Foundations
This document serves as the supreme law of the land in the United States.
What is the U.S. Constitution?
This system allows each branch of government to limit or check the power of the other branches.
What are Checks and Balances?
Congress is structured as a bicameral legislature to balance representation between high- and low-population states using these two chambers.
What are the House of Representatives and the Senate?
Under Article II and the 12th Amendment, the President is elected indirectly by this institution where electors equal each state's total congressional delegation.
What is the Electoral College?
The U.S. Senate consists of 100 members who serve terms of this length.
What is six years?
Setting up government structure, defining government powers, and protecting basic individual rights are the three core functions of this document.
What is the U.S. Constitution?
This constitutional system divides and shares governmental power between the national (federal) government and individual state governments.
What is Federalism?
Representation in the House is based on state population, and its total voting membership is fixed at this number.
What is 435?
Serving on a jury when summoned, paying federal taxes, and registering for Selective Service are key examples of these mandatory civic requirements.
What are Civic Obligations / Duties of Citizens?
Congress exercises this constitutional authority by authorizing federal expenditures, passing annual budget appropriations, and overseeing executive agencies.
What is the "Power of the Purse"?
The principle of popular sovereignty—that government authority originates from the consent of the governed—is expressed in these opening three words of the Preamble.
What is "We the People"?
According to the 10th Amendment, powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to these two entities.
What are the States or the People?
Composed of department heads (e.g., State, Defense, Treasury), this body's primary role is to advise the President on policy matters.
What is the Cabinet?
This amendment applied protections from state discrimination as well as the federal government.
What is the 14th amendment?
Name the last president to be impeached.
Who is Donald Trump?
To prevent any single individual or group from holding absolute power, the Constitution divides authority into three distinct branches using this principle.
What is the Separation of Powers?
Under Article V, a formal constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote in Congress followed by ratification by this fraction of state legislatures.
What is three-fourths (3/4 or 38 states)?
A directive issued by the President directing federal agencies; it carries the force of law but must comply with the Constitution and federal statutes.
What is an executive order?
Through "Advice and Consent," the Senate checks presidential power by ratifying foreign treaties and confirming these executive selections.
What are Presidential Appointments/Nominations (judges, cabinet secretaries, ambassadors)?
This is the dicennial counting of all the people in the country.
Census