Forms of Govt
A king or queen with a great amount of power, but with some restrictions
Monarchy
Define "unconstitutional".
Any act or law that violates the Constitution.
What is the document that is the supreme law of the land, which includes all of our rights and the roles of the government?
Constitution
Which branch of government is the president in? Congress in? Courts in?
President - Executive. Congress - Legislative. Courts - Judicial.
Which of the following was NOT a complaint by the Americans in their Declaration of Independence?
a) Britain placed unfair taxes on the colonists
b)British soldiers were above the law
c) The king had unlimited power
c) The king had unlimited power
One person holds absolute power without restrictions
Dictatorship
Define "separation of powers".
The federal government is divided into 3 branches, each with equal power.
The first ten amendments of the Constitution
Bill of Rights
Which branch enforces laws? creates laws? interprets laws?
Enforces - Executive. Creates - legislative. Interprets - Judicial.
What are three rights listed in the Bill of Rights?
Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. Right to own weapons. Right to a speedy trial. Right to not have our property searched/seized without a warrant. Freedom from torture. Additional rights not listed in the Constitution.
The absence of government
Anarchy
List 3 of the things the Preamble says the government should do for the country.
Establish justice; insure peace and order within our borders; prove defense against enemies; promote the well-being of all people; secure freedom for ourselves and our future generations.
The name of the first government of the U.S. after defeating the British in the Revolutionary War.
Articles of Confederation
What is one power the Judicial Branch has over the other two branches?
The judges and justices can declare any laws or actions unconstitutional.
How many representatives in the Senate does each state get? Does this satisfy large or small states?
Each state gets two senators. This satisfies small states who will not be overpowered by large states.
The people nominate individuals who represent their needs in the government.
Republic
Define "checks and balances". Why did the founding fathers provide checks and balances?
Each branch has certain powers over the other two branches to keep them balanced and in check. They wanted to make sure none of the branches became too powerful or abused their power.
An alliance permitting states or nations to act together on matters of mutual concern
Confederation
What is one power the Legislative Branch has over the Judicial Branch?
Congress approves all nominees for federal judges and supreme court justices.
How are representatives chosen for the House of Representatives? Does this satisfy large or small states?
Each state gets a certain amount of representatives based on their population. This satisfies big states who receive more representatives than small states.
What is an oligarchy?
A small group who hold the power over a country
List 5 things the Preamble says the government should do for the country.
Establish justice; insure peace and order within our borders; prove defense against enemies; promote the well-being of all people; secure freedom for ourselves and our future generations.
What was the Great Compromise?
The Constitutional Convention's agreement to establish a two-house congress.
What is one power the Legislative Branch has over the Executive Branch?
They can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote. They approve/deny nominations for cabinet positions. They may impeach the president.
Why did the founding fathers feel the need to have a separation of powers?
The colonists felt that King George III was too powerful and they feared being ruled by another king. Separation of Powers will prevent any one person from having too much power.