Principles of Democracy, but in common speak
'Look, people have to agree to it, if this country is gonna have power over them'
What is consent of the governed?
The document that says "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
What is the declaration of independence?
The two houses of congress
What are the house of representatives and the senate?
The system by which the head of this branch is elected
What is the electoral college?
The number of justices on the supreme court
what is 9?
'Alright, we'll give the states some power, and the national government some power'
What is federalism?
The document with the opening line... "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this...."
What is the Constitution?
the total number of congress members in both houses
what is 535 (100 in the senate - 2 per state; 435 in the house, apportioned by population)
This is seen as implied power - the president can order things to be done that are instrumental to carrying out the laws the legislative branch has passed
what is an executive order?
The power to declare laws unconstitutional
what is judicial review?
'Power comes from the PEOPLE!'
What is popular sovereignty?
The first attempt at a united government between the states. Had no executive or power to tax
What is the articles of confederation?
2 examples of powers of the house of representatives
What are:
Vote on bills
Power of the Purse - they get to write the bills that deal with money the government brings in and spends
Impeach president
Rules Committee: figures out how long debates will be on different bills
2 powers that the constitution formally gives to the president
Negotiate treaties with other countries
Act as commander in chief of military
Veto (block) laws that congress passes
Appoint heads of cabinet departments and federal judges
The case that gave the supreme court the power of judicial review
what is marbury v madison?
'We can't let the State become TOO powerful'
What is limited government
The sentence of the constitution that allows congress to expand their powers by claiming they need an additional power to carry out a duty the constitution gives them
What is the necessary and proper clause
2 examples of powers of the senate
What are:
Vote on bills
Ratifies treaties
Approves president’s appointments to cabinet positions and judiciary
Hold trial for impeached president
An example of a cabinet member
What is the secretary of....
-defense, labor, energy, state, etc
An example of a supreme court case dealing with the bill of rights, with an explanation of that case
what is...
'There's gotta be a way one part of the government can oversee what another part does...'
what is checks and balances?
The required document that says "These are some of the reasons by which it appears, that a free republic cannot long subsist over a country of the great extent of these states. If then this new constitution is calculated to consolidate the thirteen
states into one, as it evidently is, it ought not to be adopted."
what is brutus 1 (an anti-federalist paper!)
Unfair redistricting of house districts, usually done by the party in power in a state legislature in order to favor themselves in congressional elections
What is gerrymandering?
An example of a federal agency that makes up the bureaucracy, but does NOT have its leader in the cabinet
What is ....the USPS, NASA, the FEC, the FCC, many more!
This supreme court justice is currently under scrutiny in the media for alleged corruption, including not reporting gifts from a rich donor
Who is clarence thomas?