Legislative Powers
What do Enumerated Powers mean?
Powers specifically given to Congress by the Constitution
The President can veto bills passed by congress
Explain what it means to pardon.
A government decision to allow the president to relieve people convicted of crimes.
Explain how Supreme Court justices get their jobs. How many members are there?
Justices are appointed by the president and they serve for life. There are 9 justices.
Article VI of the Constitution states that the Constitution is _________________?
The supreme law of the land
What are three examples of enumerated powers?
Tax citizens, borrow money, coin money, regulate trade, establish post offices, declare war, and support an army and navy
What is a power that the judicial branch has over Congress?
The Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional
Explain at least 3 powers of the executive branch
Pass or veto bills, commander in chief of the armed forces, negotiate treaties with other countries, appoint federal judges, ambassadors, and other government officials, carry out and enforce laws, and pardon people convicted of crimes.
What is the Supreme Court?
It is the highest court in the nation made up of 9 members.
Article I Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress powers to create laws. What are three of these powers?
Tax citizens, borrow money, coin money, regulate trade, establish post offices, declare war, and support an army and navy
Define the General Welfare Clause
Congress can provide for the common Defense and General Welfare of the United States. They must defend and take care of the people
Congress has many limits on its power. Name 2 of them.
They cannot tax goods exported from states, take money from the treasury without passing a law to do so, grant titles of nobility, suspend the writ of habeas corpus, pass an ex post facto law, and pass bills of attainder.
What does impeach mean?
To bring charges against a government official accused of a crime.
Explain what judicial review is
Judicial review is the ability of the Court to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution
Explain what Article VII of the Constitution says.
Congress can make all laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out their other powers. It allows Congress to stretch its powers and do other things not listed.
Explain what an ex post facto law is.
When the government passes a law and then punishes someone for breaking that law before it was passed.
What are two checks or limits on presidential power?
Impeachment, Congress can override a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote, and the Supreme Court can declare a presidential action unconstitutional.
Explain the difference between Original Jurisdiction and Appellate Jurisdiction.
Original Jurisdiction is the authority of a court to be the first to hear a trial and appellate jurisdiction is when a court can hear appeals from a lower court.
Article V of the Constitution gives Congress the power to amend the Constitution. What are the requirements to make an amendment?
There must be a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress.
Congress passed a series of bills raising the minimum wage across the country from $7.25 an hour to $8.00. Explain which power Congress used to pass these bills
Necessary and proper clause/elastic clause
Explain what the writ of habeas corpus is.
The government must explain why someone is arrested and held.
Explain how the Electoral College system works
The electoral college is a group of electors that are based on the total number of representatives in the House of Representatives and the Senate. This group votes for the president
Explain how justices can be removed from office.
They can be removed from office if they are not exhibiting "good behavior." They can be impeached and removed for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
What is the twenty-second amendment and how did it change government?
The twenty-second amendment states that the president of the United States could only be re-elected once. This changed the executive branch's power because it allowed presidents to only serve two-term limits.