Government And Politics Unit 3

Front 1

The legislative branch

Back 1

This branch makes laws and is called Congress. Congress is divided into two houses, The Senate (upper house, each state sends two senators) and the house of representatives (based on population).

Front 2

The executive branch

Back 2

Headed by the President, this branch enforces laws. The president can sign a Bill and turn it into a law or veto a Bill and send it back to Congress. This branch is the largest part of the government and carries out all the bills passed by Congress.

Front 3

The judicial branch

Back 3

This branch resolves disputes and makes sure that the other two branches obey the Constitution. The system is divided into district courts, 13 appellate courts, and the Supreme Court.

Front 4

Enumerated Powers

Back 4

A list of things Congress can do, such as coin money and declare war.

Front 5

Forbidden Powers

Back 5

A list of things Congress can't do, such as grant titles of nobility and passing laws that punish people with a trial.

Front 6

Implied Powers

Back 6

Things that Congress has to be able to do in order to carry out it's enumerated powers.

Front 7

Implicit Powers

Back 7

The powers that every national government has to have for a nation to function, such as acquiring more territory.

Front 8

Standing committees

Back 8

Permanent congressional commitees specific to each house

Front 9

Select committees

Back 9

Congressional committees formed to deal with with issues not covered by a standing committee

Front 10

Joint committee

Back 10

Congressional committees made up of members of both houses of Congress

Front 11

Conference committees

Back 11

Special commitees that are created when the House and the Senate pass different versions of the same bill; they negotiate a compromise between the two versions, and that compromise must then be approved by both chambers before it can be sent to the president

Front 12

H.L. Mencken

Back 12

Was a journalist who wrote satirical commentary on the words and actions of American politicians. He was especially critical of the middle classes, religion in general, fundamentalist Christianity in particular, bigotry, and anti-intellectualism. He made his living by criticizing public officials. His satire was usually aimed at expanding civil rights and the freedom of conscience.

Front 13

Mary McCarthy

Back 13

Was a novelist and social critic. During the 1950's she opposed both communism abroad and the anticommunist hysteria of the Red Scare in the United States. She later opposed the war in Vietnam. She wrote on an enormous variety of political and nonpolitical topics. Her view of Congress was that of someone who valued independent thinking, disliked doctrine, and spoke against established culture and power.

Front 14

Alexander Wiley

Back 14

Was a distinguished four-term Republican senator from Wisconsin who served in Congress from 1939 to 1963. He wrote a book of humor about Congress. His view of Congress was that of an insider using words of an outsider to gently tweak his colleagues.

Front 15

George Will

Back 15

A conservative political commentator and syndicated columnist. Most of his writing focuses on American politics and Washington, D.C., culture, but he has written about baseball, statecraft, and almost everything over the years. His view of Congress is that of someone who participates in Washington society but makes his living by commenting on it.

Front 16

Filibusters

Back 16

A long winded speech designed to slow down the process of a Bill.

Front 17

Cloture

Back 17

Three-fifths vote. Only way to stop a filibuster.

Front 18

Presidential Succession

Back 18

The Vice President, Speaker of the house, President pro tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, Secretary of the treasury, Secretary of defense.