US Government CFE Study Guide Questions With Correct Solutions, Already Passed!!

Separation of Powers - The constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law Checks and Balances - A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power Republicanism - A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on the consent of the governed. Democracy - A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them Federalism - A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments Popular Sovereignty - A belief that ultimate power resides in the people. Social Contract - A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules. Natural Rights - the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property Individual Rights - Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Thomas Hobbes - believed that people are born selfish and need a strong central authorityJohn 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. Representative Government - system of government in which public policies are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections Limited Government - A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution. consent of the governed - People are the source of any and all governmental power Rule of Law - the principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern Declaration of Independence - Signed in 1776 by US revolutionaries; it declared the United States as a free state. Articles of Confederation - 1st Constitution of the U.S. (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade) Federalist Papers - Written by Hamilton, Jay, & Madison to support ratification of the U.S. Constitution Judicial Review - The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional Full Faith and Credit Clause - Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state Elastic Clause - the part of the Constitution that permits Congress to make any laws "necessary and proper" to carrying out its powersSupremacy Clause - Constitution is the supreme law of the land U.S. Constitution - The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of the U.S. government and the tasks these institutions perform. It replaced the Articles of Confederation. House of Representatives - the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population U.S. Senate - the upper house of the U.S. Congress Law making process - process involving 8 steps: 1. Introduction (bill is introduced in Senate or House of Representatives). 2. Committee (a. bill is sent to committee, b. presented, c. discussed, d. passed, changed, replaced, ignored, killed); 3. Floor (a. bill is presented to full House, b. discussed, c. changed, replaced, ignored, c. voted on); 4-6 Repeat steps in other house; 7. Conference (joint meeting between Senate and House of Representatives to work out differences) 8. President (signs, vetos, pocket vetos law). Qualifications for Senate - 30 yrs old, citizen for 9 years, live in state Qualifications for Congress - To become a member of the House of Representatives one must be at least 25 years of age, have been a citizen of the US for at least 7 years, and be an inhabitant of the state they are running for representative in. Necessary and Proper Clause - Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government Judicial Branch - Interprets the laws Legislative Branch - Makes lawsappellate process - the process of asking a higher court to decide whether a trial was conducted properly Supreme Court - Consists of nine justices, each appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress. Appointment is for life. Supreme Court exercises the power to determine constitutionality of statutes Executive Branch - Enforces laws Duties of the President - enforce laws; commander of military; foreign affairs; negotiate treaties; nominate cabinet and justices; review and sign or veto bills; issue pardons; address Congress yearly (State of the Union Address) Duties of the Vice President - to cast a vote in the event of a Senate deadlock and to preside over and certify the official vote count of the U.S. Electoral College. Cabinet - Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president. Qualifications for President - 35 years old, born in the U.S., and has to have lived in the U.S. for 14 years civil rights - the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality. Civil Liberties - Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens Voting Rights Act of 1965 - a law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to AfricanAmerican suffrage Civil Rights Act of 1964 - outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin13th Amendment - abolished slavery 14th Amendment - Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws 15th Amendment - Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude