first constitution of 1781 by thirteen colonies - symbol of union by giving gov no power over states
successess of a of c
created treaty of alliance with france - finacial support in war with britain
negotiated end american rev. in treaty of paris - end of 7 year war
passed nw ordiance of 1787 - nw territories own gov., outlawed slavery there
weaknessess of a of c
no power to coin money
no power over foreign commerce
no power to tax
no national court system to protect rights
no exec. branch to enforce laws
amendments only made with support of all 13 states
shays rebellion
soldiers had no money and farmers had too much debt from loans
started with peaceful conventions but lead to attacks
attacked and shut down courts
sam adams passed laws to kill and unfairly imprison rebels
rebellion beat by militia
fed. gov counldn't get involved bc a state matter
the constitution
replaced a of c in 1789
6 articles and themes of supreme law
executive branch
apply and enforce laws
legislative branch
make laws
judicial branch
interpret laws
theme - limited gov.
gov. whose power is defined and limited by constitution
theme - republicanism
citizens elect reps. to govern
theme - checks and balances
branches limit eachother to avoid abuse of power
theme - federalism
power divided between national and state govs.
theme - separation of powers
divisions of power between branches
theme -popular sovereignity
ultimate power resides in people
great compromise
house of reps is based on the population of a state
3/5 compromise
slaves count for 3/5 persons to determine rep. in house
preamble
intro to constitution
starts with we the people
power lies in people
create and keep equality and peace
give security and best interest for the public
protect rights for citizens
keep order and everyone follow the laws
congress
bicameral legislature (2 systems)
powers delegated to congress
money
war
justice
regulations
foriegn relations
constitution changes
commerce
money
collect taxes
borrow
decide print (new currency or increase money supply)
war
how to spend
declare
justice
set up fed. courts
impeach pres. or officals
regulations
set up standards of measures
admit new states and territories
pass immigration laws
foriegn relations
deal with foriegn treaties
constitution changes
propose amendments to constitution
commerce
control business between states
control trade with other countries
powers forbidden to congress
cannot ex post facto law
cannot pass bill of attainer
cannot suspend writ of habeas corpus
cannot grant title of nobility
ex post facto law
makes an act illegal and applies it to people who have done it before passed
bill of attainder
law that punishes without a trial
writ of habeas corupus
protects people from illegal, unfair imprisonment
how many in house
435
term in house
2 years
house age and citizenship
25 years old and 7 years
duties of house
introduce bills
resolve bills
serve committees
impeach feds. offc.
elect pres if electoral college tie
how many senate
100
2 from each state
term in senate
6 years
senate age and citizenship
30 years old and 9 years
duties of senate
confirm pres appointments
adivse and consent to ratify treaties
tries impeachment cases
helps pass bills (majority vote)
veto pres. veto on bill (2/3 vote)
bicameral
having two branches
process of law passing
proposal - rep writes bill with support from other reps
intro - bill assigned a number and read aloud on house floor
committee report - bill sent to committee for review
floor debate - house reps debate and amend bill
vote - bill is read again and reps vote
hand off - bill sent to senate and debate amend and vote
compromise - house and senate make conference committee workout compromise bill
another vote - house and senate vote on compromise bill
president - bill goes to pres, they can sign, ignore, or veto (if veto senate can vote 2/3 to make law)
leader of house
speaker of house - nancy pelosi
leader of senate
vice pres - kamala harris
pres of senate
patrick leahy
impeachement
charge of wrong doing - intiates trial
guilty - removed or barred from office
pres term
4 years (2 time election)
pres age and requirements
35 years old
born in us
live in us 14 years before election
duties of pres
sign or veto laws
commander in chief of military
recognize other countries
make treaties (senate approve)
appoint sc justices (senate approve)
appoint cabinet members
electoral college
538 electors, divided amongst states
electors reflect amount of reps and senate of state
each elector casts one vote for pres and vice pres
canidate who has 270 or more votes wins
issues with electoral college
winner of popular vote is not guaranteed presidency
electors do not have to vote in accord with popular vote
any election might be decided in house
overepresents small states
executive order
something the president wants to highlight in society
3 levels of fed. court system
highest is sc (1 court)
court of appeals (13 circuits - 12 regional and 1 for fed. circuit)
district courts (94 districts, hear crime and dispute cases)
how many sc judges
9 justices
leader of sc
chief justice - John G. Roberts Jr.
judicial review
ability of sc to oppose any state or fed. laws approved by house or senate
madison vs marbury
adams appoints justices before his term ends to keep federalist power (john marshall - chief justice)
senate approves and marshall is sent to deliver commissions (doesn't deliver 4 including marbury)
jefferson and secretarty of state madison ignore appointments
marbury goes to sc and petitions writ of mandamus
marshall says marbury's arguement goes against constitution
judicial review is made
how does supreme court work
decides if laws congress passed are in conflict with constitution
hears appeals from lower courts to clear up meaning of laws
can overturn decisions made by lower courts
fed. court of appeals
hears cases on appeals with no new trials or juries
decides if decision made by district courts was right
can overturn lower courts decision
decisions are final unless case is appealed to sc
3 judges
justice gorsuch story
scalia dies suddenly during obama
obama selects garland to replace
senate waits out clock
trump appoints gorsuch
justice kavanaugh story
kennedy retires
trump appoints kavanaugh
allegations of sexual harrasment during senate hearings
justice barret coney
ginsburg dies
trump appoints and approves barret coney 12 days before term ends
cabinet members
people appointed by pres to be secretaries of different systems
dep examples
treasury - printing money, taxes, domestic and international finacial policies, pay bills of us
defense - oversees all armed forces
labor - protects rights of workers like wages, benefits, safety
if pres dies who assumes
vice, speaker of house, pres of senate, sec of state, sec of treasury