A2 Government and Politics: Unit 4C: Supreme Court/Constitution/Congress/Executive
4C: US Constitution, Supreme Court, President/Executive and Congress.
Subtopic 1: The Constitution
The origins of the US Constitution:
Constitutional system since 1788. Former system was the Articles of Confederation. One house
body of delegates who could act together. No president or judiciary. Required 9/13 of the votes
to pass legislation. 0 amendments to that system as it required a unanimous vote. James
Madison described it as ‘being without reading experience or principle and allowed certain
individuals to try and dominate’. Decided on by 55 in a convention in Philadelphia 1787. Left use
this as a criticism as it was not made by representatives as such. They didn’t want power of the
people or for excessive government. Main conflicts came to key compromises. Conflict between
large and small states led to the Great Compromise- two houses. House was designed to
represent the people. 3/5ths compromise was used to calculate the size of population.
Government divided into the three branches of legislature, judiciary and executive.
To know and understand the key features of the US Constitution.
The US Constitution is:
● Codified
● Entrenched.
● It is a rigid constitution.
● It is also a federal Constitution.
Article 1:
● S1 establishes that all legislative powers are through a Congress, consisting of a Senate
and House of Representatives.
● S2 establishes that the House shall be composed of Members chosen every second
year, and that no person shall be a Representative who is not 25 years of age, and have
been a citizen for 7 years, as well as not living in the State in which they would be
elected.
● S3 establishes that the Senate will have terms of six years, with the Vice President being
the President of the Senate but shall have no vote, unless equally divided.
● S3 also establishes that the power of impeachment is only through the Senate.
● S3 also sets out that a Senator must be 30 years old and have been a citizen for nine
years.
Article 2: Executive
● S1
● S2 sets out that the President is Commander-in-Chief, and has power of appointments
(albeit with Senate approval). It is very vague on to role of the Cabinet and the XOP.
4C: US Constitution, Supreme Court, President/Executive and Congress.
Subtopic 1: The Constitution
The origins of the US Constitution:
Constitutional system since 1788. Former system was the Articles of Confederation. One house
body of delegates who could act together. No president or judiciary. Required 9/13 of the votes
to pass legislation. 0 amendments to that system as it required a unanimous vote. James
Madison described it as ‘being without reading experience or principle and allowed certain
individuals to try and dominate’. Decided on by 55 in a convention in Philadelphia 1787. Left use
this as a criticism as it was not made by representatives as such. They didn’t want power of the
people or for excessive government. Main conflicts came to key compromises. Conflict between
large and small states led to the Great Compromise- two houses. House was designed to
represent the people. 3/5ths compromise was used to calculate the size of population.
Government divided into the three branches of legislature, judiciary and executive.
To know and understand the key features of the US Constitution.
The US Constitution is:
● Codified
● Entrenched.
● It is a rigid constitution.
● It is also a federal Constitution.
Article 1:
● S1 establishes that all legislative powers are through a Congress, consisting of a Senate
and House of Representatives.
● S2 establishes that the House shall be composed of Members chosen every second
year, and that no person shall be a Representative who is not 25 years of age, and have
been a citizen for 7 years, as well as not living in the State in which they would be
elected.
● S3 establishes that the Senate will have terms of six years, with the Vice President being
the President of the Senate but shall have no vote, unless equally divided.
● S3 also establishes that the power of impeachment is only through the Senate.
● S3 also sets out that a Senator must be 30 years old and have been a citizen for nine
years.
Article 2: Executive
● S1
● S2 sets out that the President is Commander-in-Chief, and has power of appointments
(albeit with Senate approval). It is very vague on to role of the Cabinet and the XOP.
