STUDY GUIDE - CONSTITUTION FLASH CARDS NAME: Background information What was the first national government of the country called? Why was a new Constitution needed? What powers did Congress have under the Articles of Confederation? Articles of Confederation Weakness in the Articles of Confederation - Most power held by state - one branch of government - legislative branch had few powers - no executive branch - no judicial system - no system of checks and balances Power to settle conflicts among the states, issue coins, borrow money, make treaties with other countries and Native Americans. Congress could ask states for money and soldiers but the states had power to refuse requests. Define Bicameral Two houses Define Unicameral One house Where was the Constitution written? Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Independence Hall What was the event called that showed that American needed a stronger central government? Shays' Rebellion What was the solution between the large and small states of representation in Congress called? What was the Virginia Plan? What was the New Jersey Plan? The Great Compromise Sovereignty to eh central government, Bicameral legislature - basis of state population Power to state government - Unicameral Legislature - Equal number of representatives When was the Constitution written? 1787 When were the Bill of Rights ratified? 1791 What is the purpose of the Preamble? KNOW THE ENTIRE PREAMBLE Give an introduction and summary of the Constitution Who is considered the "Father of the constitution" Who was President of the Constitutional Convention? James Madison George Washington Define Treason Giving help to our Nation's enemies Define Suffrage The right to VOTE
What is the Capitol of the United States? Washington, D.C. Define Census Total Population count taken every 10 years When is Constitution Day? What document was considered the "Supreme Law of the Land" Legislative Branch September 17th The U.S. Constitution What is the main job of the Legislative Branch? Make the Laws How many houses make up Congress? 2 Houses What is the Upper House? Senate - TOTAL 100 MEMBERS What is the Lower House? What is the age requirement to become a member of the House of Representatives? What is the citizenship requirement to become a member of the House of Representatives? What is the residency requirement to become a member of the House of Representatives? How long is the term for a member of the House of Representatives? House of Representatives - TOTAL 435 MEMBERS 25 years old 7 years in the U.S. They must live in the state he/she represents 2 year term When is the Census taken? What is the Census information used for? Which house of Congress has the power to impeach a government official? every 10 years To determine the number of representatives a state has in the house of representatives House of Representatives Tax bills must begin in which house of Congress? Who is the official that runs the meeting in the House of Representatives? What powers are given only to the House of Representatives? What is the age requirement to become a member of the Senate? What is the citizenship requirement to become a member of the Senate? What is the residency requirement to become a member of the Senate? House of Representatives Speaker of the House Power to imitate tax bills, power of impeachment, elect President if not electoral college majority 30 years old 9 years U.S. Citizen They must live in the state he/she represents
How long is the term for a member of the Senate? 6 year term How many senators are in each state? 2 senators per state - TOTAL 100 MEMBERS Who is the leader of the Senate? Who takes over leading the Senate is the Vice President is absent? What house of Congress serves as court and ties all impeachment cases? What house of Congress has 1/3 of its members reelected at one time? What powers are solely granted to the Senate? How does a bill become a law? What is the elastic clause? What does it mean that Congress has implied powers? Vice President President Pro Tempore Senate Senate Ratifies treaties, confirms presidential appointments and tires impeachment cases (1) Bill gets introduced (2)House or Senate Committee Vote - 2/3s Pass (3) Senate or House of Representatives Committee Vote 2/3s Pass (4) President - Sign, Veto, Pocket Vet (5) if needed 2/3 vote of congress to override President's veto or dead bill Gives Congress the power "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper" to carry out its responsibilities Not all powers of congress are listed in the constitution but Congress can has power of them Where does this branch meet? What powers are listed in the Constitutions for Congress? What are some powers of Congress? What are some specific powers of the Senate? What are some specific powers of the House of Representatives? The Capitol Building Expressed Powers Coin money, borrow money, raise military, declare war, regulate trade, set up federal courts Confirm U.S. Treaties by 2/3 vote - Confirm all President's appointments, sits as jury during impeachments - decides who will be Vice-President is no candidate receives a majority electoral vote Originates all revenue bills, Votes to impeach federal officials, decides who will be president is no candidate receives majority of votes Executive Branch What are the names of our current President and Vice President? To be elected President, a candidate must receive the most votes from who? Barack Obama and Joe Biden Electoral College How many Electoral Votes are needed to become President? 270
What is the age requirements for President? 35 years old What is the citizenship requirement for President? Natural born U.S. Citizen What is the residency requirement for President? Resident of the U.S for 14 years How long is the President's term? 4 years what is the term limit? 2 terms When does the President's term begin? January 20th - after the November election Who appoints Federal judges and ambassadors? Senate What is the order/line of succession for the President? When a bill is passes by Congress, what actions can the President take? For a bill to be passed over a president's veto it must be approved by how much of both houses of Congress Vice President - Speaker of the House - President Pro Tempore - Secretary of State through all Cabinet members Sign it - Veto it or Pocket Veto it 2/3 vote in each house of Congress What is the main job of the Executive Branch? Enforce the laws What is the job of the Cabinet? Advise the President As chief executive the President's role is To see that federal laws are carried out and enforced As chief of state the President's role is As commander in chief the President's role to be in charge of U.S. relations with other countries is to be in charge of all men and women who serve in the United States Armed Services. Where does this branch meet? The White House How many Cabinet positions are there? 15 Departments Can you name 5 of the Cabinet Departments? State - the Treasury - Defense - Justice - Interior - Agriculture - Commerce - Labor - Health and Human Services - Housing and Urban Development - Transportation - Energy - Education - Veteran Affairs - Homeland Security
Judicial Branch What is the term of a judge? Life What is the main job of the Judicial Branch? Interprets the laws What is the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court? The entire United States? How many judges serve on the U.S. Supreme Court? Nine - One Chief Justice and 8 other justices Who can declare a law unconstitutional? The Supreme Court What is the voting age in the United States? List three types of Federal Courts from highest power to lowest power. What is the age requirement for being Supreme Court judge? What cases are appellate jurisdiction? What is cases are original jurisdiction? 18 years old Supreme Court, Appellate Court, Circuit/District Court No age requirement When the Supreme Court hears a case in their court for the first time. When a lower court has heard the case before it comes before the Supreme Court. Where does this branch meet? Supreme Court Building AMENDMENTS How many total Amendments are there? 27 Total Amendments What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called? The Bill Of Rights - Ratified 1791 What is the 1st Amendment? Five Freedoms - Freedoms of Speech - Religion - Press - Assembly and Petition What is the 2nd Amendment? What is the 3rd Amendment? Right to bear arms for national security Citizens have the right to refuse soldiers being lodged in their homes - Quartering of Soldiers What is the 4th Amendment? What is the 5th Amendment? Unreasonable search and seizures - Citizens have the right to privacy for themselves, their home and belongings. Searches must be reasonable and done with a search warrant. Right to due process of law, no double jeopardy - "I plead the Fifth" Citizens have rights in Court. They cannot be tried twice for the same crime, do no have to testify against themselves, and must have due process of the law.
What is the 6th Amendment? Right to a public trial, right a lawyer -- Citizens have the right to a speedy and public trial What is the 7th Amendment? Right to a jury trial - Citizens have the right to a jury trial. What is the 8th Amendment? What is the 9th Amendment? What is the 10th Amendment? Excessive bail, no cruel and unusual punishment - Citizens have the right to reasonable bail, fines and punishment Rights not listed in the constitution - Citizens have right not listed in the Constitution Rights to the people and the states - Powers not listed and given to the federal governments belong to the states and the people What is the 13th Amendment? Abolition of Slavery - Ended Slavery What is the 14th Amendment? Former slaves granted Citizenship What is the 15th Amendment? Black Suffrage- African American Males given the right to vote What is the 18th Amendment? Prohibition of alcoholic beverages What is the 19th Amendment? Women's Suffrage - Women given the right to vote What is the 21st Amendment? Repeal of Prohibition What is the 26th Amendment? Eighteen- year old vote --- Voting age is 18 years old FLAG What does the Stripes represent? Original 13 Colonies What do the 50 Stars represent? Current number of states What do the colors mean? Blue - Vigilance, perseverance, and justice White - Purity Red - Courage The flag is a pledge to what? Our loyalty to the United States and its ideals. What is our National Anthem The Star Spangled Banner