ESS Gov Flashcards
What does the legislative branch do?
It makes laws.
The Senate consists of:
100 members; 2 from each state, so each state has an equal say.
To be a senator, you need to have:
You need to be 30 years of age + have 9 years of citizenship.
How many years is a senator’s term? Why?
Senators serve 6-year terms. This allows for more meaningful contemplation in making decisions. They don’t have to deal with citizens as often as the House of Reps. They make decisions based on the good of the country, not so much as the citizens. Senate is called the ‘upper house’.
The House of Reps consists of:
435 members, the amount of reps per state depends on the size of each state; bigger = more representation, smaller = less representation. Equally, bigger states require more representation because they have a bigger population. The HOR can prioritize those with more need.
To be a representative in the HOR, you need:
You must be 25 years of age + have 7 years of citizenship.
How many years does a rep in the HOR serve?
Reps in the HOR serve 2-year terms because they are constantly in demand by the voters, therefore, they need to spend much of their time adjusting to the needs of voters.
What actions does the HOR have that the Senate does not?
Only HOR can make bills on taxation, however, both houses can impeach the president.
What does the Executive branch do?
It enforces the laws.
Who and what is the chief executive?
The chief executive is the president. They have to be at least 35 years old and a natural born American citizen. They have control over the military, they can pass or veto bills from Congress, sign treaties, nominate ambassadors and Supreme Court justices, and grant pardons.
What does the Executive Branch consist of other than the President?
The Executive Branch has other departments i.e. Department of State, the Department of Health and Human Services which includes the FDA, the justice department, The Cabinet, etc.
What is the Cabinet and what do they do?
The cabinet is the group of advisors to the president. The cabinet is made up of the heads of each department. They give the president incite on how to react to issues regarding their specialties i.e. Covid-19, foreign affairs, etc.
What does the Judicial branch do?
The Judicial branch interprets the law, meaning that it determines whether people or the government have broken the law when passing a bill or even by committing crimes.
What is the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. It reviews cases that involve national matters. If a case is reviewed, the Supreme Court has the final say on all issues, meaning that if it rules something, the whole country must agree, thus setting precedent for all courts in the country. The Supreme Court takes a few cases a year, focusing on those that specifically conflict with the Constitution or involve states or ambassadors. The Supreme Court also reviews the other branches of government to see if what they do is just.
How many Supreme Court justices are there? Why do they serve for “life”?
The Supreme Court consists of 9 supreme court justices. They serve until they decide to retire, but do not need to be re-elected until then. They serve for life because it is believed that the justices are above politics. If they do not need to be re-elected every few years, they do not need to make decisions to please the voters but are inclined to make the best, impartial choices. Supreme Court Justices are invaluable to the court system and are irreplaceable, for this reason, the justices serve for a long time. As they serve for longer, they build the experience to make the best choices.
