Midterm PS Flashcards
Separation of powers
Division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making
AKA - Executive, Legislative, & Judicial
Checks and Balances
Ways that the 3 branches keep each other in check
Federalism
Division of powers between national gov’t and the states
Powers of Congress
Veto override - two thirds of the house needs to agree to pass bill
Monetary Powers
Military Powers
Commerce Clause
Creates lower courts
Necessary and Proper Clause - make laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers
Powers of President
Military - commander in chief
Judicial - can grant pardons
Diplomatic - head of state, receives foreign ambassadors
Executive - make sure all laws are faithfully executed
Legislative - submits proposals for legislation. State of Union. Can veto bills. Can issue executive orders.
Powers of Judiciary
AKA Supreme Courts
Review lower courts
Decide the constitutionality of laws
Settles disputes between states
How does each branch check against the other?
President (Executive) - vetos bills over Legislative. Grants pardons over Judicial. Congress (Legislative) - can override presidential veto over Executive; impeachment. Can reject Supreme Court nominees over Judicial. Supreme Court (Judicial) - Can declare executive actions unconstitutional over Executive. Can declare laws unconstitutional over Legislative. Judicial Review.
Requirements to become president
Must be 35 yrs of age
Natural born citizen
Must have lived in country for 14 yrs
Win electoral college
Characteristics of US presidents
White males 1 Black male Mostly Protestant Have all been members of a political party Most are lawyers or military generals Most have been between 55-65 yrs old No female president
Powers of the Presidency
Veto bills Negotiate treaties Grant pardons Executive orders Commander in Chief Executive Privilege - right to keep secrets from everyone regarding National Security
How have presidents used their powers?
Washington - Pardoned the Whiskey Rebellion soldiers. Created 1st National Bank. Led the military as Commander in Chief during Whiskey Rebellion. Created the original Cabinet positions, hired only qualified people not based on political reference. US had a treaty with France, will help France whenever they need, Washington issued Neutrality Proclamation. Ignored the treaty.
Lincoln - Suspends Writ of Habeas Corpus during Civil War; throw you in jail and not give a trial. Emancipation Proclamation; freed slaves in the South that were willing to join Northern Army to fight. 13th Amendment; Ended slavery in the US. Created military courts to try people for treason. Blocked trade for the South.
Roosevelt - Used executive orders to create Japanese Interment Camps. New Deal; proposed laws to congress to fix the Depression: Social Security, Industrial Economy Act, National Relations Act. Threatened to pack the courts if his laws kept getting struck down
How does a bill become a law?
- A bill must be introduced by a member of Congress
- Speaker of the House schedules the bill
- Bill goes to Committee
- Committee review bill, make changes to bill or add amendments, brings witnesses
- Bill goes to Rules Committee. Bill gets Open or Closed Rule
- Bill gets debated.
- Roll-call vote, votes are politically
- Bill gets sent to Senate
- Bill is introduced to Senate. Bill gets sent to Committee.
- After Committee gets sent to the floor.
- Senates then filibuster the bill if needed.
- Senates vote.
- Conference committee review bill to make sure it was word for word from both chambers
- President either signs or veto bill
Filibuster
Cloture
- Senators can talk until bill gets removed
2. More than half can vote to end filibuster. Very difficult to achieve
Describe party system in the US
Democrats-
Republicans-
How many major political parties have generally existed and why?
Have winner take all system.
