Origins of Government
What is the definition of government?
The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies
What document did the Constitution replace?
What is The Articles of Confederation?
What is referred to as the lower house of Congress? Upper house?
What is the House of Representatives? What is the Senate?
The people chosen by the voters in each state to cast the vote for President & Vice-President:
What is electors of the Electoral College?
How does the Judicial Branch check the Legislative and Executive branches?
Judicial Review = determine the constitutionality of laws or executive action
How is the U.S. a representative democracy?
Citizens elect groups to make laws and policies for them
What branches of government does the constitution have that the articles didn't?
What is executive and judicial?
A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate
What is a filibuster?
What is the term limit of the President? How many terms can he serve?
Bonus: What's the exception?
4-year terms; can serve two full terms
Exception: if a person serves as President more than two years of the 4-year term of another person that was elected President (they became President not through election), then they may only be elected once afterwards.
How long are terms for Supreme Court Justices?
Lifetime term
What did the Roman Republic introduce to governance?
The concept of representation
The first 10 amendments of the Constitution.
What is the Bill of Rights?
The length of terms served by members of the House of Representatives and Senators.
What is 2 years and 6 years?
What are the three requirements to become President of the United States?
35 years old or older; a natural born citizen (born in the US or born to American parents abroad; do not need to go through naturalization process); and reside in the US for at least 14 years.
What is the term that means the judges look to similar previous court cases in order to make their decisions?
precedent or stare decisis
What is the principle of majority rule with minority rights?
Decisions are made by the majority, but the rights of minority groups are protected
The part of the Constitution that defines the job of each branch of government.
What are the first 3 articles?
The party leader that has the task of pushing party issues on the floor of each house
What is the majority leader?
Describe the two ways the President can reject a bill from Congress, not allowing the bill to become law
directly vetoing the bill, sending it back to Congress; or giving a pocket veto (not signing a bill for 10 days and Congress is not in session)
Whose job is to review decisions of lower district courts
Appellate Courts
The idea that individuals form governments to protect their safety and well-being by giving up some power.
social contract theory
What are the three types of power that a government implements?
Express/enumerated; implied; and inherent powers
What are the five non-legislative powers of Congress?
Electoral Duties, Impeachment, Executive Powers (Treaty Ratification, Confirming Presidential Appointments, etc.); Investigation/Oversight; and Constitutional Amendments
What are the nine roles that the President serves?
Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Diplomat, Chief of Party, Commander-in-Chief, Chief Administrator, Chief Citizen, Chief Legislator, and Chief Economist
How are decisions made in the Appellate Courts and in the Supreme Court?
by majority vote (2-1 for Appellate Cts; 5-4 for Supreme Court)