Unit 4 National Government Notes Questions

Question 1

What outlines the structure of our national government?

Answer 1

The Constitution

Question 2

What is federalism?

Answer 2

the national ans state governments both have power

Question 3

What at level of government is supreme?

Answer 3

national

Question 4

What are the primary responsibilities of national government?

Answer 4

conduct foreign policy, regulate commerce, provide for the common defense

Question 5

What is foreign policy?

Answer 5

It is our country’s relationship with other countries

Question 6

What is commerce?

Answer 6

trade( national government regulates trade between states and other countries)t

Question 7

What are reserved powers

Answer 7

Powers set aside for state government

Question 8

Which amendment created reserved powers

Answer 8

10th ammendment

Question 9

What is a federal mandate

Answer 9

It is when national government requires action by the state governments; often produces tension between governments

Question 10

What are examples of reserved powers

Answer 10

licensing, educating, promoting public health, safety, and welfare

Question 11

What are concurrent powers?

Answer 11

National and state governments

Question 12

What are the three branches of government?

Answer 12

legislative, executive, and judicial

Question 13

What does separation of powers mean?

Answer 13

each branch of government is given separate and distinct powers.

Question 14

What are checks and balances?

Answer 14

Each branch has the power to limit the powers of the other branches.

Question 15

What is congress?

Answer 15

Legislative branch

Question 16

What does bicameral mean

Answer 16

two chambers

Question 17

What is legislative?

Answer 17

Lawmaking body

Question 18

What are the two chambers of congress

Answer 18

House of representatives and senate

Question 19

What is the census

Answer 19

A count of the number of citizens in every state

Question 20

The house was meant to represent?

Answer 20

the people

Question 21

The senate was meant to represent?

Answer 21

the states

Question 22

what is the total number of both the house and the senate

Answer 22

535

Question 23

How many members are in the senate

Answer 23

100

Question 24

How long is a Senate term

Answer 24

6 years

Question 25

How many Senators from each state?

Answer 25

2

Question 26

How many members are in the House?

Answer 26

435

Question 27

How long is a House term?

Answer 27

2 years

Question 28

What are expressed powers?

Answer 28

The powers of Congress that are specifically listed (written) in the Constitution.

Question 29

What are examples of expressed powers

Answer 29

making laws for the nation, approving the annual budget, raising revenue(money) taxes, fees, & fines, confirming presidential appointments, regulating interstate and foreign rate, declaring war

Question 30

What are implied powers?

Answer 30

These are powers that are not stated in the Constitution but are used to carry out expressed powers

Question 31

What is the main function (job) of Congress?

Answer 31

making laws

Question 32

Why are laws created?

Answer 32

In order to fix issues or problems

Question 33

What are basic steps for how a bill becomes a law?

Answer 33

1. Introduce the bill in either the House or Senate 2. Assign the bill to a committee 3. Debated on the floor of the House or Senate(which one it was Introduced in) 3. Vote in the House or Senate (which one it was introduced in) 5. Sent to the other chamber of Congress where steps 2-2 are repeated 6. If the bill passes both chambers of the congress, it goes to the president who can either veto it (stop it)

Question 34

What is lobbying?

Answer 34

Is how indivisuals or interest groups try to influence legislators to introduce or vote for or against a particular bill

Question 35

What is a bill?

Answer 35

A draft of law

Question 36

How can individuals shape legislation or influence policy making?

Answer 36

voting, campaigning or holding office: join an interest group

Question 37

What do interest groups do?

Answer 37

Identify issues of importance, make political contributions (give money) to political campaigns, lobbying

Question 38

Who is in charge of running the federal government including overseeing the Cabinet departments, executive agencies, and regulatory groups?

Answer 38

The president

Question 39

What does the Cabinet do?

Answer 39

Advises the president and helps run the various departments of the federal government (ex: Department of Defense, department of Justice, etc.)

Question 40

What is the main job of the executive branch?

Answer 40

Enforce the laws, carry out the laws, execute the laws

Question 41

What is the president's role in lawmaking process?

Answer 41

propose legislation approve or vet legislation

Question 42

What is the president's role as Chief of State?

Answer 42

carry out the laws by appointing officials appeal to citizens to support or reject legislation