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Government > Unit 3- The Three Branches > Flashcards

Unit 3- The Three Branches Flashcards

(75 cards)

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1
Q

Two houses of Congress

A

House of Representatives

Senate

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2
Q

Reapportionment

A

Article one of the constitution directs congress to reapportion (redistribute) the seats in the House of Representatives after each decennial (10- census years)\

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3
Q

Census

A

The process of periodic checks of population

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4
Q

Gerrymandering

A

The practice of drawing the lines of electoral districts in order to limit the voting strength of a particular group or party (changing district boundaries to benefit certain lawmakers)

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5
Q

Constituent

A

A person represented by a legislature or other elected office

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6
Q

Number of people in the House of Representatives and term length

A

435; 2 years (no term limit)

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7
Q

House of Representatives member requirements

A

Age 25, citizen or naturalized, 7 year resident in state

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8
Q

Who votes for the members in HoR?

A

Only vote in your district

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9
Q

Number of members in the senate and term length

A

100 members; 6 years no term limits

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10
Q

Senate member requirements

A

Age 30, citizen or naturalized, live in state 9 years

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11
Q

Who can vote for senator?

A

Anyone in the state

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12
Q

Duties of HoR and Senate

A

Legislator (makes laws)
Commity members (screen bills)
Constituent representative (rep. Voter’s feelings)
Constituent servant (favors for citizens)
Politicians (keep in touch with party)

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13
Q

Bill

A

A proposed law

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14
Q

Tax

A

A charge the government had people pay to meet expenses

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15
Q

Power to declare war

A

CONGRESS CAN DECLARE WAR, raise and support army/navy, make laws for them, call militia to enforce laws

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16
Q

Copyright

A

The exclusive right of an author to reproduce, publish, and sell his or her work

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17
Q

Patent

A

Gives an inventor the right to make use, or sell “any new and useful art, machine, manufacture… Or any new and useful improvement.”

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18
Q

Trademark

A

Protection for words, phrases, logos, or symbols used to distinguish a product

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19
Q

Necessary and proper clause

A

The clause (elastic clause) states that congress has the power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into the foregoing [expressed] powers”

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20
Q

Impeach

A

Bring charges against

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21
Q

The senates presiding officer is the

A

President pro tempore (when the Vice President is absent)

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22
Q

Resolution

A

A measure relating to the business of either house or expressing an opinion on a matter

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23
Q

Filibuster

A

A stalling tactic by which a minority of senators seek to delay or prevent Senate action on a measure

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24
Q

Quorum

A

A majority of the full membership must be present in order for business to occur

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25
How a bill becomes a law
If it passes the house of rep (Senate), it goes to the Senate (HOR) If it passes both houses, then it goes to President With the president signed it, it becomes law
26
Qualifications to be president
35 years old A natural born citizen Live in the US for 14 (not necessarily consecutive) years
27
22nd amendment
Created in 1944 to limit presidents to no more then two full elected terms in office
28
Presidential succession
``` Vice President Speaker of the house President pro tempore Secretary of state Secretary of the treasury ```
29
25th amendment
Adopted in 1967, the vice President now formally assumes the office of the president. It also addresses the disability issue-VP it's given power during Presidents surgeries and illnesses
30
Formal Duties of the vice President
To press side over the Senate | Help to sign the question of presidential disability and secession
31
Presidential primary
And election in which a courteous voters choose state delegates to send to the national convention and/or express a preference for their parties presidential nomination
32
Election day
On the Tuesday after the first Monday in November (even years) the voters cast their ballots
33
Electors in the electoral college
Each state has as many electors as it had senators and representatives in Congress
34
Responsibilities of the electoral college
Make the formal selection of the president
35
Executive order
Directives, rules, or regulations issued by the president that have the force of law
36
Appointment of cabinet members (who appoints? Who approves?
President appoints members – must be approved by majority vote of the Senate
37
Treaty
A formal agreement between two or more independent states
38
Who approves a treaty
2/3 Vote in the Senate
39
Pardon
Legal forgiveness of a crime
40
Reprieve
The postponement of the carrying out of a criminal sentence
41
Bureaucracy
Large, complex structure that handles the every day business of an organization
42
Federal budget
A very detailed Estimate of receipts and expenditures during the next fiscal year
43
Who decides federal budget
The president creates the budget and Congress approves
44
Controllable (discretionary) spending
Items in the federal budget and that the government can increase or decrease spending on each year
45
Uncontrollable spending
Budget expenses that are either fixed by federal law or are largely out of government control year to year
46
Entitlement
Benefits that must be paid under federal law to everyone who meets the eligibility requirements Examples: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps
47
Article 3
The Constitution created the Supreme Court
48
Precedent
Prior and judicial decisions that guide rulings on similar cases
49
Original jurisdiction
The power held by the first court to hear a case
50
Appellate jurisdiction
The power to hear a case on APPEAL from the court with original jurisdiction (The higher court hears the case, no jury defendant or witnesses)
51
Docket
List of cases to be heard by a court
52
Criminal law
A court case in which a defendant is tried for committing crime; regulates citizens' behavior and protects public order - go to jail
53
plaintiff
The person who files a lawsuit
54
Defendant
The person against whom a legal complaint is made
55
Number of US Supreme Court justices
Nine
56
Civil liberties "protection from"
Freedoms protected against unjust actions taken by the government
57
Civil rights "defended by"
Freedom is protected by positive actions taken by the government
58
14th amendment
It includes a due process clause, and states have to follow the Bill of Rights. They can't deny basic rights
59
First Amendment
Ratified in 1791, gives people freedom and five areas: religion, press, speech, petition, and assembly. It is the right to hear what others have to say
60
Due process
The guarantee is that the government will act fairly and according to the law
61
Search warrant
A court order authorizing a search
62
Second amendment
Protects "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." It also protects the right of each state to keep a militia
63
Fourth amendment
It is illegal, in most cases, for the government to search a home out good reason
64
Probable cause
Reasonable suspicion of a crime
65
Indictment
A formal complaint made to a grand jury that charges the accused with one or more crimes
66
Fifth amendment
The accused doesn't have to prove his/her innocence. Don't have to testify against yourself
67
Double jeopardy
Principle that holds that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime
68
Miranda rule
The requirement that police officers must inform suspects of their constitutional rights before questioning them
69
Sixth amendment
The defendant must be told the reason for the charge. It also covers other rights as well
70
Eighth amendment
Protections for those being punished for crimes (excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment)
71
Bail
Money deposited by an accused person with the court to guarantee that he/she will appear in court
72
Capital punishment
A.k.a. death penalty we currently use the method of lethal injection
73
Segregation
The separation of one group from another From another on the basis of race
74
Citizen
A person who owes allegiance to the US and is under the protection of its laws
75
Civil law
A court case dealing with a noncriminal disputes; deals with citizens' behavior that doesn't involve a crime

Government (4 decks)

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