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24 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What is the name of the highest court in the United States? How many judges serve on this court and how long do they serve for? |
Supreme Court, 9, for life |
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How can the Constitution be amended or changed? How many times has this happened? |
2/3 vote of House and Senate, and then approved by 3/4 of states, 27 times. |
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Why did the framers make the Constitution so difficult to change? |
They wanted it to be a little flexible, but they liked what they had and didn't want it changing with each election. |
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What were two point of conflict between the northern and southern states at the Constitutional Convention? How were these two issues resolved in the Constitution? |
Issue- Should slaves count for deciding how many votes and how much taxes each state would have. Should government be able to tax trade. Resolution- slaves count as 3/5 of a person, government can tax trade. |
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What was the big issue between the large population states and the small population states at the convention? How was it resolved? |
Issue- how many votes (representatives) should each state get? Solution- Senate favors small states with two votes per state. House favors large states with votes determined by population. |
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Term/Requirements/Number or Amount for: President- House Of Rep- Senate- |
President- 4 yrs/35, 14 years citizenship, born in the US/1 House of Representatives-2 yrs/25, 7 yrs a citizen, live in state/ 435 Senate- 6 yrs/30, 9 yrs citizenship, live in state/100 |
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What is the elastic clause and why is it important? |
It allows congress to make all laws necessary and proper which allows congress to stretch it's power. |
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Which branch of our gov. can make laws? |
Legislative Branch. President can veto and Supreme court can declare laws unconstitutional. |
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Draw a diagram showing how a bill becomes a law. |
House->Senate->President->Law->Veto->House->Congress override with 2/3 vote |
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If the supreme court declares a law unconstitutional is there anything Congress can do? Explain. |
Congress can amend the constitution. |
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What are two checks on the powers of the President? Be sure to make it clear which of the other two branches is involved. |
Congress controls military budget, congress an impeach the president. |
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Explain the ideas of "checks and balances" a "separation of powers" as they were used in the Constitution. Which ancient culture did Madison borrow these ideas from? |
SoP: Split power into 3 branches so none have total power C&B: each branch can block the powers of the other two. Rome. |
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Give the common name for each branch. Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. |
L: Congress E: President J: Supreme/Federal |
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What were two reasons the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution? |
To protect the rights of Americans, so the Constitution would be approved. |
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Are your rights in the Bill of Rights total and absolute? If not when can they be limited? |
They are NOT absolute. Your rights can be limited when they violate the rights of others. |
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What is the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? |
DoI: Our ideals and declares our independence. C: Our supreme set of laws. |
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Judicial Review- |
power of supreme court to declare laws and actions unconstitutional |
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compromise- |
both sides agree by giving up a little bit of what they wanted |
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Shays Rebellion- |
angry mass. Farmers show need for stronger gov and constitution. |
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ratify- |
to approve of a law or treaty |
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veto- |
to block a law |
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Electoral College- |
electors from each state who elect the President |
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impeach- |
to kick out of office |
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What are the Articles of Confederation? What were three major problems with them? |
The original US Constitution. Gov has no ability to tax, takes 9/13 votes to approve anything, national gov is too weak. |