Constitution S.S Chp. 6 Flashcards
What is the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.
3 branches of government and their roles
The legislative branch: House of Representatives and Senate, Senate’s powers are revenue, regulatory, war, and general welfare.
The executive branch: The president. He makes sure that the laws and other government policies passed by the legislative branch are followed.
The judicial branch: to interpret the law. They decide how the law is applied.
The Supremacy Clause
The clause makes the Constitution and federal laws and treaties supreme even over state laws and constitutions. It also makes all state officials swear to obey the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
How are states represented in the House and in the Senate? Equally? Proportionally?
In the Senate each state is represented by 2 senators, regardless of population. In the House of Representatives the states are represented based on population, states with more population will have more representatives and states with lower populations will have less representatives.
The title of the leader for each house of Congress, how do they attain that position?
In the House of Representatives, the leader is called the “Speaker”. The Speaker is a representative that is nominated by their political party, then the House votes, the candidate with the most votes wins. In the Senate the leader is called the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate is the vice president.
What it means to amend the constitution, describe one of the ways it can be done
The amending process allows for changes to the Constitution. One of the ways it can be amended is by the states themselves proposing amendments. If two-thirds of the state legislatures request amendments, Congress must call a constitutional convention to propose the amendments. The amendments the convention proposes have to be ratified by three fourths of either the state legislatures or state conventions.
The power of the Supreme Court Justices and the length of their terms
Supreme Court justices can only solve issues if the issues are presented in a court case. They can’t choose issues they would like to discuss. They may remain in office as long as they wish unless they are impeached
Congress’s function in war, presidents function in war
Congress has the power to declare war, they raise armies and funds. The president has command of the military forces (land, sea, and air) of the United States, both in peace and wartime.
What is a bill, what kinds are there, how does it, can it become a law
A bill is a proposed law. There are two sorts of bills: bills to raise revenue (taxes) and bills for other purposes (such as building a highway, regulating business activities, or declaring something a crime). Once a bill is approved by one house of Congress, it must be approved by the other. After being approved by both houses it is sent to the president they can either sign it or veto it. If he signs the bill it will become a law, if he vetoes it, it will remain a bill. A presidential veto does not absolutely mean the bill won’t become a law, it will just be much more difficult as it can become a law if two-thirds of the members of each house vote to make it a law.
