ROLE of This Branch

INTRO TO U.S. CONSTITUTION / AMERICAN GOVERNMENT CLASS NOTES / STUDY GUIDE

CONSTITUTION BASICS

How did the United States get its Constitution? (or to break this question down into parts…)

~When was it created? ~How was it created?

~Why was it created? ~What had to happen for it to go into effect?

What kind of government does the U.S. Constitution create?

·  What is a FEDERAL system of government?

·  What is a REPUBLIC?

What are the three branches of government that the Constitution creates?

ROLE of this Branch? / WHO is this branch?
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
JUDICIAL BRANCH

What goals does the preamble state? Give an example of how the Constitution or federal government attempts to fulfill a goal stated in the preamble.

How is the Constitution organized?

The PREAMBLE -
ARTICLE 1:
ARTICLE 2:
ARTICLE 3: / ARTICLE 4:
ARTICLE 5:
ARTICLE 6:
ARTICLE 7:
The AMENDMENTS

CONGRESS

What are the two houses of Congress? How many members are there in each house?

What is EQUAL REPRESENTATION? Which house of Congress is based on it?

What is PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION? Which house of Congress is based on it?

What LEGISLATIVE power does Congress have?

What is a BILL?

Which house of Congress can a BILL be introduced into?

Which house of Congress does a Bill have to pass to become law?

What happens to most Bills? Do they get passed?

What are some examples of NON-LEGISLATIVE powers of Congress?

What powers does the Constitution grant to Congress ? (name three from the list in Article I section 8)

What powers are denied to Congress by the Constitution? (name three from the list in Article I section 9)

CONGRESS (cont’d)

What is the ELASTIC CLAUSE?

U.S. SENATE

Term of Office /
re-election/term limits / Qualifications of Office / How are they elected? / Current office holder

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Term of Office /
re-election/term limits / Qualifications of Office / How are they elected? / Current office holder for your congressional district
Who is the leader of the House of Reps? Who currently holds this position?
What is a CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT?
How many Congressional districts are there in NY State?

The PRESIDENT

Term of Office / re-election/term limits / Qualifications of Office / How is the Pres elected? / Current officeholders for President and Vice President :

What military power does the president have?

What positions in the Federal government does the President APPOINT? Who has to approve these appointments?

What FOREIGN POLICY powers does the president have?

·  How are TREATIES made?

·  Who has to RATIFY (approve) treaties?

What LEGISLATIVE powers does the president have?

What is the STATE OF THE UNION?

What checks do Congress and the President have on each other?

·  What is a VETO?

·  How can Congress OVERRIDE a veto?

·  Which house of Congress can RATIFY or reject a Treaty?

·  Which house of Congress can confirm (approve) or reject Presidential appointments?

·  What is IMPEACHMENT? What can Presidents be impeached for?

The PRESIDENT (contd)

·  What is the House’s role in an impeachment? What is the Senate’s role in impeachment?

·  What presidents have been impeached? How many were removed from office?

The SUPREME COURT & FEDERAL COURTS

Term of Office + re-election/term limits / Qualifications of Office / How are they elected/chosen?
How many Supreme Court Justices are there?
Who is currently Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?

What is JUDICIAL REVIEW?

What Checks do Congress and the President have on the Supreme and Federal Courts?

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

How can the Constitution be amended?

How many Constitutional amendments are there?

What is the BILL OF RIGHTS? How does it limit the government?

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS (contd)

What kind of rights are protected in the Bill of Rights?

How have constitutional amendments expand voting rights?

How have constitutional amendment altered one of the branches of government (like the method of election, term limits, etc.)

THE STATES / FEDERALISM

Define FEDERALISM

Which states have written Constitutions? What do these state constitutions do?

What kind of government is each state guaranteed according to the Constitution?

How are state governments organized?

What powers are denied to the states by the Constitution? (give two examples)

What does the Constitution mean when it refers to RESERVED POWERS of the States (Amendment 10)?

Give two examples of CONCURRENT powers that both the States and the Federal government share

THE STATES / FEDERALISM (cont’d)

What is the SUPREMACY CLAUSE?

What role do states play in amending the Constitution?

What role did the states play in RATIFYING the Constitution?

What are some ways that the Constitution regulates relations among states?

·  Do states honor each other laws?

·  What does it meant that states give “FULL FAITH AND CREDIT” to each other?

·  What is EXTRADITION? What does the Constitution say in regards to criminals that flee from one state to another?

·  According to the Constitution, do U.S. citizens have the freedom to travel or relocate to another state?

BONUS: NY STATE GOVERNMENT

What document created the NY State Government? / What is the name of our state legislature? / What are the houses of our state legislature? / What is the term of office for a NY state governor? / Who is currently Governor of NY?

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