Pols Test 1 (#2)

Front 1

Basic Powers of Executive Branch

Back 1

1) Directing govt

2) Commanding the Armed Forces

3) Dealing w/ international powers

4) Acting as chief law enforcement officer

5) Sign and approve laws

6) Enforce taxes

CHECKS

1) Sign or veto bills

2) VP can cast votes to break ties in a divided state

3) Can "on extraordinary occasions" convene or adjourn either or both houses of Congress

4) President nominates and appoints supreme court justices

Front 2

Basic Powers of Legislative Branch

Back 2

1) Make laws

2) Originate spending bills

3) Impeaching officials

4) Approving treaties

5) Declare war (senate)

CHECKS

1) Impeachment (house) and removal (senate) of president/VP/all civil officers of the U.S. IN ADDITION to Supreme Court Justices

2) Congressional override of presidential vetoes by 2/3rds vote of both houses

3) Senate must approve all treaties by 2/3rds vote

4) In event of Electoral Vote tie House selects president and Senate selects vice president

5) Senate advice and consent required for appointment of "Officers of the U.S." as well as Supreme Court Justices

Front 3

Basic Powers of the Judicial Branch

Back 3

1) Interpreting the Constitution

2) Reviewing laws

3) Deciding cases involving the state's rights

CHECKS

1) Federal judicial power extends to all cases arising under the laws of the U.S.

2) Power also extends to all cases or controversies to which the U.S. govt is a party

3) Chief justice shall preside over Senate impeachment trials of the president

Front 4

Democracy

Back 4

Form of govt in which the PEOPLE, either directly or through elected representatives, hold power and authority (U.S./France)

Front 5

Oligarchy

Back 5

Form of govt in which a small exclusive class holds supreme power

Front 6

Theocracy

Back 6

Form of govt in which a particular religion or faith plays a dominant role in govt (Iran)

Front 7

Monarchy

Back 7

Form of govt in which one person, usually a member of a royal family or a royal designate, exercises supreme authority (Saudi Arabia)

Front 8

Authoritarian (govt)

Back 8

Form of govt in which one political party, group, or person maintains such complete control over the nation that it may refuse to recognize and may even suppress all other political parties and interests (China/Cuba/Russia)

Front 9

Confederation

Back 9

System of govt in which 2 or more INDEPENDENT STATES unite to achieve certain specified common aims (Switzerland/Belgium)

Front 10

Federal govt

Back 10

System of govt where power is divided between central government and constituent political sub-units (U.S./Germany/Russia/Argentina/Brazil)

Front 11

Representative Democracy

Back 11

System of govt in which citizens elect the INDIVIDUALS who are responsible for making and enforcing public policy

Front 12

Direct Democracy

Back 12

System of govt in which ALL CITIZENS participate in making policy, rules, and governing decisions

Front 13

Continental Congress

Back 13

After the Intolerable Acts, the colonists were pissed so they formed a committee... Leaders from 12 colonies met in Philly and they encouraged colonial militias to arm themselves.

-GA was the only colony to not attend (damn u GA)

Front 14

Declaration of Independance

Back 14

Formal document listing colonists' grievances and articulating the colonists' intention to seek independence. Adopted by 2nd Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776.

Front 15

Articles of Confederation

Back 15

Written statement of rules and principles to guide the first continent-wide govt in teh colonies during the war and beyond.

Front 16

Key problems with the Articles of Confederation

Back 16

1) Gave smaller, less populated states too much power in lawmaking

2) Restricted lawmaking since 9 of the 13 states were required for most legislative matters

3) No executive or judiciary so abuses went unchecked

4) Congress didn't have the power to levy or collect taxes

5) States negotiated separately among themselves and with foreign powers on commercial affairs, to the detriment of the overall economy

6) Congress couldn't raise an army, and states were reluctant to provide any support for an army

7) Articles were practically immune from modification

Front 17

Plans presented at the Constitutional Convention

Back 17

1) Virginia Plan- "large states plan" that empowered 3 separate branches of govt, including a legislature with membership PROPORTIONAL to population

2- New Jersey Plan- "small states plan" that would have retained the AoC's principle of a legislature where states enjoyed EQUAL representation

Front 18

Great Comprimise

Back 18

Proposal that provided for a BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE featuring an UPPER HOUSE based on equal representation among the states and a LOWER HOUSE whose membership was based on each state's population

Front 19

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Back 19

Supported ratification of The New Constitution while ______ were opposed to it

Front 20

How to amend (modify) the Constitution

Back 20

1) Proposal - 2/3rds vote of both houses of Congress

2) Ratifying - By legislatures in 3/4ths of the states