Definitions:

1. Bill → a draft of a proposal for discussion

2. Legislator → a lawmaker who debates and discusses

3. Sponsor → a legislator that presents a bill for consideration

4. Committee → a sub-group of members who are chosen to investigate, debate, and report on laws

5. Table → to end a debate on a bill

6. Floor Debate → discussing ideas on the floor of a legislative body

7. Party Whip → a role in the Legislative branch; keeps track of attendance

8. Filibuster → delaying tactics by using long speeches

9. Cloture → to bring a debate on a bill to an end (usually done by the Senate)

10. Veto → to reject the bill (usually done by the Executive Branch) 

Federalism - an American system of government that splits power between the national, state, and local government

• There are four levels of government - National/Federal, State, Country/Parish, and Local Municipal

• There are three levels of government - Legislative, Executive, and Judicial

Supremacy Clause - States can't make laws that interfere with the Constitution and/or the laws made by the Congress

• The state government has more impact on citizens

• Limits the federal and state government powers 

Separation of Powers ↴

The power of the government is split into legislative, executive, judicial 

Checks and balances - Checks and balances provide each branch of the government with individual powers to check the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

How the Legislative Branch can check the Executive branch 

• Can override president’s veto

• Confirms executive appointments

• Ratifies treaties

• Can declare war

• Appropriate money

• Can impeach and remove the president

How the Legislative Branch can check the Judicial branch 

• Create lower federal courts

• Can impeach and remove judges

• Can propose amendments to overhaul judicial decisions

• Approves appointments of federal judges 

How the Executive Branch can check the Legislative branch

• Can propose laws

• Can veto laws

• Can cause special sessions of Congress

• Makes appointments

• Negotiates foreign treaties

How the Executive Branch can check the Judicial branch

• Appoints federal judges 

• Can grant pardons to Federal offenders

How the Judicial Branch can check the Executive branch

• Can declare executive acts unconstitutional

How the Judicial Branch can check the Legislative branch

• Can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional 

Positions ↴

Legislative branch

• Speaker of the house

  • Mike Johson (Republican) - Louisiana

  • The officer in charge of the House; the leader of the majority party who helps set law-making priorities

  • Appoints members to committees 

• governor of new jersey - phil murphy

• Senate Majority Leader

  • Chuck Schumer (Democrat) -  New York

  • Chief spokesperson of the majority party

  • Manages and schedules Senate business 
    

Executive branch

• President

  • Joseph Biden (Democrat) - Delaware

  • Commander-in-chief of the army

  • 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C.

• Vice president

  • Kamala Harris (Democrat) -  California

  • Number One Observatory Circle, Washington D.C.

• The President's Cabinet ( top three in order of succession to presidency after president and vice president)

  •  Anthony Blinken 

    • Secretary of State (foreign affairs)

  • Janel Vellin

    • Secretary of Treasury (financial issues)

  •  Lloyd Austin

    • Secretary of Defense (army/military)

Judicial branch

• 9 Judges 

  • Picked by the president, confirmed by the Senate

  • Lifetime job even if the president dies

Succession Act Order:

1. Vice President

2. Speaker of the House

3. President Pro-Tempore of the Senate

4. Secretary of State

5. Secretary of Treasury 

6. Secretary of Defense

7. Attorney General

Restrictions on Positions

• House of Representatives 

  • Minimum age: 35

  • Term length: 2 years

  • Unlimited terms

  • Must be a citizen for 7 years

  • 435 members

  • State people elect them 

• Senate

  • Minimum age: 30

  • Term length: 6 years

  • Unlimited terms

  • Must be a citizen for 8 years

  • 100 members

  • Live in the state you are representing

• President

  • Minimum age: 35

  • Term length: 4 years

  • Limited to 2 terms

  • Born in the U.S.

  • Lived in the U.S. for 14 years

  • A citizen

Different Committees↴

Committees evaluate information to comment course of action to the Senate

• Standing committee - Permanent panel with full legislative functions and oversight responsibilities 

• Subcommittees - Forms to tackle very specific tasks within the jurisdiction of the full committees 

• Select/Special committees - Groups appointed for a limited purpose and limited duration 

• Joint committees - Includes members of both chambers to conduct studies are perform housekeeping tasks 

• Conference Committee - Includes members of the House and Senate to work out differences between similar bills 

Creation of a Bill 

Both the House of Representatives and Senate must pass the same bill by majority vote

Introduction: The bill is introduced in the House of Representatives/ Senate and assigned a number and title 

Committee: The bill is sent to the committee for collecting information, holding hearings, and suggesting changes. if approved, it is sent to the full section (House or Senate) 

Floor: The bill is red and debated on the section's floor. if approved, the bill is sent to the other section

Conference Committee: The conference committee resolves differences between both sections’ versions of the bill. The revised bill is sent to both houses 

Final Approval: The House and Senate vote on final approval. the approval bill is sent to the president 

President’s Approval:

1. Vetoes the bill - Congress can override a veto by a 2/3 vote in both houses making the bill a law

2. Signs the bill

3. Allows the law to become a law without signing 

Around 5,000-6,000 bills go but only 5% become laws

Different aspects of a congressperson

• Legislator

  • Writes/debates bills

• Representative

  • Speak on behalf of the people who live in their district

• Partisan

  • Loyal member of a political party

• Committee Member

  • Consider/discuss bills

• Politician

  • Campaigning/fundraising 

Judicial Review- When the courts review the actions of the government to make sure they follow the law; it helps protect our rights and keeps the government in check 

he Marbury v. Madison case includes William Marbury suing James Madison, who was the Secretary of State at the time. Marbury wanted the Supreme Court to force Madison to deliver his appointment as a justice of the peace, but the court said they couldn't do that because the law Marbury relied on was unconstitutional. Chief Justice John Marshall played a key role in the case.