study questions Gov Flashcards
(45 cards)
What are the Articles of Confederation?
the nation’s first national constitution, which established a national form of government following the American Revolution. The Articles provided for a confederal form a government in which the central government had few powers.
What is a confederation?
a league of independent states that are united only for the purpose of achieving common goals.
What problems led to a desire to change the Articles of Confederation?
government had no power, the states had all of the powers, the us had no revenue they couldn’t build anything,
What did Framers of the Constitution want to do and what did they fear?
elistists were only allowed to vote and be in charge, rich male whites, a lot of property, they didnt want to lose control of the country. they didnt want the mob to attack them
What are the 3 branches of government?
Judicual,executive, legasltive,
What is the Great Compromise?
strengthen national government, life liberty property, consent of the government, elistists want to be protected from the people (the mob)
What are expressed powers?
constitutional or statutary powers that are expressly provided for the constitution.
expressed powers of the president
veto legislation; pardon power; Commander-in-Chief; appointment power (don’t need to know everyone he can appoint); negotiate treaties
expressed powers of Congress
power to tax and borrow; power of the purse (only money appropriated by Congress available); declare war; regulate interstate commerce (Commerce Clause); pass legislation; impeachment of president, vice-president, and federal judges
How does the elastic clause (necessary and proper clause) affect the powers of Congress?
gives congress the power to make all laws “necessary and proper” for the federal government to carry out its responsibilites
What is impeachment?
Someone is removed from office
Who can Congress impeach and how?
The president, single majority in the house, then goes to senate to convince and remove by 2/3 of votes. only Johnson and Clinton were impeached
What is judicial independence and from whom are federal judges independent?
independence from the president, the people, and congress. The supreme court
How can the Constitution be amended? and how to ratify amendments.
Article 5: The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress;
Ratification
is a principal’s approval of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal.
Why did the Framers create indirect election?
The framers believed that having state legislatures elect senators would strengthen the states’ ties to the national government and increase the chances for ratification of the Constitution. They hoped the arrangement would give state political leaders a sense of participation, calming their fears about a strong central government
What indirect election still exists?
Electoral collages
What is the job of the Electoral College?
To elect the president
Does the Supremacy Clause mean that federal law always overrides state law?
usually but not always, example drugs, tickets,
What is a Presidential System?
A presidential system is a system of government where an executive branch is led by a president who serves as both head of state and head of government. In such a system, this branch exists separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which it cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss.
What is a Federalist System?
a central government that has certain powers, with the state as the basic unit of political power. The allocation of power between the state and federal government has been a point of contention from the Articles of Confederation to the present day.
What is a self-limiting government?
is a system in which the citizens of a country (or smaller political unit, such as a state) rule themselves and control their own affairs. Self-governments are free from external government control or outside political authority. Republican government and democracy in the United States are based on principles of self-government.
Why did the Founders want a “self-limiting government” with a system of checks and balances?
other branches of gov think that one branch has too much power they can take it away. if a court makes a ruling on a law and if congress doesnt like it they can change it. congress can change an ammendment too.
Legislative checks and balances.
Legislative checks executive and judicial by impeachment.
