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Am Gov units 1-7
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is treason? | Declaring war against one's country, and giving aid & comfort to the enemy. |
| The President is considered the Head of what two entities? | Head of State, and Head of Government |
| What is a term of office for the President of the United States? | 4 years |
| Who directly elects the President & Vice President of the United States? | The Electoral College |
| What are the qualifications of the President of the United States? | 35 years old, a Natural Born Citizen, and 14 years a resident of the US |
| What is the military title of the President of the United States? | Commander-in-Chief |
| What checks does the President have on the judicial branch? | Issue a pardon or reprieve, and nominates all federal judges. |
| How are treaties made? | The President makes all treaties, but each must be approved by the Senate by two thirds vote. |
| Who can the President appoint? | Members of the cabinet, Federal Judges, Ambassadors, and other high offices. |
| Who must approve all presidential appointments? | The Senate |
| How is the President the "Chief Diplomat?" | President receives and sends all ambassadors. He also makes treaties. |
| What is a "special session?" | Special meeting of Congress that is called by the President. |
| What are the three reasons the President can be impeached? | Treason, Bribery, and High Crimes & Misdemeanors. |
| What is the highest court in the United States? | The Supreme Court |
| Who creates all lower federal courts? | Congress |
| Who decides the number of judges in all federal courts? | Congress |
| How many justices are on the Supreme Court? | 9 |
| What is the title of the head of the US Supreme Court? | Chief Justice |
| What is the term of office for all federal judges? | Life |
| What type of cases are heard in federal courts? | Issues of Federal law or territory, Constitutional questions, issues with public officials, maritime issues, international cases, and Disputes between states. |
| What is original jurisdiction? | Jurisdiction of a federal court that would hear a case for the first time. District Courts only have original jurisdiction. |
| What is appellate jurisdiction? | Jurisdiction of a federal court that would hear a case as an appeal. Appeals Courts only have appellate jurisdiction. |
| What federal court has both original and appellate jurisdiction? | The Supreme Court |
| What are the qualification to be a federal judge? | Nominated by the President, and approved by the Senate. |
| What is the President required to give Congress at least once a year? | The State of the Union |
| How many individuals are elected to the Executive Branch? | Two |
| What is a judge on the US Supreme Court called? | A Justice |
| What are the levels of Article Three Federal Courts from top to bottom? | The Supreme Court, Appeals Court, and District Court |
| What is the purpose of Article Four of the Constitution? | Relationship of states |
| What is the purpose of Article Five of the Constitution? | The Amending Process |
| What is the purpose of Article Six of the Constitution? | Establishes the Supremacy of National Government |
| What is the purpose of Article Seven of the Constitution? | The Ratification process of the Constitution |
| What is the meaning of the Supremacy Clause? | Establishes the Constitution and federal law as the Supreme Law of the Land. |
| What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause? | States must recognize the validity of the laws, acts, judicial decisions, and public records of other states. |
| What is extradition? | Fugitives must be returned to answer for a crime if they escape the state from which the crime originated. |
| Who admits new states to the Union? | Congress |
| What is the national government obligated to do for the states? | Guarantee a republican form of government, and protect states from violence and invasion |
| How many members of Congress are required to propose a Constitutional Amendment? | 2/3 |
| How many state legislatures must request a Constitution Convention to take place? | 2/3 |
| How many states legislatures are required to ratify an amendment to the US Constitution? | 3/4 |
| How many state conventions are required to ratify an amendment to the US Constitution? | 3/4 |
| What are all public officials in the United States required to take? | An oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution |
| What is the structure of Congress? | Bicameral |
| What is the term of office for a member of the House of Representatives? | Two Years |
| What are the qualifications for a member of the House of Representatives? | 25 years old, a US Citizen for 7 years, and live in the state that your represent |
| How is representation in the House of Representatives determined per state? | Population |
| What is the title of the head of the House of Representatives? | Speaker of the House |
| How many members are in the House of Representatives? | 435 |
| What is the term of office for a member of the US Senate? | Six Years |
| What are the qualifications for a member of the US Senate? | 30 years old, a US Citizen for 9 years, and live in the state that your represent |
| How many Senators come from each state? | Two |
| What is the title of the head of the US Senate? | President of the Senate |
| Who is second in charge of the US Senate? | President Pro Tempore |
| What is role of the Head of the US Senate? | Break Ties |
| What is a Quorum? | A majority of possible members within the legislature. |
| What privileges do members of Congress have? | Members are paid, they are immune from arrest during session, and they are immune from committing slander during debate. |
| What are some of the financial powers of Congress? | Make & Collect Taxes, Regulate Trade, Borrow Money, and Create Money |
| What are some of the non-financial powers of Congress? | Establish Naturalization rules, Create post offices, Create lower courts, Declare War, Create army & navy, Make the rules for military, and control the District of Columbia. |
| What is the executive rule of the Head of the Senate? | The President of the Senate is the Vice President of the United States |
| What is the Necessary and Proper Clause? | It gives government implied powers to make laws not directly written in Constitution. It is sometimes called the Elastic Clause |
| What is naturalization? | Procedure for making a foreigner a citizen |
| How many members are in Congress? | 535 |
| Which house of Congress has the sole power of impeachment? | House of Representatives |
| Which House tries all impeachments? | The Senate |
| Where is the Necessary and Proper Clause in the Constitution? | Article One, Section Eight, Clause 18 |
| What can Congress not suspend unless we are in time of war? | Writ of Habeas Corpus |
| What is the Congressional restriction of passing ex post facto laws? | Congress cannot make a law that punishes someone for an action before it became a crime |
| What is the Congressional restriction of a Bill of Attainder? | A bill declaring a person or group guilty of a crime |
| What restriction of Congress prevents a king from existing in the United States? | No Titles of Nobility |
| What additional restrictions to states have that differs from the restrictions of Congress? | No armies or navies AND states cannot print money |
| What is Government? | An institution through which society makes and enforces laws. |
| What is a State? | A group of people, living in a defined territory, with a government that makes and enforces laws. |
| What is Sovereignty? | Supreme Power within a territory. |
| What is a Unitary System? | A system where a state has only one government. |
| What is a Federal System? | A system with a strong national government over weak state governments. |
| What is a Confederation? | A system with strong state governments and a weak national government. |
| What is a Monarchy? | A government which is owned by a single individual, through heredity. |
| What is a Republic? | A government which is owned by the people. |
| What is an Absolute Monarchy? | A monarchy where the ruler has absolute power. |
| What is a Limited Monarchy? | A monarch has limited or no power within the government. The monarch has a symbolic office. |
| What is a Theocracy? | The government is defined by the religion of the state. |
| What is a Dictatorship? | A single ruler runs a state, usually by force. |
| What is an Oligarchy? | A government where a small group rules a country. |
| What is a Democracy? | The citizens has the power to rule a state. |
| What is a Direct Democracy? | All citizens have a direct vote for all laws. |
| What is a Representative Democracy? | Citizens elect representatives to make their laws. |
| What is autocratic rule? | Rule by one person. |
| What is democratic rule? | Rule by all the people. |
| What is Force Theory? | Rule by force. |
| What is Divine Right Theory? | God or gods gave rulers the right to rule the people. |
| What is Natural Law Theory? | Only an small, elite group should have the right to rule the country. |
| What is Social Contract Theory? | Government is established by the people through written law. |
| What civilization first developed democracy? | Greeks |
| What civilization started direct democracy? | Greeks |
| What civilization adopted representative democracy? | Romans |
| What did the Dark Ages, or Middle Ages, do to the development of Democracy? | A period of decline for democracy. |
| What was the impact of the Renaissance on the development of Democracy? | The concept of Democracy was reintroduced into Europe |
| What was the impact of the European Enlightenment on the development of democracy? | Using reason, ideas about the role of government changed the face of Europe. |
| What were the ideas of Machiavelli? | Believed in strong government that could do anything in order to maintain power. |
| What were the ideas of Thomas Hobbes? | Believed in strong government with a king, given a mandate from God, who would rule. |
| What were the ideas of John Locke? | Government should protect people's life, liberty and property. These are natural rights. |
| What were the ideas of Rousseau? | Believed that the people should make their own laws for themselves. |
| What were the ideas of Montesquieu? | Creating three separate and equal branches of government |
| What are the significant details of the Magna Carta? | First English document to take power away from the King. |
| What are the significant details of the Petition of Right? | Enhanced the principle of Due Process. |
| What are the significant details of the Habeas Corpus Act? | Strengthen the right of a citizen to have the courts review the lawfulness of detentions by government authorities |
| What are the significant details of the English Bill of Rights? | Freedom to petition and no cruel or unusual punishments |
| What are the significant details of the Mayflower Compact? | First governing document in the New World from England. |
| What are the significant details of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut? | First written Constitution in the New World. |
| What are the significant details of the Virginia Declaration of Rights? | Many of the freedoms found in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution |
| What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? | It finalized the break from England. |
| Who is the author of the Declaration of Independence? | Thomas Jefferson |
| What was necessary for the Declaration to be approved? | A unanimous vote of all the colonies |
| Where was the Declaration of Independence written? | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| What was the date of American Independence? | July 4, 1776 |
| What were the original 13 colonies? | New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia |
| What is the name of the representative body of ancient Rome? | The Senate |
| What was the "Shot Heard 'Round the World?" | Beginning of the American Revolution |
| Where was the "Shot Heard 'Round the World?" | Lexington and Concord |
| What were the purpose and goals of the Second Continental Congress? | Appoint George Washington as Commander-in-Chief, Declare independence, and establish the Articles of Confederation |
| What was the name of Thomas Paine's publication calling for Independence? | Common Sense |
| What is a Military Junta? | A government that is run my the military. |
| What is an Illiberal Democracy? | A government formed by elections, but the people lack civil liberties. |
| What is in the 1st Amendment? | The Freedoms of Religion, Press, Speech, Assembly, and Petition. |
| What is in the 2nd Amendment? | The right to bear arms |
| What is in the 3rd Amendment? | No Quartering of Soldiers in people's homes |
| What is in the 4th Amendment? | No Search or Seizure without probable cause from a warrant |
| What is in the 5th Amendment? | Right to a Grand Jury on capital crimes, right to not witness against one's self, and no double jeopardy. Also, life, liberty and property cannot be taken without due process as well as the government's right to eminent domain. |
| What is in the 6th Amendment? | Right to a speedy and public trial, the right to face an accuser, the right to call witnesses, and the right to an attorney. |
| What is in the 7th Amendment? | The right to a jury trial in major civil cases. |
| What is in the 8th Amendment? | No cruel or unusual punishment, and no excessive bail. |
| What is in the 9th Amendment? | People have basic rights that cannot be taken away |
| What is in the 10th Amendment? | Powers not in the Constitution for the national government are reserved to the States |
| What is in the 11th Amendment? | Establishes Sovereign Immunity, meaning a person cannot have a suit against another state |
| What is in the 12th Amendment? | The President and Vice President run on the same ticket, but must be from separate states |
| What is in the 13th Amendment? | Slavery Outlawed |
| What is in the 14th Amendment? | All people born in the United States are citizens. All citizens will have due process and equal protection under the law |
| What is in the 15th Amendment? | The right to vote cannot be denied due to race |
| What is in the 16th Amendment? | Congress can create an income tax |
| What is in the 17th Amendment? | Senators are elected directly from the people |
| What is in the 18th Amendment? | Alcohol is illegal |
| What is in the 19th Amendment? | The right to vote cannot be denied due to sex |
| What is in the 20th Amendment? | President's term ends at noon on January 20 |
| What is in the 21st Amendment? | Repeals the 18th Amendment |
| What is in the 22nd Amendment? | The President is limited to two terms |
| What is in the 23rd Amendment? | The District of Columbia will have electors for President |
| What is in the 24th Amendment? | The shall be no poll tax |
| What is in the 25th Amendment? | Creates presidential succession |
| What is in the 26th Amendment? | All citizens over the age of 18 can vote |
| What is in the 27th Amendment? | Congress cannot give itself a pay raise without an election first |
| What amendments make up the Bill of Rights? | The first 10 amendments |
| What is a poll tax? | A tax on the ability to vote |
| What is sovereign immunity? | A person does not have the ability to sue the government. |
| What is a civil trial? | A trial to determine responsibility of an issue rather than determining guilt of a crime |
| What is a criminal trial? | A trial to determine guilt or innocence |
| What is suffrage? | The right to vote |
| How many amendments are in the Constitution? | 27 |
| What is the purpose of a Grand Jury? | A jury that decides whether to charge someone with a capital, or major, crime |
| What is Eminent Domain? | The ability for the government to take away private property for the public good. The Government must pay for it |
| What happens to a pocket veto if Congress is IN session? | After 10 days (excluding Sundays), the bill becomes law |
| What happens to a pocket veto if Congress is NOT in session? | After 10 days (excluding Sundays), the bill becomes law |
| How many electoral votes does Missouri currently have? | Ten |
| What determines how many electoral votes a state receives? | Number or representatives in the House PLUS the number of Senators. |
| How many electoral votes are required to become President? | Majority, or 270 |
| What non-state has electoral votes and how many? | The District of Columbia, which has three electoral votes |
| What is gerrymandering? | The intentional drawing of electoral boundaries for the benefit of a group |
| Who is FIRST in line to be President of the United States? | Vice President |
| Who is SECOND in line to be President of the United States? | Speaker of the House |
| Who is THIRD in line to be President of the United States? | President Pro Tempore |
| Who are FOURTH in line to be President of the United States? | Members of the Cabinet. The order is determined by law. |
| What are Enumerated Powers of Federalism? It can also be called expressed or delegated powers. | Powers of the Federal Government directly written in the Constitution. They are found in Article One, Section Eight. |
| What are Implied Powers of Federalism? | Powers of the Federal Government not directly written in the Constitution |
| What are Reserved Powers of Federalism? | Powers that are reserved to the States |
| What are Concurrent Powers of Federalism? | Powers shared by both the federal and state governments. |
| What part of the Constitution gives the national government implied powers? | The Necessary and Proper Clause. It is also called the Elastic Clause. It is located in Article One, Section Eight, Clause 18. |
| What US Supreme Court cases established that Implied Powers exist? | McCulloch v Maryland |
| What part of the US Constitution established Reserved Powers? | 10th Amendment |
| Where does impeachment begin? | House of Representatives |
| Who is the judge of the trials of impeachment? | US Senate |
| Who is the judge of the trials of impeachment? | The Vice President, unless the President or Vice President are impeached. Then it is the Chief Justice |
| What are the punishments of the impeachment process? | Removed from office and barred from holding public office again |
| Who can be impeached in the national government? | All public officials. For example, the President, Vice President, Federal Judges, Congressmen, and political appointees. |
| What was the result of Miranda v Arizona? | Ruled that citizens should be informed of their constitutional rights upon arrest |
| What is a landmark Supreme Court case? | It is a case that significantly changes the country |
| Once a bill is introduced in a house, what group reviews the bill first? | Congressional Committee |
| What is normally the required vote for a bill to pass? | Majority |
| What are the three options that the President has when a bill reaches him? | He can sign it, veto it, or pocket veto |
| What is the purpose of a joint or conference committee? | It allows the two houses of Congress to work out differences in a bill |
| What is a pocket veto? | When the President does nothing to a bill after 10 days, excluding Sundays |
| How many votes are necessary in Congress to override a veto? | Two Thirds of both houses of Congress |
| Where does a vetoed bill go? | Back to the house that it originated |
| What is the purpose of the federal bureaucracy? | Implements public policy and administers the law |
| Who makes up the federal bureaucracy? | Non-elected officials selected on the basis of experience and expertise |
| What branch of government is the bureaucracy found? | Executive Branch. |
| What are some checks of the legislative branch ON the executive branch? | Impeachment, Budget Control from the House, Ratifying treaties from the Senate, Confirming appointments from the Senate, Overriding Vetoes, and oversight. |
| What are some checks of the executive branch ON the legislative branch? | Vetos and calling special sessions of Congress. |
| What are some checks of the legislative branch ON the judicial branch? | Confirming appointments of judges by the Senate, Creating lower courts, and impeachment |
| What are some checks of the executive branch ON the judicial branch? | Appointing Federal Judges and granting pardons and reprieves. |
| What are some checks of the judicial branch ON the legislative branch? | Judges are appointed for life and Judicial Review |
| What are some checks of the judicial branch ON the executive branch? | Judges are appointed for life and Judicial Review |
| What is Popular Sovereignty | The people have supreme power |
| What is Federalism? | It is the principle that the is there is a sharing of power between a strong national and individual state governments. |
| What is meant by Separation of Powers? | The belief that the legislative, executive and judicial functions of governance should be separated within a Federal Republic. |
| What are Checks and Balances? | The Constitution grants each branch certain powers that enable them to check the other branches and balance the separated powers |
| What is the Rule of Law? | People are governed by a set of laws, created by the people, that apply to everyone equally |
| What is meant by "majority rules and minority rights?" | Within a democracy, the majority rules, but rights are established for all so the minority will be protected |
| What is Separation of Powers? | The dividing of government functions into separate legislative, executive and judicial branches |
| What is the legal principle of stare decisis? | This principle legally obliges the courts to respect prior court decisions |
| What is the legal principle of the Presumption of Innocence? | Principle of "innocent until proven guilty" |
| What is Judicial Review? | The courts can determine if a law or act is unconstitutional |
| What Supreme Court case established the principle of Judicial Review? | Marbury v Madison |
| Where in the Constitution are most Implied Powers found? | The Necessary and Proper Clause, or Elastic Clause |
| What was the result of Plessy v Ferguson? | Ruled that separate and equal is constitutional |
| What was the result of Brown v Board of Education? | Ruled that separate and equal is unconstitutional |
| What is a filibuster? | Attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length |
| What did McCulloch v Maryland establish? | Implied Powers of the national government |
| What is Eminent Domain? | The power to take private property away from owners so that it may be used by the state |
| What is a Exclusionary Rule? | Bars evidence illegally obtained from being used in court. |
| What is due process? | All people receive equal procedures and treatment in the judicial system. |
| What is meant by Laissez-Faire government? | Very little government involvement |
| What is a statute? | A written law |
| What is a line-item veto? | It is a partial veto. It allows the President to veto part of a bill that he does not agree. This is unconstitutional at the national level |
| What is a mandate? | A Mandate is authority given to an elected official given by the people after an election |
| What is a grand jury? | A jury whose job it is to determine whether charges should be filed on a person or entity |
| What is Habeas Corpus? | Right of a person to go before a court to see if their arrest was lawful |
| What is the Establishment Clause? | This is to mean that the government shall have no law creating a religion or giving preference to one. It is found in the First Amendment |
| What is Congressional Oversight? | The job of watching and checking on the Executive Branch |
| What is a Bill of Attainder? | A law by Congress declaring someone guilty of a crime. This is unconstitutional |
| What is an Ex Post Facto law? | A law that punished someone for actions before the law was made. This is unconstitutional! |
| What is the census? | Counting the population every 10 years |
| What is reapportionment? | It is the process of deciding how many representatives a state should have in the legislature after conducting a census |
| What does "de jure" mean? | Means "concerning the law" |
| What does "de facto" mean? | Means "concerning the fact." This means that the situation that is actually occurring |
| What is an Executive Order? | An order by the President to the executive branch with the force of law |
| What is secession? | The act of a state leaving the Union |
| What is a constituent? | A citizen living in a district that is represented in Congress |
| What is oversight? | The ability of Congress to watch the Executive and Judicial Branches |
| What is a treaty? | An agreement with one or more countries |
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