The Constitution Flashcards
What are three advantages of the US constitution?
It defines people’s liberties
No room for tyrannical government to take place
Public can access and understand better
What are three disadvantages of the US constitution?
Hard to agree on
Inflexible
Judges are given to much power
What are the 4 different ways an amendment can be proposed?
2/3s of house and senate-x2
Legislatures in 2/3rds of the state calling for national constitutional convention
What are the 4 different ways amendments can be ratified after being proposed?
2/3rd house + senate- 3/4 state legislatures
2/3rd house + senate- ratifying conventions in 3/4 of state
Legislatures 2/3rd of state calling for NCC- 3/4 state legislature
Legislatures 2/3rd state calling for NCC-ratifying conventions 3/4 of state
How many times has the amendment process of prosposed by 2/3rd house + senate and ratified by 3/4 state legislatures been used?
26 times
How many times has the amendment process of 2/3rds of house + senate, ratified by ratifying conventions 3/4 of state been used?
Once (21st amendment)
How many times have both amendment process been used where it’s proposed by legislatures in 2/3rd of state calling for NCC been used?
Both never
What are the three key features of the US constitution?
A blend of specificity and vagueness
A codified constitution
Laws entrenched
What are implied powers?- blend of specificity and vagueness
Powers that are not specifically mentioned in constitution but are implied delegate powers
What is the necessary and proper clause?- blend of specificity and vagueness
Also know as the elastic clause, the powers of the federal government are stretched out beyond specifically delegate powers
What are reserved powers?- blend of specificity and vagueness
Powers that are reserved alone to the state or the people
What are concurrent powers?- blend of specificity and vagueness
Powers that are shared by the federal and state government - like collecting tax’s
What’s the supremacy clause?- blend of specificity and vagueness
A clause asserting the supremacy of national law
What does articale one of the constitution rule?
Congress are the national legislature
What does articale 2 in the constitution rule?- codified constitution
Singular executive in the hands of the president
What does articale three of the constitution establish?- codified constitution
The supreme court
What are the three articales know as ? codified constitution
Enumerated powers granted to the federal government
Point to prove that the separation of powers in Congress?
An example?
No person can serve both in Congress and legislature
Example- H Clinton resigned as senator for NYC when she was appointed secretary of state.
What does the president have to do regarding policy that proves the separation of powers is significant?
For the president to get policy through they must work with Congress, preserving the notion of an independent judiciary
What proves that the seperation of powers in the constitution is not significant?
An example?
VP is also the senate president and has the casting vote in even of a tie
Example- Mike pence has used this to confirm Betsy Devos as education secretary, 2017
What power that the president has disrupts the seperation of powers?
The power of pardon, overlaps with the judiciary power and limits the significance of powers being seperated
