What are the two-chambers of Congress called?

Hint: Upper & Lower

The Senate & the House of Represenatives 

How many Senators are there in the Senate?

How many Representatives are there in the House of Representatives?

What are these numbers based on?

100 = 2 for every state

435 = Based on Population 

What are the requirements to become a Senator?

What are the requirements to become a Congressman/woman? (Representative)

Senator:

• Must be at least 30 years old
• Must be a US Citizen for at least 9 years
• Must live in the state they represent

Congressman/Representatives

• Must be at least 25 years old
• Must be a US Citizen for at least 7 years
• Must live in the state they represent

Who is the leader of the Senate?

Who is the leader of the House of Representatives? 

Senate = The Vice-President (or President Pro Tempore when the VP is absent)

House of Representatives = The Speaker (or Speaker of the House)

Define/Explain the following terms and give at least one example of each:

• Enumerated/Delegated/Expressed Powers
• Implied Powers (Elastic Clause/Necessary and Proper Clause)

Enumerated/Delegated/Expressed Powers:  the powers specifically named and assigned to the federal government or prohibited to be exercised by the states under the U.S. Constitution, also known as delegated powers

• i.e: The power to collect taxes, coin money, make laws on immigration, make laws on trade, create an army and navy, the power to impeach and remove officials from office and power to approve/confirm presidential appointments

Implied Powers (Elastic Clause/Necessary and Proper Clause): powers not expressly named in a Constitution but that is inferred because it is necessary to the performance of an enumerated power

•  i.e.: The power to maintain the Federal Reserve Board, the power to draft people into the armed services, the power to establish a minimum wage, the power to monitor air and water pollution, the power to limit the number of immigrants to the U.S, the power to design stamps and money etc.

Who is the head of the executive branch?

The President

Who is the "head" of the Judicial Branch?  

The Supreme Court

How many Supreme Court Justices are there?

What is their "main" duty/job?

9 Supreme Court Justices

Interpret laws based on the Constitution 

What are the seven "roles" or "hats" of the president?

1. Chief of State

2. Chief Executive (Head of the Executive Branch)

3. Chief Diplomat

4. Commander-In-Chief

5. Chief Legislator

6. Chief of Party

7. Chief Guardian of the Economy

When the US Supreme Court determines the constitutional validity of a legislative action, this power is called __________ _________________.

What does it mean when the Supreme Court grants a writ of certiorari?

Judicial Review

A writ (order) of a higher court to a lower court to send all the documents in a case to it so the higher court can review the lower court's decision = agrees to hear the case! 

What are the basic powers of EACH branch of government? 

Legislative = Makes Laws

Executive = Enforces/Executes Laws

Judicial = Interprets/Judges Laws

A Supreme Court Justice has decided to step down and retire.  How do the branches “check” one another?

• The President can nominate Supreme Court Justices (Executive Branch)
• The Senate confirms/approves Presidential appointments to all Federal courts (Legislative Branch)

Congress passes legislation to establish an 11:00pm curfew for everyone 20 years old and younger.  What can the other branches do to "check" this legislative action?

In order to override/overrule a Presidential veto, what needs to be done?

Two-thirds of BOTH houses of Congress must vote to override a veto.

The scenario below describes a government process.

• A bill was passed.  It was vetoed. The veto was overridden. Three years later the law was found to be unconstitutional.

According to the scenario, in what order did the branches of government exercise their power?

Legislative > Executive > Legislative > Judicial 

"There can be no liberty where the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or body of magistrates.''

What constitutional principle is reflected in the statement?

Separation of Powers

Match the Influential Document with the proper "main idea"

Documents:

• Magna Carta
• Mayflower Compact
• English Bill of Rights
• Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Main Ideas

• Self-Government
• Limited Government
• Supporting Revolution 
• Rights of the People

Magna Carta = Limited Government

Mayflower Compact = Self-Government

English Bill of Rights = Rights of the People

Thomas Paine's Common Sense = Supporting Revolution 

Based on the passage below, what Enlightenment ideas are being reflected?  Whose ideas are they? What is the MAIN job of the government?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed

John Locke = Natural Rights of the Citizens = Protect the citizens’ rights.

The passage below was written by Thomas Paine in his 1776 pamphlet, Common Sense.

And as he hath shown himself such an … enemy to liberty, and discovered such a thirst for ... power, is he, or is he not, a proper man to say to these colonies, "You shall make no laws but what I please"? -Source:  U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Based on this passage, how is the author’s view reflected in the U.S. political system?

• A.  The monarchy creates limited government.
• B.  The monarchy supports self-government.
• C.  Representatives are appointed.
• D.  Representatives are elected.

• D.  Representatives are elected.

Define Natural Rights AND Social Contract.

• natural rights - the belief that individuals are born with basic rights that cannot be taken away by governments
• social contract - an implied agreement among the people of an organized society that defines the rights, duties, and limitations of the governed and the government

What are the BASIC steps for how a bill becomes a law?

1. A bill is introduced by a member of Congress.
2. The bill is sent in to Committee.
3. The House of Reps OR Senate debates and votes on the bill
4. The OPPOSITE house debates and votes on the bill
5. The Bill does to the President to become a law or be vetoed. 

What principle protects citizens from arbitrary abuses of power AND ensures no one is above the law?

The Rule of Law

What do the "names" on the back of the jerseys in the political cartoon below represent?

The powers of the legislative AND executive branches.

Why were the colonist prepared to separate from Britain and declare their independence?

Answers will vary.

What action formally accuses a government official of “wrongdoing”?

Impeachment/Impeaching/Impeach