Constitution
Article I of the Constitution establishes _____.
the legislative branch of the government, the Congress.
What is Federalism?
It is a system of shared power by the state and national governments.
What are the three tiers of the federal court system?
U.S. District Courts, U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and U.S. Supreme Court.
Which type of case would most likely go to a civil trial?
Contracts disputes
Personal Injury disputes
Property disputes
What major issue led to the creation of the first U.S. political parties?
Disputes about the power of the federal government.
Article III of the Constitution establishes ____________.
The Judicial Branch
The power to directly regulate such things as marriage and divorce, and the granting of vehicular licenses has been granted:
To state governments
How long do justices serve on the Supreme Court?
For their entire lives, unless they choose to retire or are removed.
What is one of the earliest written law codes in human history?
The Code of Hammurabi
How many electoral votes does a presidential candidate need to win?
270
How can each branch of the federal government limit the actions of the other two?
Through checks and balances
Cases involving disputes between two or more states are typically resolved by this highest federal court.
The U.S. Supreme Court?
What condition must be met for the Supreme Court to take on a case?
Four justices must vote to grant a writ of certiorari.
In which of the following cases would a federal court have original jurisdiction?
A boss accused of violating federal laws against workplace discrimination.
How are electoral votes apportioned to states?
Based on how many senators and representatives a state has.
Which part of the Constitution safeguards individual liberties and rights?
Bill of Rights
The principle of federalism allows states to create their own laws as long as they do not conflict with this document.
The Constitution
If someone wants to challenge a decision from a U.S. district court, what is the next step?
Appeal the case to the correct U.S. Court of Appeals.
A person is convicted of a crime and believes their constitutional rights were violated during the trial. Which of the following actions could they take to challenge their conviction?
Appeal to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Which two states DO NOT award their electoral votes through the winner-take-all method?
Maine and Nebraska
This is the process by which the U.S. Constitution can be changed or updated.
The Amendment process
What is the 10th Amendment?
All powers not specifically delegated to the national government are reserved to the states.
What does judicial review mean, and which case introduced it?
Judicial review allows the court to decide whether laws or actions violate the Constitution (Marbury v. Madison).
Cases involving domestic violence would normally be handled in __________.
Criminal court
Name two ways political parties involved in the electoral process?
They nominate candidates and help them win elections.