Government Basics
The Constitution
Powers
Amendments
Checks, Balances & a Clause
100
The government and it's officers are always subject to the rule of law and never above the law (our Constitution)
What is the Rule of Law?
100
Numbered sections of the Constitution; ORIGINAL document is divided up into seven sections.
What are the Articles?
100
Powers of the federal government that are found in the Constitution.
What are Expressed Powers ( or exclusives powers)?
100
freedom of speech, religion and expression
What is the 1st Amendment?
100
A way for Congress to remove a President or federal judge from office.
What is Impeachment?
200
People in a region have the right to determine their own government.
What is Popular Sovereignty
200
Change to the Constitution--the change is in the written words.
What is an Amendment?
200
Powers that are shared by both the State and Federal governments.
What are Concurrent Powers?
200
Women's suffrage--gave women the right to vote
What is the 19th Amendment?
200
the President's power to "check" Congress by not signing a bill into law
What is a Veto?
300
Sharing of power between a central government and several regional governments
What is Federalism?
300
Supreme law of the land.
What is the U.S. Constitution?
300
The government only has the powers that are given to it by the Constitution
What are Delegated Powers?
300
Abolished slavery.
What is the 13th Amendment?
300
the power of the Supreme Court to declare a law unconstitutional: the courts can determine if a law or action is constitutional.
What is judicial review?
400
Principle that the powers within a government are divided amongst independent branches
What is Separation of Powers?
400
The first 10 amendment of the Constitution; 10 basic rights held by the people.
What is the Bill of Rights?
400
Powers reserved to the states by the 10th Amendment.
What are Reserved Powers?
400
status of income tax clarified
What is the 16th Amendment?
400
A pact made by the President directly with the head of a foreign state (does not require approval from the Senate).
What is an Executive Agreement?
500
Each branch is tied together and subject to a number of Constitutional checks. Each branch has certain powers in which it can check the other two.
What are Checks and Balances?
500
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
What is the Preamble?
500
Powers of the federal government that are "Necessary and Proper" to carry out the expressed powers.
What are Inherent Powers?
500
The right for 18 year olds to vote
What is the 26th Amendment?
500
Each state must recognize the official documents and civil judgements rendered by the courts of other states.
What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause?
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