Founding Docs & Amendments
This document, written in 1787, establishes the framework of the U.S. federal government.
Constitution
This 1954 Supreme Court case declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
Brown v. Board of Education
The Senate is made up of this many total members.
100
This is the minimum age required to be President of the United States.
35
This term describes the system in which power is divided between a national government and state governments.
Federalism
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are collectively known as this.
Bill Of Rights
In this 1966 case, the Court ruled that suspects must be informed of their rights before police questioning.
Miranda v. Arizona
A bill vetoed by the President can still become law if Congress overrides the veto with this fraction of both chambers.
2/3
A president can be removed from office through this two-step process involving the House and then the Senate.
Impeachment and conviction
This principle divides government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
Seperation of powers
This amendment, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery throughout the United States.
13th Amendment
This overturned 1973 case established a constitutional right to abortion
Roe v. Wade
This Senate procedure allows a minority to delay or block legislation by extended debate
The filibuster
This executive power allows the president to reject legislation passed by Congress.
This term refers to the informal, unwritten practices and norms that have shaped how the government operates over time, such as the president's cabinet.
Political conventions
Under this amendment, citizens cannot be tried twice for the same crime
5th Ammendment
This 1803 case, decided by Chief Justice John Marshall, established the principle of judicial review.
Marbury V. Madison
This type of congressional committee is made up of members from both the House and Senate, formed to work out differences between the two chambers' versions of a bill.
Conference committee
Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms in office led to this amendment, which limits presidents to two terms.
The 22nd Amendment
This term describes a system in which each branch of government has the ability to limit the powers of the other two branches.
Checks and balances
Ratified in 1971, this amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
The 26th Amendment
In this 2010 case, the Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot limit political spending by corporations, citing First Amendment protections.
Citizens United v. FEC
Known as the 'power of the purse,' this constitutional clause gives Congress the exclusive authority to do this.
Appropriate federal money and pass the federal budget
This document, issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, declared enslaved people in Confederate states to be free.
Emancipation Proclomation
This concept, established in the 10th Amendment, holds that any powers not granted to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.
Reserved powers