Constitution Test Flashcards
How does the constitution divide power across different government bodies?
3 branches - legislative, judicial, and executive
Individual Rights
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views.
How do individual Rights limit the power of government?
We try to protect this condition through the articulation of rights, which are intended to prevent infringements by government, and each other.
Rule of Law
Every person is subject to the law, including lawmakers, law enforcement officials, and judges.
How does the rule of law limit the power of government?
The constitution sets limits to governmental power and establishes how leaders who overstep their power can be removed.
Popular sovereignty
The ideas that power comes from the people, so it must represent our interests. Also protects minority groups, as well as checking “public opinion”.
How does popular sovereignty limit the power of government?
This concept bestows upon citizens a responsibility to be informed and act out of a sense of community.
Separation of powers or Checks and balances
We attempt to limit government power by dividing the powers of the government into three “branches” and giving them a variety of powers over each other so they can “check” each other.
How do checks and balances limit the power of government?
Ensures that any one person or group doesn’t stray away from their powers or duties.
Independent Judiciary
The judicial branch is established as an independent entity, free of pressures and influences from the other two branches and other self-interests.
How does independent Judiciary limit the power of government?
The supreme court (SCOTUS) is the highest authority in the federal court system.
Federalism
Power is divided between the central government and individual states and local governments.
How does federalism limit the power of government?
They established the constitution with a clear division of powers between the levels of government. This kept from the federal government from taking too much power away from the states.
What can executive branch do?
- Appoints judges to the Judicial branch
- Can veto bills passed by the legislative branch
- Can pardon individuals
- Enforces laws
What can Judicial branch do?
- Can declare laws and executive orders to be unconstitutional
- Interpret laws
What can Legislative branch do?
- Must approved federal judges
- Must approve members of the Presidential cabinet
- Must approve any treaties
- Can amend the constitution
- Can override Presidential vetoes of bills
- Can impeach members of the executive and Judicial branches
- Makes laws
What are the powers of the state government?
professional licensure, inheritance laws (non-tax), establish local governments, regulate business within a state, assuming powers not granted in the Constitution, moral laws
What are the powers of the national government?
declare war, mail delivery, coin money, maintain public lands, patents, regulate international & interstate trade, admit new states, foreign policy
What are shared powers between the state and federal government?
collect taxes, maintain law & order, marriage laws, borrow money, common good & health, public welfare, punish criminal, maintain schools
What are the requirements a person must meet in order to vote in a general election in Illinois?
being a citizen, be a resident for at least 30 days before, 18 years old, not serving a sentence, ONLY claim the right to vote in the state of Illinois
What is a primary election?
picking the candidate you want to represent the party
What is a general election?
Picking the winner of the 2 candidates
What is a midterm election?
Election halfway between presidential elections
What is the total number of electors in the Electoral college?
538 electors
what is the number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency?
at least 270 electors - more than half
What is a third party?
A smaller party other than democrats and republicans - don’t do as well as other parties
How many years can a member of the U.S. Senate serve in one term?
2 years
How many years can a member of the U.S. House of Representatives serve in one term?
6 years
What are the qualifications to be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives?
At least 25, U.S. citizen for 7 years, live in the state elected from
What are the qualifications to be a member of the U.S. Senate?
30 years, U.S. citizen for 9 years, live in state elected from
Powers of the House of Representatives
All revenue bills must originate in the house, focuses on tax and revenue policy
Powers of the Senate
Provides advice and consent to treaties or foreign policy, approves of presidential appointments (cabinet, federal judges), focuses on foreign policy
2 advantages of being the majority in the House of Representatives or Senate
Majority party controls the agenda - gets to choose what gets debated and voted on, they also control each committee - majority party gets to pick who will be committee chair person (who controls the agenda)
What are the responsibilities of the Speaker of the House?
Preside over the house, decides which bills will be debated, decides which bills go to committees, appoints members to committees, is next in line for the presidency after the VP
What is gerrymandering?
Restricting the states borders of Congressional districts and follows census - gives the political party that has the most seats in the Legislature more power
What are expressed powers?
Powers of Congress - granted by the constitution to Congress, specifically outlined in the constitution
What are examples of expressed powers?
establish and collect taxes, borrow money, declare war
What is an example of implied powers?
creates IRS, regulate immigration, set a minimum wage, oversee workplace safety
What are implied powers?
Can be reasonably inferred from expressed powers
Why did the framers want the Judicial Branch to be independent of the other 2 branches?
They wanted to protect against political influence - protect individual rights and checks and balances.
Who is elected in a midterm election?
435 members of the House, and 1/3 of the Senate seats, as well as governors, state legislatures, and local offices
What years does the midterm occur?
2 years after each presidential election
What impact does the Electoral college and the winner-takes-all system have on voter turnout?
Big impact because if one party dominates, the voters from the other side may feel less impactful which lowers turnout
How are members of the US Senate and House of Representatives chosen?
directly elected by voters in congressional districts - each state is allocated a number of representatives based on it’s population
What is reapportionment?
Redistribution of seats in the US House of Representatives based on changes in population
Why is reapportionment done?
To ensure that the representation reflects the amount of people in the state
What is redistricting?
Dividing an area into new political or school districts
Why does redistricting happen?
after reapportionment to ensure the districts are equal in population
Who does redistricting?
state legislatures
How does the Commerce Clause result in implied powers?
Gives Congress power to regulate interstate commerce - implied prohibition of state laws and regulations that interfere with or discriminate against interstate commerce
How has Commerce Clause allowed Congress to expand its power over time?
regulates commerce with foreign nations and among several states
How does the Elastic Clause result in implied powers?
Gives Congress powers necessary and proper to execute it’s expressed powers
What is the Elastic Clause/Necessary and Proper Clause?
Grants Congress power to pass any laws considered “necessary and proper”
Example of Elastic Clause
constitution specifically allows Congress to collect taxes but does not mention the creation of a national bank
What is the 10th amendment and how do we know if a particular power belongs to the federal government or to the states?
any powers that are not specifically given to the federal government, nor withheld from the states, are reserved to those respective states, or to the people at large
What is a member’s ideology’s influence on congress?
A member will often vote on a bill based on his/her own beliefs
How do the Constituents’ wants influence Congress?
public opinion polls, phone calls, letters, emails, town hall meetings because they want to be re-elected
How does pork barrel spending/earmarks influence congress?
a member can ask for these projects to be added to other bills as amendments(earmarks), and a member may be more likely to vote for a bill if it includes money for his/her state or district
What is pork?
money approved by Congress that benefits one location
How do member’s political party influence Congress?
some “rewards” are given to loyal members, or some “punishments” are given to disloyal members
How does the President influence Congress?
they can reward a member from his party by campaigning or raising money, supporting a bill the member wants, or giving positive publicity through a photo op
How do special interest groups/lobbyists/PACs influence Congress?
Try to educate people, use ads, send mail to people in the group, raise and donate campaign money
What is a PAC?
Political Action Committee that raises campaign funds and donates them to candidates
What is the Illinois General Assembly?
Made up of the House and Senate, they enact, amend or repeal laws, passing resolutions, adopting spending bills, and examining proposed legislation
What is the process for amending the Illinois Constitution?
It must pass by a 2/3 vote in the House and Senate, and then the citizens get to vote on it for it to pass (60% must vote yes)
What is the line-item veto and how can the Governor of Illinois use it?
Allows the governor to veto specific lines/provisions at spending bills while passing the rest of the bill
What do the 50 stars on the American Flag represent?
the 50 states
What do the 13 stripes on the American Flag represent?
the 13 colonies
In what ways are we expected to respect the flag when it is displayed?
Not wear it, not let it touch the ground, not damage it, stars have to be on the left, all government buildings need one/classrooms, even or higher than other flags
