each side giving up a little to get a workable plan
checks and balances
each branch making sure other branches weren't getting too much power
apportionment
changing boundaries of voting districts so they all have about the same amount of people
Domestic Tranquility
peace within our country
impeachment
charging a govn't official of wrong doing
Pro Tempore
termporary
Franking Privilege
free mail for congressmen
Elastic Clause
stretching the Constitution to allow for future laws
Popular Sovereignty
people vote
suffrage
to vote
Writ of Habeous Corpus
written statement explaining to the court what a prisoner is being charged with
Bill of Attainder (illegal)
to declare a person guilty of a crime with no trial
Ex Post Facto Law (illegal)
a laew wich punishes you for an act that wasn't illegal when you did it
Appropriation Bill
any bill dealing with money
concurrent powers
powers shared by state and federal governments
veto
to refuse to sign a bill into law
List the levels of laws in order from highest.
US Constituion; US Supreme Court Decisions; State consitutions; State Court Decisions; City charters (Ordinances); City municipal)Court Decisions
How many votes in Congress can override the President's veto?
2/3
1st Amendment
Freedom of religion, press, speech, petition, assembly
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms
4th Amendment
Search and Seizures
5th Amendment
Don't have to testify against yourself in a court of law
6th Amendment
Due Process - prompt trial, imparital jury, lawyer, witnesses
12th Amendment
Election of President and Vice President on separate ballots
13th Amendment
Freed Slaves
14th Amendment
Gave citizenship to former slaves (Civil Rights)
15th Amendment
Gave the vote to black males (former slaves)
16th Amendment
income tax
18th Amendment
prohibition
19th Amendment
women got vote
21st Amendment
repeal prohibition
26th Amendment
18 year olds got vote
Who takes over if the President dies?
Vice President
Who is the head of the Senate?
Vice President
Who is the head of the House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
Who is the head of the Supreme Court?
Chief Justice
What is the Introduction to the Constitution called?
Preamble
How long is one term of a Senator?
6 years
How old must he be to run?
30
How long is one term of a Representative?
2 years
How old must he be to run?
25
How long is a Supreme Court Justice in office?
life
How old must a president be?
35
How long is one term for a President?
4 years
How many amendments are there total?
27
Know the powers of government under the Aricles of Confederation and the Constitution.
(blank)
Why did some states hesitate ratifying the Articles of Confederation?
because some states claimed western lands and others didn't
What convinced states to finally sign the Articles of Confederation?
All states agreed to give up their western claim
Explain the Land Ordinance of 1785.
(blank)
Explain the Northwest Ordinance.
(blank)
Where did the leaders meet to discuss the problem of the Articles of Confederation?
Philadelphia
What did the meeting to discuss the problem of the Articles of Confederation accomplish?
got rid of Articles of Confederation and wrote Constitution
What was the meeting to discuss the problems of the Articles of Confederation called?
Constitutional Convention
Describe the New Jersey Plan.
1 house; each state would send equal representatives
Describe the Virginia Plan.
2 houses; upper house chosen by people directly; lower house chosen by people of upper house; number of representatives based on state's population
Explain the Great Compromise.
Congress consists of Senate (2 Senators per state) and House of Representatives ( # of reps based on state's population)
Explain the 3/5 compromise.
each slave in the South would count as 3/5 fo a person or every 5 slaves equalled 3 people
Explain the compromise the delegates ofthe Constitutional Convention made over trade.
Trade would be regulated by Congress; they could regulate foreign trade, but slave trade couldn't be touched for 20 years
Explain the Electoral College and show how it works.
# of Rep. + # of Senators = number of Electors
What were the first two political parties.
Federalists; Anti-Federalists
What did Federalists believe in?
for passage of Constitution
What did Anti-Federalists believe in?
Against passage of Constitution until delegates agreed to add Bill of Rights
How many branches of government are there?
3
What are the branches of governement and what does each branch do?
Executive - carries out (enforces) laws; Legislative - makes laws; Judicial - interprets laws
Name the powers of the Legislative Branch.
pass laws, tax, borrow money, coin money, approve treaties, naturalization laws, bankruptcy laws,regulate trade between US and foreign countries, regulate trade between states (more)
Name the powers fo the Executive Branch.
make treaties, appoint cabinet, appoint Sup. Ct. Justices; appoint ambassadors, request laws, veto, head of political party, appoint cabinet, pardon prisoners for Fed. crimes, Commander in Chief of Army and Navy, issue executive orders
How does a bill usually become a law?
Both houses pass with Simple Majority and signed by President
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