least 35 years old
  3. Lived in the U.S. For at least 14 years prior to being president
41
Q

The President serves a _____ year term.

A

4

42
Q

The president earns _____ each year

A

$400,000

43
Q

What are the powers of the president? (4 things)

A
  1. The president is the commander in chief (can command armed forces)
  2. Vacancies (Fills in vacant positions)
  3. Can be impeached if accused of treason, bribery, high crimes, and misdemeanor crimes.
  4. Makes treaties and appointments
44
Q

If the president dies or is removed from office, the the _____ takes over. If he dies, the the _____ assumes presidency, and if he dies, the the _____ will hold power.

A

Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro Tempore

45
Q

Before officially becoming president, he/she must take _____.

A

The oath of office

46
Q

The president appoints a _____ to advise him and help him enforce laws

A

Cabinet

47
Q

What are the responsibilities of the Judicial Branch? (4 things)

A
  1. Interprets laws
  2. Determines whether laws are unconstitutional
  3. Oversees the court system
  4. Explains the meaning of the Constitution and laws passed by congress.
48
Q

What is the highest court in the Judicial Branch? No other court can overrule its decisions.

A

The Supreme Court

49
Q

The Constitution states that all trials…

A

Must be held in front of a jury

50
Q

The Marbury vs. Madison case provides _____

A

The power of judicial review case

51
Q

There are _____ supreme court justices (judges) in the supreme court

A

9

52
Q

Supreme court justices are nominated by the _____ and then approved by the _____

A

President

Senate

53
Q

How many years does a supreme court justice serve in one term?

A

There are no term limits on supreme court justices (they serve until they die or retire)

54
Q

A person cannot be tried for treason unless there are _____ eyewitnesses.

A

2

55
Q

What is an amendment?

A

The correcting or changing of the Constitution.

56
Q

Either _____ or _____ can propose an amendment.

A

2/3 of both houses in Congress

2/3 of the states requesting a convention to propose an amendment

57
Q

Either _____ or _____ can ratify an amendment.

A

3/4 of state legislatures

3/4 of state ratification

58
Q

The framers of the Constitution wanted to create a government powerful enough to _____ and _____. In order to do so, they set up a _____

A

Defend the county against its enemies
Protect the rights of citizens
Federal system of government

59
Q

What is a federal system of government?

A

A system of government that divides powers between federal and state government

60
Q

The powers given to the national government are called _____. What are they? (7)

A

Delegate powers

  1. Declare war
  2. Create and maintain armed forces
  3. Establish foreign policy
  4. Regulate interstate and foreign trade
  5. Establish a postal office
  6. Make copyright and patent laws
  7. Coin money
61
Q

Powers kept by the states are called _____ Name them (6)

A

Reserved powers

  1. Establish local governments
  2. Establish and maintain schools
  3. Regulate trade within the states
  4. Conduct elections
  5. Provide for public safety
  6. Make and regulate marriage laws
62
Q

The powers shared by the federal and state governments are called _____. Name them. (6)

A
  1. Maintain law and order
  2. Levy (raise) taxes
  3. Borrow money
  4. Charter (establish) banks
  5. Establish courts
  6. Provide for public welfare
63
Q

The anti-federalists wanted a _____ to be added to the Constitution to ensure the liberties of citizens

A

Bill of rights

64
Q

The Bill of Rights lists what?

A

The first 10 amendments (changes) of the Constitution

65
Q

What 5 rights are protected under the first amendment?

A
  1. Freedom of assembly
  2. Freedom of speech
  3. Freedom of the press
  4. Freedom of religion
  5. The right to petition the government
66
Q

The freedom of religion allows citizens what?

A

The right to express their religion freely

67
Q

What 2 clauses were created for the freedom of religion?

A

Free Exercise Clause

Establishment Clause

68
Q

The Establishment Clause states what?

A

That the government cannot establish a particular religion

69
Q

Under the Establishment Clause, the government can (4 Things):

A
  1. Teach about religions in school
  2. Allow voluntary prayer in many examples (allow students to pray if they want)
  3. Transport students to a religious school
  4. Read the Bible for cultural or literacy content.
70
Q

Under the Establishment Clause, the government cannot (4 Things):

A
    1. Set a state religion (demonstrates separation of church and state)
      1. Order a prayer
      2. Teach religious ideas/practices
      3. Teach creationism
71
Q

The Free Exercise Clause states that citizens have the right to what?

A

Practice their religion however they want to (as long as the law is not broken)

72
Q

Under the Free Exercise Clause, a citizen can (4):

A
  1. Choose whatever religion he wants
  2. Lead a prayer (in most examples)
  3. Ask questions about religions
  4. Worship whoever he wants
73
Q

Under the Free Exercise Clause, a citizen cannot (3):

A
  1. Break the law and claim it was because of a religious belief
  2. Raise children without education
  3. Deprive children of basic needs
74
Q

The freedom of speech allows citizens what?

A

The right to express their own thoughts and opinions

75
Q

Under the freedom of speech, the individual can (5 things):

A
  1. Express any political belief
  2. Protest (without getting out of control)
  3. Say things about someone that is true but may be hurtful to he/she
  4. Burn the flaag
  5. Say things that others might disagree with

8th Grade Social Studies (27 decks)

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