Blue, Green, Yellow

Chapter 8

Study Guide

civilian – nonmilitary

domestic tranquility – peace and order at home; one of the six goals defined in the Preamble to the Constitution

liberty – freedom to do as you please, as long as you obey the law and respect the rights of others

Articles - the main body of the Constitution divided into seven sections, which established the framework for the United States government.

preamble – introduction to a declaration, constitution, or other official document

federalism – a principle of the United States Constitution that establishes the division of power between the federal government and the states.

checks and balances – a principle of the United States Constitution that safeguards against abuse of power by giving each branch of government the power to check the other branches.

general welfare – well-being of all the citizens of one nation; one of the six goals defined in the Preamble to the Constitution

override – to set aside a presidential veto

bill – proposed law

veto – reject a proposed law

impeach – to bring a formal charge of wrongdoing against the President or another federal official

unconstitutional – not allowed under the Constitution

electoral college – a group of electors from every state who meet every four years to vote for the President and Vice President of the United States

House of Representatives – the larger of the two bodies that make up the legislative branch of the United States government; representation is based on population.

Senate – the smaller of the two bodies of Congress; based on equal representation with two senators for each state

First Amendment – amendment to the United States Constitution safeguards basic individual liberties including, freedom of religion, speech, and the press

Second Amendment- the right of the people to bear arms is protected

Third Amendment - prohibits soldiers from temporarily residing in private homes during peace time without getting the permission and consent of the owner

Fourth Amendment – protects people from unreasonable search and seizure

Fifth Amendment - Ensures that a person will not be required to testify against themselves. It also guarantees that a person will not subject to double jeopardy and will be afforded due process.

Sixth Amendment - guarantees a citizen a speedy trial, a fair jury, an attorney if the accused person wants one, and the chance to confront the witnesses who is accusing the defendant of a crime

Seventh Amendment – guarantees to have a jury hear your case in most civil trials

Eighth Amendment – bail, fines, and punishments must not be excessive

Ninth Amendment – protects rights that are not listed in the Constitution

Tenth Amendment – Powers not given to the federal government or prohibited by it to the states, are reserved for the states or to the people

incriminate – to give evidence against

Civil War Amendments – The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery, guaranteed citizenship to former slaves, and gave African American males the right to vote.

Nineteenth Amendment – 1920 amendment to the United States Constitution that gave women the right to vote

Twenty-sixth Amendment – amendment to the United States Constitution that lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.

constitutional initiative – process by which citizens sponsor an amendment

infrastructure – a state’s roads and bridges

local government – government on the county, parish, city, town, village, or district level

popular sovereignty – people have the right to alter or abolish their government

appeal – to ask that a court decision be reviewed by a higher court

civil – non criminal

100 Senators – 2 from each state, serve 6 year terms, must be 30 years of age and 9 years a citizen of the United States

535 Members of House of Representatives – 2 year terms, based on population, must be 25 years of age and 7 years a citizen of the United States

The Speaker of the House is the leader of the House of Representatives – they regulate debates and control the agenda. If the President dies in office, the Speaker of the House is next in line after the Vice President to become President

Powers delegated to Congress

1. Taxes – to collect taxes

2. Borrowing – to borrow money on the credit of the United States

3. Commerce – To regulate commerce (trade) with foreign nations, and between states

4. Naturalization; Bankruptcy – establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform rules of bankruptcy

5. Coin: Weights: and Measures – To coin money, and fix the standards of weights and measures

6. Counterfeiting – to provide punishment for counterfeiting

7. Post Offices – To establish post offices and post roads

8. Copyrights; Patents – To promote the progress of science and useful arts by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries

9. Federal Courts – To create lower federal courts (inferior to the Supreme Court)

10. Piracy- To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas and offenses against the law of nations

11. Declaration of War- To declare war and make rules concerning the capture of land and water

12. Army – To raise and support an army

13. Navy – To provide and maintain a navy

14. Rules of the Military – To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces

15. Militia – To provide for calling up the militia to execute the laws of the Union

16. Rules of the Militia – to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia

17. National Capital – To exercise legislation over the district of the (National Capital)

18. Necessary Laws – to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying out the laws

9 Justices on the Supreme Court – 1 chief justice, 8 associate justices, serve for life term

27 Amendments

President must be 35 years of age and a natural-born citizen

Powers of the President

1. Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces

2. Make Treaties

3. Make Nominations for cabinet members, judges, and ambassadors

The Vice President is president of the Senate, but shall not vote, unless they be equally divided

The Senate will choose a president pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he will exercise the office of the President