American government

• 6 essentials:

  • People must accept the principle of majority rule.
  • The political rights of minorities must be protected.
  • Citizens must agree to a system of rule by law.
  • The free exchange of opinions and ideas must not be restricted.
  • All citizens must be equal before the law.
  • Government exists to serve the people as it derives its power from the people.
• What are four elements that the U.S built its government on?

  popular sovereignty, representative government, checks and balances, federalism
• Popular sovereignty is the idea that the people are the ultimate source of power and that the government should be responsive to the people
• A representative government is a form of government that has elected officials that will represent, lead, and act on behalf of the citizens of a community or country.
• Checks and balances refer to the separation of power to avoid one entity or body wielding too much power / help reduce mistakes and prevent improper behavior in organizations
• Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central authority (the federal government) and smaller political units (such as states or provinces).
• The U.S Constitution is a document that outlines the framework and principles of the government, as well as the rights of its citizens.
• What is the supreme law of the U.S?

  The Constitution
• The Constitution divides the U.S. government into 3 branches (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial) and prevents any one element from gaining too much power.
• The Constitution divides governmental powers in TWO ways: within the federal government and between the federal government and the states.
• Which branch in the U.S government is responsible for making laws?

  Legislative
• In the United States government, the legislative branch is located in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
• The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
• The judicial branch of government refers to a country's court system. It ensures that laws are fairly applied and that disputes between individuals, organizations, and government entities are resolved according to the law.
• The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the federal judiciary. It has the final say on legal matters, and its decisions are binding on all other courts in the country.
• The executive branch includes the President and the Vice President
• Seperation of powers:

  • Legislature: write the laws that everyone has to follow.
  • Executive: the President enforces the laws written by Congress and makes sure things run according to the Constitution.
  • Judiciary: they make sure everyone follows the laws and interpret what the rules mean if there's a disagreement. The Supreme Court has the final say on whether a law follows the Constitution.
• How many amendments in the U.S Constitution?

  27
• The Constitution leaves other powers to the states to be free in their decisions, but the states cannot make laws conflicting with federal laws.
• Which branch pardons people?

  Executive
• Which branch can sign or reject laws?

  Executive
• Which branch is elected every four years?

  Executive
• Which branch decides if laws are constitutional?

  Judicial
• Which branch is appointed by the President?

  Judicial
• How many justices in the Supreme court?

  9
• How many senators of Legislative branch in each state?

  2
• The number of congressmen is based on population
• Which branch appoints federal judges?

  Executive
• Which chamber approves presidential appointments?

  Senate
• Which branch has the authority to invalidate decisions made by other judges?

  Judicial
• How the Legislative branch checks on the Executive branch:

  • override presidental veto
  • confirm executive nominations
  • control the budget
  • impeach and remove presidents
• How Executive branch checks on the Legislative branch:

  • propose and veto laws
  • make nominations to the federal offices
  • negotiates foreign treaties
  • call special sessions of Congress
• How the Executive branch checks on the Judicial branch:

  • nominate federal judges
  • grant pardons to federal offenders
• How the Judicial branch check on the Executive branch:

  • declare executive actions unconstitutional
• How the Judicial branch checks on the Legislative branch:

  • declare acts of Congress unconstitutional
• How the Legislative branch checks on the Judicial branch:

  • establish lower federal courts
  • impeach and remove judges
  • propose amendments to overrule judicial decisions
• Which branch has the authority to bring federal officials to trial for violating the law?

  Executive
• How many years can two senators serve in the Senate?

  6 years
• How many years can representatives serve in the House of representative?

  2 years
• The most powerful individual in the House of Representatives is typically considered to be the Speaker.