Social Studies Test 2 Flashcards
(14 cards)
Federal system
Both state and national government should share power
Supreme Court
Highest court in the United States
Why did the delegates create a federal government?
“The delegates to the Constitutional Convention agreed that both state and national governments should share powers.”
TO SHARE POWERS
Name and describe the three branches of government.
Legislative Branch “Congress (elected) Passes laws, approves spending and taxes, can override vetoes.”
Executive Branch “ President (elected) Enforces laws, Commander-in-Chief of military, Signs or vetoes laws.”
Judicial Branch “Supreme court and federal courts (appointed), Decided Constitutional questions about law.”
Legislative Branch
“Congress (elected) Passes laws, approves spending and taxes, can override vetoes.”
Executive Branch
President (elected) Enforces laws, Commander-in-Chief of military, Signs or vetoes laws.”
Judicial Branch
“Supreme court and federal courts (appointed), Decided Constitutional questions about law.”
What are checks and balances?
The system of keeping one branch from gaining too much power is known as checks and balances.”
How can Congress override a presidential veto?
“Congress can override, or cancel, the President’s veto with a two-thirds vote in each house.”
What is meant by judicial review?
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court and Federal courts (appointed)
Decides Constitutional questions about laws”
Why did the delegates believe that power should be shared among the three branches?
To be sure no one branch of government could dominate the others.
Steps to Approval
ratify-officially approve
bill of rights-statement of liberties of the liberties guaranteed by the government to the people
amendments-changes to the Constitution
What did the Federalists do to assure people that the central government would not become too powerful?
“Federalists such as Virginia’s Madison and New York’s Hamilton believed that without ratification by large states, the Constitution, and the federal government would be weak.”
The Founding Fathers provided many ways that federal and state governments, as well as different branches within the government did not become too powerful.
Why was this important?
Give at least three examples from the text.
- through checks and balances
- They wanted to make sure that no branch of the US government could become as capable as the king or British lawmakers.
- James Madison believed that, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” In other words, if men were better behaved we wouldn’t need a government
- the Founding Fathers wanted to make sure that the people were treated fairly by the government, this is why the Bill of Rights was made.
