Powers & Checks
Congress can do this with a two-thirds vote to overcome a President’s veto.
What is "override the veto"
The number of states required by Article VII to ratify the Constitution.
What is "nine"?
The plan that proposed representation based on population, favoring large states.
What is "the Virginia Plan"?
Courts set these for lower courts to follow when interpreting federal law.
What are "legal precedents" / "legal explanations"?
The President must be at least this old and a natural-born citizen to hold office.
What is "35 years old"?
This series of 85 essays was written to persuade states to ratify the Constitution.
What are "The Federalist Papers"?
The plan that proposed equal representation for each state, favoring small states.
What is "the New Jersey Plan"?
The highest court in the land, whose justices are nominated by the President and approved by the Senate.
What is "the Supreme Court"?
This part of the government must approve the Presidential choices for judges and top officials.
What is "the Senate"?
The Federalist author who explained why independent courts and judicial review were needed (Federalist No. 78).
Who is "Alexander Hamilton"?
A key result of the trade/commerce compromise: Congress could not tax these.
What are "U.S. exports"?
The power Congress holds over federal spending and taxes, including declaring war and approving treaties.
What is "control of federal spending and taxes / declaring war"?
This clause allows federal laws to outrank state laws when in conflict.
What is "the Supremacy Clause"?
This state was the first to ratify the Constitution.
What is "Delaware"?
The protection that delayed Congress from banning the importation of enslaved people until this year.
What is "1808"?
This event must happen before the Senate holds a trial for impeachment.
What is "the House bringing charges / impeachment by the House"?
The power of the courts to decide whether a law or action conflicts with the Constitution.
What is "judicial review"?
This Federalist No. argued that checks and balances keep any one branch from gaining too much power.
What is "Federalist No. 51" (by James Madison)?
The compromise that balanced fears of monarchy with need for an effective executive and set the President’s term at this many years.
What is "four years"?
The rule that says Congress must be paid without interruption and the amendment that restricts changing congressional pay until after an election.
What is "the 27th Amendment"?