Creating Our Government
A system in which the federal government is subordinate to state governments is a...
confederacy
Changes to the Constitution are known as...
amendments
A legislature composed of two houses is known as a ________ legislature.
bicameral
A counting of the number in a specific area is called a...
census
A proposed new law is called a...
bill
What are the three branches of government? What does each do?
Legislative - makes laws
Executive - carries out laws
Judicial - interprets the laws
The introduction to the Constitution is called the...
Preamble
Who are the leaders of the House and Senate?
The redrawing of districts to purposely favor the party in power is called...
gerrymandering
money
What was the "Great Decision" made at the Constitutional Convention?
to get rid of the Articles and create a new Constitution
Which articles of the Constitution describe the legislative, executive, and judicial branches?
Articles I, II, and III
How long are terms in the House and Senate?
House - 2 years Senate - 6 years
What is the difference between a trustee and a delegate?
Trustee - personal judgement
Delegate - constituency
An attempt to kill a bill by stalling the vote on it is called a...
filibuster
What were the three weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
nine state approval, no executive or judicial, no taxation
What are the three restraints on government included in the Constitution? Explain each.
federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances
How many members are there in the House of Representatives?
435
What are the qualifications for running for House or Senate?
age (25/30), citizenship (7/9), state residency
What are the three actions a president can take when presented with a bill?
sign, not sign, veto
What type of legislatures did the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and Connecticut Compromise seek to create?
Virginia - bicameral, population / NJ - unicameral, equal / CC - bicameral, equal + population, chosen by states + voters
Name five purposes of the Constitution.
more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for common defense, promote general welfare, secure blessings of liberty
What types of representation do the House and Senate have? What is the difference?
House - proportional representation
Senate - equal representation
What are the three types of congressional committees? What is the difference?
Standing, Select, Joint
What is a conference committee? What is its purpose?
temporary committee with members from both houses, work out a compromise on a bill