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American Government Final Exam Study Session. Complete your Study Guide as we Review. Question #1. The Legislative Branch Makes the Laws The Executive Branch Enacts the Laws The Judicial Branch Interprets the Laws (in light of the Constitution). The 3 Branches of Government. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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American Government Final Exam Study
SessionComplete your Study Guide as we Review.
The 3 Branches of Government
1. The Legislative Branch◦ Makes the Laws
2. The Executive Branch◦ Enacts the Laws
3. The Judicial Branch◦ Interprets the Laws (in light of the Constitution)
Question #1
Discuss what the term impeachment means as well as the situations in which it has been used.
The term impeach means to indict (formal accusation) for crime.
It does not necessarily mean the person is removed from office. That occurs only if they are convicted in the Senate.
There have been other federal officials, including several Judges (14), who have been impeached.
Some of them (7) were convicted.There have only been two Presidents who have been
indicted (impeached) for their crimes. Neither was convicted.◦Andrew Johnson for Tenure of Office Act
Senate failed to convict by one vote◦Bill Clinton for Perjury and Obstruction of Justice
Senate failed to convict by 17 votes
Question #2
Identify the three types of Powers granted to Congress and which clauses go with the powers.Expressed Powers = Enumerated
◦Article I: Section 8: Clause 11 War Powers Clause
Implied Powers◦Which stem from Article I: Section 8: Clause 18
“Necessary and Proper” Clause / The “Elastic Clause”Inherent Powers
◦Article I: Section 8: Clause 3 Commerce Clause
It would be good if you understood the Article, what a clause is, and why these three clauses are important
Question #3
Describe the process for how a bill can become a law
Most bills die here.
Unique to House
Question #4
List the various leadership roles within the Congress, and their duties and responsibilities.
Speaker of the House◦Most powerful member◦Follows the VP in line of
Succ.◦Presides and keeps order◦Major role in com.
assignmentsPresident of Senate (V.P.)
◦Can oversee session, but cannot debate
◦Votes only in a tie◦Not chosen by Senate
◦Mostly ceremonial President Pro Tempore
◦Presides in the absences of the VP
◦Elected by the Senate itself◦Leading member of the
majority party – usually longest serving member
◦Not as powerful as the Speaker
Question #5
List the various leadership roles within the Congress, and their duties and responsibilities. (cont’d.)
Floor Leaders◦Majority and Minority◦Most powerful members
after Speaker◦Parties chief
spokespeople◦Selected through party
caucuses ◦Helps pass laws their
party wants
Whips◦Majority and Minority◦Assistant floor leaders◦Serve as Liaisons
(gossips)
Question #5 (cont’d)
List and discuss the various committees within Congress and their differences.
Standing Committees – permanent, handle bills, specialize in one subject◦House Rules, Ways and Means, Appropriations
Select Committees – temporary, set up for specific purpose◦Committee to investigate Watergate Scandal
Joint Committees – temporary or permanent, includes members of both houses◦The Library, Printing
Conference Committees – temporary, work to compromise when both houses pass different versions of the same bill
Question #6
Know the qualifications (including informal) for holding office in the Executive BranchExecutive Branch
Formal Qualifications ◦35 years old◦Natural Born Citizen◦A resident of the US for at
least 14 years. Executive Branches
Informal Qualifications◦ Military service ◦ Government experience ◦ Television presence –
name recognition, photogenic and articulate
◦ College education ◦ Married with kids◦ Money (inherited, by
marriage, personal fortune)
◦ Religious faith◦ Character◦ Proof of Citizenship◦ A “story” – war hero,
peanut farmer, actor, etc.◦So far, male◦ Perceived as being in the
political mainstream
Question #7
Know the qualifications (including informal) for holding office in the Legislative BranchHOR (formal)◦25 years old◦7 years a US Citizen◦A resident of the state
Senate (formal)◦30 years old◦9 years a US Citizen◦A resident of the state
Informal Qualifications for both houses◦Party identification◦Name familiarity◦Gender◦Religion◦Ethnic characteristics◦Political experience
Question #7 (cont’d)
Know the qualifications (including informal) for holding office in the Judicial Branch
There are no formal qualifications for being a judge
Informal Qualifications◦Lawyer◦A record of political activity◦Age
Question #7 (cont’d)
Identify the five roles of a member of Congress and identify which is the role where most of the official business is done?
1. Lawmaking2. Representing their constituents3. Servants of their constituents4. Committee Members5. Politicians
Question #8
Judicial Review
Judicial Review
Powers are listed in the blue boxes
Arrows = Checks & Balances
Question #9
Compare and Contrast separation of powers with checks and balances.
Separation of Powers is a model of government in which different parts of the government are responsible for different functions; in the US these different areas Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. ◦References to an institution◦Each institution does not depend on the other to exist
Checks and Balances is a means of trying to ensure that no one of the above mentioned areas can operate completely on its own◦Method of governance
Both operate to maintain the republic
Question #10
Define the United States Constitution and its purpose.Definition◦Document that created the present government of
the United States. Written in 1787 and went into effect in 1789. It establishes the three branches of the US government.
◦The Bill of Rights explains the basic rights of all American citizens
Purpose◦Establish a federal government◦Delegate to the federal government certain limited
powers
Question #11
Discuss the intentions of the Framers in regard to creating a legislature through the Constitution.
Their intentions were to be cautious and to create a legislature whose power would be adequate, but limited.
They believed that the best way to safeguard against tyranny is to separate the powers of government among three branches so that each branch is able to restrain (or “check”) the power of the other two.
Question #12
List the duties and responsibilities of the PresidentRoles
1. Chief of State2. Chief Executive3. Chief Legislator4. Chief Administrator5. Chief Diplomat6. Commander in Chief7. Chief Economic Planner
Unofficial Leader of his/her party
Question #13
List the duties and responsibilities of the President
Presidential Powers
(Expressed)◦Command the armed forces◦Make treaties◦Approve or veto acts of
Congress◦Send and receive
diplomatic Representatives◦Grant pardons and
reprieves
◦See that laws are faithfully executed
◦Appoint Federal Judges, Cabinet members, and other government employees
Presidential Powers (Implied)◦Powers to issue Executive
Orders◦Removal Powers
What are the Executive Branch’s informal powersExecutive OrdersExecutive AgreementsExecutive Privilege
Question #14
Executive Orders: Orders issued by the President that carry the force of law◦FDR’s Interment of Japanese Americans during
WW2◦Truman’s integration of the military during the
Korean War◦Clinton’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy” ◦GWB trying suspected terrorists in military
tribunals
What is an Executive OrderQuestion #15
What is an Executive Agreement? (Cont’d)
Executive Agreements: International agreements made by a President that has the force of treaty, but (unlike a treaty) do not require Senate approval.◦Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase◦GHW Bush trade agreement with Japan re: auto
industry◦GWB’s announced cuts in the US nuclear arsenal
without a treaty.
Question #15
Executive Privilege: claim by presidents that they have the discretion to decide that the national interest will be better served if certain if information is withheld from the public (people, courts, and Congress)◦Nixon’s refusal to turn over the Watergate tapes◦Clinton’s refusal to turn over evidence re: alleged
affair with Monica Lewinsky
What is Executive Privilege? (Cont’d)
Question #15
Differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate
Que
stio
n #
16
Identify the most influential committees in each house of Congress.House Rules – they decide what
bills will be voted on.House Ways & Means – they
decide how money will be spent.Senate Appropriations – they decide
how money will be spent.
Question #17
Define Judicial Review, provide the court case which gives the Supreme Court precedent, and then discuss judicial review’s purpose. Judicial Review – the doctrine under which
legislative and executive actions are subject to review (and possible invalidation) by the judiciary.
The Court’s power to declare laws or actions to be Unconstitutional.
Supreme Court Case – Marbury v. MadisonPurpose - judicial review is considered a key
check on the powers of the other two branches of government by the judiciary
Question #18
Know the following court cases:1. Marbury vs. Madison – Established the power
of Judicial Review for the Court2. McCulloch v. Maryland –
Established federal supremacy. States cannot tax the federal government.
3. Miranda – Requires police to inform accused criminals of their constitutional rights.
4. Brown vs. Board of Edu. – Reversed the Court’s earlier decision in Plessy. The Brown decision outlawed the “separate, but equal” doctrine.
Question #19
Define the United States Constitution and its purpose.Definition◦Document that created the present government
of the United States. Written in 1787 and went into effect in 1789. It establishes the three branches of the US government. The BOR explains the basic rights of all American citizens
Purpose◦Established a federal government◦Delegated to the federal government certain
limited powers.
Question #20
Constitution (cont’d)
Articles & Amendments◦Article 1 – Legislative Branch◦Article 2 – Executive Branch◦Article 3 – Judicial Branch
Know the following Amendments
1st Amendment – Freedom of Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition / protest the govt.
5th Amendment - grand jury indictment, eminent domain, due process, self-incrimination, and double jeopardy
10th Amendment – limits powers delegated to federal govt.
13th Amendment – abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude
14th Amendment – expanded due process rights to states as well as federal
15th Amendment – can’t deny someone the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude
22nd Amendment – presidential term limits
Question #21
Define the Supremacy ClauseSupremacy Clause (Article VI) – the
Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the Land”
Question #22
Declaration of Independence
Jefferson’s biggest influence when writing the Declaration of Independence was John Locke.
John Locke believed in the natural rights of man – life, liberty and property.
Jefferson changed the philosophy of Locke to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Why did he change it? ◦Because of how many Americans (esp’ly
Southerners) would define “property.”
Question #23
Systems of Government
Presidential System
Voters elect the executive and legislature
The legislative and executive are co-equal
Creates prolonged conflicts and deadlocks
Checks and balances
Parliamentary System
Voters elect the legislature
The chief executive is drawn from the legislature
Question #24
Federalism The term federalism creates a dual system of
government…where states and the federal system have shared powers, powers specific to the states, and powers specific to the federal government.
For example, the federal government and the state governments both have the power to tax, but because of the supremacy clause the states cannot tax the federal government, but the federal government can tax the states. This was established in the McCulloch v. Maryland Case.
Question #25
What is the difference between the Electoral College and the Popular Vote?
Electoral College
When the people go to the poll, they are choosing who they want their electoral college to vote for in December.
This group directly elects our president.
Popular VoteThe people’s vote
for the president
Question #26
Good Luck!!Trust in what we’ve learned.