Repuplicanism
- the belief that government should be based on the consent of the people
- citizens exercise their power by voting for political representataives
Limited Government
- everyone, citizens and powerful leaders alike, must obey the law
- individuals or groups cannot twist or bypass the law to save their own interests
Define popular sovereignty
the idea that the authority of government comes from the people
What is the main job of the legislative branch
make laws
List the number and names of the house of congress
There are two houses and they are called the House of Representatives and the Senate
What is the role of the Vise-President in the senate
The Vise-President acts as president in the Senate & only vote if the Senate is equally divide
describe the Impeachment power of Congress
- House of Representatives shall have sole power of impeachment( Impeachment can only start in the House of Representatives
- the Senate shall have sole power to try impeachment (an Impeachment trial is held in the senate
Describe all the steps for a bill to become al law
Step 1: A Bill Is Born
Step 2: Committee Action
Step 3: Subcommittee Review
Step 4: Mark up
Step 5: Committee Action to Report a Bill
Step 6: Voting
Step 7: Referral to Other Chamber
Step 8: Conference Committee Action
What is the elastic clause?
gives congress the flexibility needed to do its job
what is the main job of the executive branch
enforce laws
what does the electoral collage do and what is the number of electors from each state is based on
- a group of people elected by the state to vote for the president they want
- the numbers of electors from each state is based on the population in each state
who can be impeached and for what reasons
president,vise-president, & all civil officers shall be impeached for treason, bribery, or other high crimes
what is the main job of the judicial branch
interpret laws
Dife judicial review
the power of the supreme court to decide whether laws and acts made by the legislative and executive branches are unconstitutional
Define trial by jury
trials of all crimes, except impeachment ,must be by a jury in the state where the crime was committed
define treason and what testimony is required to conflict someone for it
Treason against the US is when a citizen wages war against the US or aids an enemy of the US. 2 people have to witness the act or a confession needs to be made in open court
Define checks and balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
who can propose amendments
it is proposed by two-thirds of each house of congress
what are the requirements for ratification of amendments
- it may be approved by the legislative in at least three-fourths of the states
- it may be ratified by special conventions in at least three-fourths of the states
defined federalism
the sharing of government
Federal government and state government
What is the supreme law of the land"?
the Constitution, national laws, and treaties
Legislative Branch
number of members: House - 435 Senate - 100
Length of term: House - 2 Senate - 6
Residency Requirements House - State in which elected Senate - state in which elected
Age Requirements: House - 25 Senate - 30
Citizenship Requirements: House - 7 Senate - 9
Executive Branch
number of members: 1
Length of term: 4
Residency Requirements: 14
Age Requirements: 35
Citizenship Requirements: Natural- born citizen
Power of this branch: 1. to make treaties
2. take care that laws be faithfully executed
Judicial Branch
Number of members: 9
Length of Term: unlimited
Residency Requirements: unlimited
Age Requirements: unlimited
Citizenship Requirements:unlimited
Power of this branch: 1. judge all cases arising from the constitution, laws, and treaties
2. interpret the Con