US Government
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| 388977457 | What is the preamble? | The introduction to the Constitution. | 0 | |
| 388977458 | How many articles are in the Constitution? | Seven | 1 | |
| 388977459 | How many branches are in the government? | Three | 2 | |
| 388977460 | How many times has the Constitution been amended? | Twenty-seven | 3 | |
| 388977461 | What are the three branches of the government? | Legislative, Executive, Judicial | 4 | |
| 388977462 | What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called? | The Bill of Rights | 5 | |
| 388977463 | What is the main job of the Legislature? | To make the laws | 6 | |
| 388977464 | What are the two houses of the Legislature called? | The Congress | 7 | |
| 388977465 | Name the two houses of Congress. | The House of Representatives and The Senate | 8 | |
| 388977466 | When does each new session of Congress begin? | On January 3rd of odd numbered years | 9 | |
| 388977467 | What is the Congressional Record? | A written record of everything said in both houses of Congress | 10 | |
| 388977468 | What is the Elastic Clause? | It allows Congress to Stretch its powers as needed. | 11 | |
| 388977469 | How many members in the House of Representatives? | 435 | 12 | |
| 388977470 | How is the number of representatives chosen for each state? | The number is based on the state's population. | 13 | |
| 388977471 | How often is there a census of the American people? | Every 10 years. | 14 | |
| 388977472 | What are the three qualifications to be a US Representative ? | 1. at least 25 years old 2. U.S. citizen for at least 7 years 3. live in the state you are representing BUT While a member of Congress must be a resident of the entire state he is representing, he does not actually have to live in the district that elected him. | 15 | |
| 388977473 | How long is the term of office for a Representative? | 2 years | 16 | |
| 388977474 | Who is the leader of the House of Representatives? | The Speaker of the House Can you name that person? | 17 | |
| 388977475 | What role does the House play in an impeachment trial? | The House gathers the evidence. | 18 | |
| 388977476 | How many members are in the Senate? | 100 | 19 | |
| 388977477 | How many senators from each state? | 2 | 20 | |
| 388977478 | What are the three qualifications to be a Senator? | 1. at least 30 years old 2. U.S. citizen for at least 9 years 3. live in the state you are representing | 21 | |
| 388977479 | How long is the term of office for a senator? | 6 years | 22 | |
| 388977480 | Who is the leader of the Senate? | The Vice-President of the US, also called the President of one of the legislative bodies of the US Can you name him? | 23 | |
| 388977481 | What role does the Senate play in an impeachment trial? | The Senate acts as the jury. | 24 | |
| 388977482 | Where does a Bill go first to become a Law? | It begins either in the Senate or in the House of Representatives. | 25 | |
| 388977483 | What kind of Bill can only begin in the House of Representatives? | A bill concerning money or revenue. | 26 | |
| 388977484 | After a Bill passes the first House of the Congress, where does it go next? | To the Senate. | 27 | |
| 388977485 | If a Bill passes through both Houses of Congress, where does it go next? | To the President. | 28 | |
| 388977486 | What two things can a president do to a Bill? | 1. sign it to make it a Law 2. veto it and send it back to Congress | 29 | |
| 388977487 | How can a vetoed Bill become a law? | Both Houses of Congress must override the veto with a 2/3 vote in each House. | 30 | |
| 388977488 | What are the Powers of Congress? | 1. taxing 2. printing money 3. declaring war | 31 | |
| 388977489 | Define: Habeas Corpus | The right of the accused to see a judge and be told the charges against him/her. | 32 | |
| 388977490 | Define: Ex Post Facto law | You may not be punished for something you'd done before the law was passed against that action. | 33 | |
| 388977491 | What is the 1st Article of the Constitution about? | The Legislative Branch | 34 | |
| 388977492 | What is the 2nd Article of the Constitution about? | The Executive Branch | 35 | |
| 388977493 | What is the 3rd Article of the Constitution about? | The Judicial Branch | 36 | |
| 388977494 | What is the main job of the Executive Branch? | To enforce the laws. | 37 | |
| 388977495 | Who is the Leader of the Executive Branch? | The President | 38 | |
| 388977496 | How long is the term of office for the President? | 4 years with two term limit | 39 | |
| 388977497 | What are the three requirements to become President? | 1. must be at least 35 years old 2. must be a natural born citizen 3. must be a resident in the U.S. for at least 14 years | 40 | |
| 388977498 | Who elects the President and Vice-President? | The Electoral College | 41 | |
| 388977499 | How many votes does each state have in the Electoral College? | Every state gets two plus however many representatives they have in the House. | 42 | |
| 388977500 | How many votes are needed to win the Presidency? | 270 | 43 | |
| 388977501 | Who is next in line if something happens to the President? | The Vice-President is next in line, followed by the Speaker of the House. | 44 | |
| 388977502 | What are some powers of the President? | 1. Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces 2. Appoints ambassadors 3. Represents the nation to foreign countries 4. Vetoes or signs Bills into Law 5. Appoints Supreme Court justices | 45 | |
| 388977503 | What is the main job of the Judicial Branch? | To interpret the laws | 46 | |
| 388977504 | What is the highest court in the land? | The Supreme Court | 47 | |
| 388977505 | How many justices are in the Supreme Court? | Nine Can you name the Chief Justice? | 48 | |
| 388977506 | How long is the term of office for a Supreme Court Justice? | Life and the US Constitution states that these people "shall hold their Offices during "Good Behavior." This means that the they hold office as long as they choose and can only be removed from office by impeachment. | 49 | |
| 388977507 | Who appoints Supreme Court justices? | The President | 50 | |
| 388977508 | What are the Lower Federal Courts? | the District Courts and the Court of Appeals | 51 | |
| 388977509 | Who creates the Lower Federal Courts? | The Congress | 52 | |
| 388977510 | Fill in the blanks: THE CONSTITUTION IS THE ______ ______ _____ _____ _____ | SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND. | 53 | |
| 388977511 | When was the Constitution signed? | September 17, 1787 | 54 | |
| 388977512 | What are changes to the Constitution called? | Amendments | 55 | |
| 388977513 | What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called? | The Bill of Rights | 56 | |
| 388977514 | What did Amendment 13 do? | abolished slavery | 57 | |
| 388977515 | What did Amendment 18 do? | created Prohibition (repealed by #21) | 58 | |
| 388977516 | What did Amendment 19 do? | gave women the right to vote | 59 | |
| 388977517 | What did Amendment 22 do? | The president can only serve two terms of office, no longer than 10 years. | 60 | |
| 388977518 | What did Amendment 26 do? | set the voting age to 18 years old | 61 | |
| 388977519 | Who is the President? | Barack Obama | 62 | |
| 388977520 | Who is the Vice-President? | Joseph Biden | 63 | |
| 388977521 | Who is our state representative in the House? | Jared Polis | 64 | |
| 388977522 | Who are our senators? | Michael Bennett and Mark Udall | 65 | |
| 388977523 | Define filibuster | A delaying tactic, used in the Senate, that involves speech making to prevent action on a piece of legislation | 66 | |
| 388977524 | Who can be impeached? | The President, The Vice-President, Cabinet Members, Federal Judges | 67 | |
| 388977525 | What are the responsibilities of the US Congress? | The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow money on the credit of the United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States; To establish Post Offices and Post Roads; To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations; To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof~ | 68 | |
| 388977526 | What are the day to day responsibilities of the US Congress? | The most important responsibility of Congress is that of making the laws of the United States. | 69 | |
| 388977527 | What are four things the US Congress cannot do? | From: Article 1, Section 9: this article denies the US Congress certain powers. 1) may not suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus- court order to release a person accused of a crime to court to determine whether he/she has been legally detained. 2) denies authority to pass bills of attainder, laws that establish guilt and punish people w/o allowing them a trial. 3) prohibited from passing ex post facto laws, laws that make crimes of acts that were legal when they were committed. 4) denies power to tax exports. | 70 | |
| 388977528 | How does a bill become law? | 1. Bill is Drafted: Members of Congress, the Executive Branch, and even outside groups can draft or write bills. 2. Introduced in House: Representative introduces the bill in the House. Only members can introduce bills. 3. Sent to Committee: The Speaker of the House sends the bill to a committee. 4. Committee Action: Most bills die here. The committee may pigeonhole, table, amend, or vote on the bill. If bill passes, it goes to Rules Committee. 5, Rules Committee: It decides the rules for debate, and when the bill will come up for debate. 6. Floor Action: House debates the bill, and may add amendments. If a majority votes in favor of the bill, it goes to the Senate. 7. Introduced in Senate: A Senator introduces the bill, which is sent to a committee. 8. Committee Action: Same procedure as in the House. If the committee majority votes for the bill, it goes to the whole Senate. 9. Bill Called Up: Majority floor leader decides when the whole Senate will consider the bill. 10. Floor Action: The Bill is debated, and amendments may be added. If a majority votes in favor of the bill, it is returned to the House. 11. Conference Committee: If the House rejects any of the changes, the bill goes to a conference committee of members from both houses. It works out a compromise. 12. Vote on Compromise: Both houses must approve changes made by the conference committee. If approved, the bill goes to the president. 13. Presidential Action: The president may sign (approve) the bill or veto (reject) it. If approved, it becomes law. 14. Vote to Override: If the president vetoes the bill, it can still become law if two thirds of both houses vote to override the veto. | 71 | |
| 388977529 | democracy | supreme authority rests with the people | 72 | |
| 388977530 | dictatorship | those with power hold absolute and unchallengable power | 73 | |
| 388977531 | autocracy | one single person holds unlimited power | 74 | |
| 388977532 | oligarchy | power is held by a small self appointed elite | 75 | |
| 388977533 | unitary government | centralized government | 76 | |
| 388977534 | federal government | the power is divided between central and local governments | 77 | |
| 388977535 | confederation | an alliance of independent states | 78 | |
| 388977536 | presidential government | executive and legislative parts of to the government | 79 | |
| 388977537 | parlimentary | executive and legislative branches are combined | 80 | |
| 388977538 | theocracy | God is the supreme civil ruler | 81 | |
| 388977539 | republic | government in which people have representatives to make decisions for them | 82 | |
| 388977540 | communism | promotes a classless society where everyone works for the good of everyone | 83 | |
| 388977541 | monarchy | supreme power in an individual/ hereditary rule | 84 | |
| 388977542 | aristocracy | hereditary form of government/ group of people rule | 85 | |
| 388977543 | anarchy | an absence of government | 86 | |
| 388977544 | Common Law | system of law based on customs and last decisions | 87 | |
| 388977545 | Codify | to set down in writing | 88 | |
| 388977546 | Republic | citizens elect officials to represent them in government | 89 | |
| 388977547 | Constitution | basic set of laws and principals used to set up government | 90 | |
| 388977548 | Tyranny | absolute rule by government that ignores rights of the citizens | 91 | |
| 388977549 | Boycott | to stop buying goods/services | 92 | |
| 388977550 | Delegate | person who represents a group | 93 | |
| 388977551 | Bicameral Legislature | A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2). Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of Representatives and The Senate. | 94 | |
| 388977552 | Ratification | official approval, formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty | 95 | |
| 388977553 | Federalism | power distribution system that divides power between national, state, and local government | 96 | |
| 388977554 | Describe the Magna Carta | document that guaranteed right to the public; first document in history to limit power of the king | 97 | |
| 388977555 | Describe the Declaration of Independance | Declared freedom from Britain | 98 | |
| 388977556 | Describe the Articles of Confederation | Unsucessful; Very little power to main government, each colony had own rules: only main gov. was allowed to admit new states, protect the natives, and to borrow money. | 99 | |
| 388977557 | The United States Constitution | The document defines the three main branches of the government: The legislative branch with a bicameral Congress. Besides providing for the organization of these branches, the Constitution carefully outlines which powers each branch may exercise. It also reserves numerous rights for the individual states, thereby establishing the United States' fedeal system of goverment. | 100 | |
| 388977558 | Define the English Bill of Rights | Shifted power from monarch to parliament. | 101 | |
| 388977559 | Which ancient civilization came up with the idea of democracy? | Greece | 102 | |
| 388977560 | Which ancient civilization came up with the idea of a republic? | Rome | 103 | |
| 388977561 | What 4 contibutions did the english make that gave ideas to the americans for developing their government? | 1. English Common Law 2. Magna Carta 3. Parliament 4. English Bill of Rights | 104 | |
| 388977562 | What 3 ideas were the colonial governments based on? | 1. Limited gov. 2. Representative Gov. 3. Individual Rights | 105 | |
| 388977563 | Who is the main author of the Declaration of Independence? | Thomas Jefferson | 106 | |
| 388977564 | What was the name of the meeting in Philly where delegates met to discuss developing a stronger national gov.? | Constitutional Convention | 107 | |
| 388977565 | Which constitutional plan called for a bicameral legislation? | The Virginia Plan | 108 | |
| 388977566 | What event showed the rest of America that we need to get rid of the Articles of Confederation? Explain. | Shays' Rebellion because if a bunch of farmers could take over Massachusetts, than our army and association with each other is weak. | 109 | |
| 388977567 | Where did the Americans get their ideas on how to set up a government? | 1. Ancient History -- The Greeks 2. English Heritage -- English Common Law and the Magna Carta 3. European Philosophers -- Enlightenment thinkers | 110 | |
| 388977568 | What were the reasons the colonists wanted to break away from England? | 1. Abuse of Power 2. Didn't bother with them for 150 years 3. Didn't give them any help with setting up their colonies 4. Tyranny-no representation in Parliament. | 111 | |
| 388977569 | What was the reason England felt the colonists should remain a part of Britain? | 1. Gave them permission to travel to America 2. Protected them during the French and Indian War | 112 | |
| 388977570 | What was "The Great Compromise"? | Agreement of both the NJ and VA plans; started up the constitution | 113 | |
| 388977571 | Why was the US unable to fix their problems after the Revolutionary War? | The Articles of Confederation did not give the main government enough power. | 114 | |
| 388977572 | What were the concerns the colonists had about the new situation and how did the gov. deal with that? | 1. No individual rights--->bill of rights 2. Too powerful gov.--->3 branch gov system | 115 | |
| 388977573 | the force theory | -state was born of force -claims that a person or small group gain control of an area | 116 | |
| 388977574 | the evolutionary theory | -claim that state develped naturally out of the early family -state was born when tribe gave up its nomadic way -evolve overtime | 117 | |
| 388977575 | the divine right theory | -god gave divine right to create state -god himself gave certain individuals the divine right ot rule -people expect to obey monarch as god | 118 | |
| 388977576 | the social contract theory | -people gave up some freedom to five state power to maintain personal safety and protection of property -state exist only to serve the will of people, they are the source of political power, and they are free to give or withold the power as they choose | 119 | |
| 388977577 | population | -specific # of people in a territory -# of people does not determine a state exist -may be homogeneous or heterogeneous | 120 | |
| 388977578 | territory | -size does not determine a state -recognized by other countries -land with clearly defined boundaries | 121 | |
| 388977579 | soverignty | -has absolute power within own territory and decide its own foreign and demoestic policies -no other country can impose rules or law on soverignty nations | 122 | |
| 388977580 | government | -specific organizartions varies widely among nations - government- through which society makes and enforces its public policies | 123 | |
| 388983167 | The Enlightenment | a new age of reason in which people discussed how governments and social institutions could be based upon rational understanding | 124 | |
| 388983168 | John Locke | English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property. | 125 | |
| 388983169 | Mayflower Compact | This document was drafted in 1620 prior to settlement by the Pilgrims at Plymouth Bay in Massachusetts. It declared that the 41 males who signed it agreed to accept majority rule and participate in a government in the best interest of all members of the colony. This agreement set the precedent for later documents outlining commonwealth rule. | 126 | |
| 388983170 | Petition of Right | Document prepared by Parliament and signed by King Charles I of England in 1628; challenged the idea of the divine right of kings and declared that even the monarch was subject to the laws of the land | 127 | |
| 388983171 | primary source | text that tells a first-hand account of an event; original works used when researching (letters, journals) | 128 | |
| 388983172 | Potential essay | o Discuss one Landmark Supreme Court Case - be certain to include 1) The history of the case, 2) the Constitutional right(s) involved in the case, 3) the decision in the case - including the vote 4) and the standard that this case established. | 129 |
