How the federal Government works – Flashcards
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Congress is made up of 2 bodies. Name them.
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House of Representatives and the Senate
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How many members are in the House of Representatives?
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435 members
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How is the number of representatives determined for each state? What is their term of office?
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Members are based on population, but every state gets atleast one representative. The members have a two year term.
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What is the leader of the House called?
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Speaker
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What is the job of the Speaker of the House?
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the Speaker regulates debates and controls the agenda. The speaker is next inline for the Vice President if something happens to the President. he would become the vice president and the vice president would become presiident
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How many Senators are from each state? What is their term of office?
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two senteters for each state. six-year terms.
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What is the 17th Amendment?
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It says that the senators will be directly elected by the people
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What job does the Vice President have over the Senate?
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The Vice President is the president of the senate. He presides over the Senate and casts a vote when there is a tie.
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Who takes the Vice President's job if he is absent?
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The temporary president presides for the president.
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What is the most important power of Congress?
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make the nation's laws.
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What is a bill?
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laws that start as proposals.
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How does a bill become a law?
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After the bill is introduced, it is debated. If both houses approve it, it is sent to the President. He must sign it before it becomes a law.
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What is the elastic clause
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it enables Congress to stretch its powers to deal with needs of the nation.
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What is a standing committee?
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It is a committee that deals with specific topics. Members that have served in Congress will usually be appointed to the most important committees.
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What is a joint committee?
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It is a committee that is made up of both the Senate and the House members. One of the most important kinds of joint committees is the conference committee. The conference committee settle differences between the House and the senate.
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Who is part of the executive branch of government?
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The president, the Vice President, the Cabinet, and the many departments and agencies.
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What does the President do?
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He has the duty to carry out the nation's laws. He directs foreign policies and has the power to make treaties with other nations and to appoint ambassadors. He also suggests laws and works for their passage. He can grant pardons and call special sessions of Congress. He is also the living symbol of the nation.
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Who is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces?
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The President is.
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Who has the power to declare War?
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Congress.
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How long is a presidential term?
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four-year term
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What is the Twenty-second Amendment?
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The president cannot have more than two terms
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What is the Electoral College?
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a complex system for electing the President
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Explain how the Electoral College works?
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The votes for who we voted for do not dirently to the canidate, instead the vote goes to a group of electors who are plegded to the canidate. The numbers of elctors depends on the number of its Senators and Representitives.
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Where do most federal cases begin?
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in district courts
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What is an appeal?
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ask that the decision be reviewed by a higher court
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What is the next level of courts after the district courts?
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appellate court or court of appeal
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What does the appellate court do?
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they decided if the district court interpreted and applied the law correctly.
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What court is at the top of the American judicial system?
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Supreme Court
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How are decisions made at the Supreme Court?
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They hear and decide fewer than 100 cases, than they vote.
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What is the greatest power of the Supreme Court?
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to decide what the Constitution means
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What does unconstitutional mean?
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not allowed
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Explain the system of Checks and Balances?
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it allows the three branches of government to check, or limit the power of the other two
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What does veto mean?
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reject
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What does override mean?
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overule
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What does impeach mean?
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make charges of serious wrongdoing against
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Which presidents have been impeached?
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Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton
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Were these impeached presidents convicted?
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no
