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61 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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First three words of the Constitution
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We the People
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What does "insure domestic tranquility" mean?
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Insure peace at home
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How was domestic tranquility lacking under the Articles?
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The national gov't didn’t have the power to settle feuds among the states, nor rebellions (Shay's Rebellion)
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How are members of the House chosen?
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They will be elected by the people.
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What is the term length for members of the House?
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2 years
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Three qualifications for membership in the House
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25 yrs old, 7 yrs. as a citizen, live in the state
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Unwritten qualification for House members
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reside in the district he/she represents in order to understand what is going on
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How many members were in the original House of Reps?
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65
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How many members are in the House of Reps today?
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438
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The number of representatives in each state is proportional to ____.
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population
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Why didn't the founders flat out state that slaves did not count as a whole person?
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It went against everything they were fighting for
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Define impeachment
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to accuse an official of unlawful activity
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What role does the Senate play in the Impeachment process?
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The Senate accuses, and decides if the official is guilty. A 2/3 vote is needed to remove someone from office.
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What is the term office for Senators?
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6 yrs
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True or False: Every six years (the term length for senators), all senators are up for reelection.
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FALSE
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What are the qualifications to be a senator?
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30 yrs. Old, 9 year citizen, and live in the state he/she is running in
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How were Senators chosen in the original Constitution?
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By the state legislature
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When and how did the way senators were chosen change from the original Constitution?
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The 17th Ammendment, in 1913, changed the method to popular vote among the states.
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How are ties in the Senate broken?
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The Vice-President casts a vote.
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What is another unofficial name for the vice-president?
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President of the Senate
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Who pays the salaries of members of Congress?
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U.S. Treasury
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Who determines the salaries of members of Congress?
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Congress themselves
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All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the ___.
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House of Reps
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Under what conditions can a Presidential veto be overridden?
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If two-thirds (2/3) of Congress passes it
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What is another name for Congress's enurmerated powers.
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Delegated powers
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What aspect in the Constitution most clearly reflects the founders' experinces under the Articles?
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The clause that states that the National Gov't has the power to enforce taxes and make sure they receive them.
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For what reasons may Congress lay and collect taxes?
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To pay debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the U.S.
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Who has the power to declare war?
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Congress
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Define letters of marque and reprisal
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Papers issued in war time to private citizens authorizing the capture of enemy ships
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What is significant about the year 1808?
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Congress would be able to control slave trade.
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Why did Congress impose a $10 tax on each incoming slave (before 1808 of course)?
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To make a profit off of the slave industry while it still lasted, and it was so small slave owners wouldn't mind it.
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Habeas corpus
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requires a person under arrest to be told what they are being arrested for.
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Ex post facto law
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Fixes punishments for acts committed before the law was passed
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Bill of attainder
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a special legislative act condemning and punishing an indiviual without a judicial trial
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Under what conditions may habeas corpus be suspended? Who determines this?
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When public safety is in danger, the courts determine this.
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No money may be spent by the federal government without the permission of ___.
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Congress
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Why did the founders prohibit 'bills of credit'?
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To keep the power within the national gov't.
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Why did the founders prohibit laws "impairing the obligation of contracts"? What sorts of laws were tey trying to prevent?
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They didn't want the states to engage in any conflicts. They wanted to prevent states from regulating trade.
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Why did the founders make the presidential term 4 yrs. Versus the popular 1 yr. among the states?
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1 year was not enough time to make an impact.
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The number of electoral votes each state is entitled to is equal to the total number of representatives in __. The very smallest state is entitled to at least __ votes.
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Congress; 3
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How many electoral college votes will there be in the next presidential election?
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538
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What happens if a presidential candidate does not claim a majority of the votes?
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The house of reps cast a vote.
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What are the qualifications to be the president?
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natural-born citizen, 35 years of age, residency in the united states for at least 14 years
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What is the very first power granted to the President?
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Commander in chief of the military
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True or False: The president, since he is the commander in chief of the military, can declare war.
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FALSE
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True or False: The president, by himself, is allowed to create treaties. If false, explain why.
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False, treaties must be ratified by a 2/3 vote in congress.
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The president may appoint ____, but they must be confirmed by a ___ vote in ___.
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Federal officials; 2/3 vote in the Senate
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Under what conditions may the President be removed from office?
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Treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors.
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What term of office is given to justices of the Supreme court? Why this length?
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Life, it allows them to make decisions without the fear of upsetting people during the next reelection.
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How many justices are in the Supreme Court? How was this established?
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9, Judiciary Act of 1869
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What would it take to change the number of justices?
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Congress
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Define original jurisdiction
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cases the orignate in the Supreme Court
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Define appellate jurisdiction
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cases that are appealed to the Supreme Court from a lower federal or state court
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True or false: The Constitution states that slaves must be returned to their owners.
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TRUE
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Under what conditions could the Upper Peninsula of Michigan legally form a separate state?
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With the consent on the state legislature and Congress.
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When the founders mention domestic violence, what do they mean?
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They want to keep the people from uprsiing within the nation. To keep the citizens in line and prevent civil uprises (Shay's Rebellion).
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What is required to amend the Constitution?
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2/3 of the states or 2/3 of both houses of Congress must propose the ammendment; 3/4 of the state legislature must ratify the amendment
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Name one part of the Constitution that cannot be ammended.
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Equal representation in the Senate.
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Who did the nation owe money to when the Constitution was written?
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France and Britain from the Revolutionary War
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What is the Supremecy Clause?
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States that the Constitution is the law of the land. The Supreme Court is the one with the final say to that.
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The Constitution would only take effect when ratified by the Conventions of how many states?
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9
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