Montesquieu’s view of

separation of powers
1. 2.
The Founding Fathers used his views when He wrote that government is morally obligated
writing the Constitution. to serve people, namely by protecting their
natural rights of life, liberty, and property.
He described the separation of political
power among a legislature, an executive, and Think- Declaration of Independence
a judiciary.

Magna Carta, 1215

John Locke’s
Social Contract

3. 4.
A social contract is the belief that the state First document to limit the powers of the king
only exists to serve the will of the people. – signed in 1215.
He believed when government violates
individual rights, people were obligated to Citizens could not be deprived of life, liberty
rebel. or property without a lawful judgment of their
Think- Declaration of Independence/ American peers or by law of the land.
Revolution
Represented by the fifth amendment.
 Mayflower Compact, 1620

English Bill of Rights, 1689

5. 6.
Established freedom from taxation without First document to establish self-government in
representation, outlawed cruel and unusual the colonies.
punishment, guaranteed the right to bear
arms, and many other rights. Signed before the passengers left the ship,
The Mayflower, to settle in Plymouth Colony.
Many of these same rights are included in the
U.S. Constitution.

Common
Sense by
Thomas
Paine

7. 8.
Pamphlet encouraging colonists to demand Government or control of a country by its own
their rights as citizens and support members rather than by members of a
independence for the colonies. different country.

Ideas are echoed in the Declaration of

Independence.
 Assent

Declaration of Independence

9. 10.
Statement of American ideals –role of Official approval or agreement
government is to protect their natural rights
(life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) - adopted
July 4, 1776.

Also listed grievances against the king.

Colonists were angry over being taxed without
their consent (no taxation without
representation).

Shay’s Rebellion

Tyranny

11. 12.
Cruel and oppressive government or rule. Protests by Massachusetts farmers over tax
collections and judgments for debt. State
militia crushed the rebels.

Alarmed politicians – cited as a reason to

revise or replace the Articles of
Confederation.
 Articles of
Confederation

Preamble to the Constitution

13. 14.
First form of government for America. Introduction to the U.S. Constitution,
establishing the goals and purposes of
Many Weaknesses: government.
Only had a Congress where 9 out of the 13
states had to agree. “We the People” = government depends on the
No executive or judicial branch (power to people for its power and exists to serve them.
enforce or interpret laws).
States had the majority of the power. Sets up the six goals of government.
Country in debt – no way to raise money.
Separation of Powers

Constitutional Government

15. 16.
Any government whose authority and Powers of government are divided among three
construction are defined by a constitution. branches of government: Legislative,
Executive, and Judicial.

Limits the power of government.

Montesquieu (French philosopher) believed this

was a way to ensure liberty.
 Checks and Balances Federalists

17. 18.
Each governmental branch has powers to limit Supporters of the Constitution who believe a
(check) the other branches. strong national government is needed to keep
the country united.
Keeps the balance of power relatively equal
between the branches. Published the Federalist Papers to gain
support for the Constitution.
Montesquieu (French philosopher) believed this
was a way to ensure liberty.

Anti-
Bill of Rights
Federalists

19. 20.
Feared a strong federal government as First 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution –
created by the Constitution. details the specific freedoms that belong to
each American citizen.
Did not believe it would protect states’ rights
nor people’s freedom.

As the Constitution is ratified, they push for a

“Bill of Rights” to protect individual liberties.
 Civil

Law

Rule of Law

21. 22.
No one is above the law. Group of laws that refer to disputes among
people or organizations.
Foundation of liberty in the United States and
it protects us from tyranny; Constitution =
limited government.

Constitutional Law

Criminal Law

23. 24.
Group of laws that define what acts/activities Based on the Constitution and on Supreme
are crimes. Court decisions interpreting the Constitution.

Describes how a person accused of a crime

should be tried in court and how crimes should
be punished.
 Military Law

Statutory Law

25. 26.
Laws that are passed by a law-making body Governs the behavior of men and women in all
(such as Congress). branches of the U.S. armed forces.

Most criminal and many civil laws are also

these types of laws.

Juvenile Law

Common Law
27. 28.
Type of law that develops from judges An area of the law that deals with the actions
previous decisions and is followed in situations and well-being of persons who are not yet
not covered by statutory law. adults.

Sometimes, also called case law.

 Naturalization

Citizenship

29. 30.
As defined by the 14th Amendment: all who Legal process through which immigrants become
are born or naturalized in the United States U.S. citizens.
are citizens of the United States and of the
Must be at least 18 years old, have a background
state they reside in.
check showing “good moral character”, be
fingerprinted, and pass tests on civics, U.S.
history, and English

Must take Oath of Allegiance to the United

States.

Law of Blood
Law of Soil

31. 32.
Idea that a person's nationality at birth is the Idea that the country of citizenship of a child
same as that of his natural parents. is determined by its country of birth.

For example, if a child’s parents are American For example, in most cases if a child was born
citizens travelling through France when they on U.S. land, but his parents are not U.S.
give birth to that child, the child is American. citizens, the child is still a U.S. citizen.
 Civic

Duty

Civic Responsibility

33. 34.
Something that you should do as a citizen. A civic duty is something that each citizen
This can include participating in the owes their nation, whether it's serving on a
democratic process (voting), recycling, jury, abiding the law, registering for selective
volunteering, or helping other citizens. service, or paying taxes.

Selective
Service

First Amendment

35. 36.
A system for calling up people for compulsory Protects five freedoms: religion, speech,
(required) military service. press, assembly, and petition.
 Second

Amendment Third Amendment

37. 38.
Protects the right to bear arms. No soldiers will be quartered (housed) without
the consent of the owners during times of
peace.

Also protects home-owners during times of

war (unless required by law).

Fourth Amendment Fifth Amendment

39. 40.
Protects against unreasonable search and 1. Before being tried for a serious crime a
seizures without a warrant or probable cause. grand jury must indict (formally accuse) the
person of the crime.
2. Protects against being tried for the same
criminal offense twice.
3. Protects against self-incrimination.
4. Cannot be deprived of rights without due
process of the law.
5. Allows for eminent domain.
 Sixth Amendment

Seventh Amendment

41. 42.
Right to a prompt and public trial decided by a In cases involving money or property over $20,
jury. the right to a trial by jury is preserved.
A person must be informed of the charges
against them.
Can hear and question all witnesses, and have
their own witnesses.
Right to legal counsel (attorney). (Supreme Court
interpreted this to mean the government will provide one if
you cannot afford it).

Ninth Amendment
Eighth Amendment

43. 44.
Protects against excessive bail and fines. There are rights reserved to the people that
are not listed in the Constitution.
Protects against cruel and unusual
punishments. Refers to the natural rights of people.

Also called unenumerated rights – those not

spelled out in the Constitution.
Tenth Amendment

Suffrage

45. 46.
Powers that are not reserved to the federal The right of voting.
government nor prohibited to the states
belong to the states or the people.

Limits the power of the federal government.

Due Process
Double
Jeopardy

47. 48.
The act of putting a person through a second The government has to follow rules and
trial for an offense for which he or she has established procedures in everything it does.
already been prosecuted or convicted.
This protection helps to ensure justice.
Prohibited by the Fifth Amendment.
Contained in the Fifth Amendment.
 “Pleading the Fifth”

Eminent Domain
49. 50.
Government power to take private property A person’s refusal to answer a question on the
for public use without the owner's consent. ground that the answer might incriminate the
person.
The Fifth Amendment requires the payment
of just compensation to the owner. The right to this refusal is protected by the
Fifth Amendment.

Ex Post Facto
Appellate
Process

51. 52.
The process to have a higher court review the Latin for "after the fact."
result of a trial court or lower court.
Laws adopted after an act is committed making
The Supreme Court is mainly an Appeals Court it illegal although it was legal when done, or
increases the penalty for a crime after it is
committed.

Such laws are specifically prohibited by the

U.S. Constitution.
 Independent Judiciary
Habeas Corpus

53. 54.
Court order that requires the government to A justice system that is not influenced by
bring a prisoner to court and explain why he or either the legislative or executive branch.
she is being held.
Free to make decisions based upon law, not
upon men or pressure from other groups.

Created to guarantee equal justice to all.

Precedent

Summary Judgment

55. 56.
A previous case or legal decision that may be A procedural device used during civil cases to
or must be followed in future similar cases. promptly dispose of a case without a trial. It is
used when there is no dispute as to the
material facts of the case and a party is
entitled to judgment.

The purpose of summary judgment is to avoid

unnecessary trials.
 Civil Disobedience Economic Freedom
57. 58.
Refusal to obey governmental demands or The freedoms to choose how to produce, sell,
commands especially as a nonviolent and usually and use your own resources, while respecting
collective (group) way of forcing the others’ rights to do the same.
government to do or change something

Internment

59. 60.
The imprisonment or confinement of people, Authority to determine how a resource is used,
commonly in large groups, without trial. whether that resource is owned by government
or by individuals.
 Civil Rights
Act of 1964

Civil Rights Act of 1968

61. 62.
Prohibits discrimination (on the basis of race, This act provided for equal housing
religion, gender, or national origin) in public opportunities regardless of race, religion,
accommodations, facilities, and schools. gender, or national origin.

Prohibits discrimination in federally funded Also known as the Fair Housing Act.
projects.

14th

Amendment

13th Amendment

63. 64.
Outlaws slavery in all states and all lands Granted full citizenship to African Americans.
governed by the United States.
States, again, citizens cannot be deprived of
rights without due process of the law.

Guarantees equal protection under the law.

15th 19th
Amendment Amendment

65. 66.
States that no one can be denied suffrage Prohibits any United States citizen from being
(right to vote) based on race or color. denied the right to vote on the basis of
gender.

24th Amendment 26th Amendment

67. 68.
Bans the use of poll taxes as a requirement for Lowered the voting age in all elections to 18.
voting in national elections.

Supreme Court interpretation later expands

this to cover state elections as well.
 States’ Rights

Equal Rights Amendment

69. 70.
A proposed amendment to the United States Political powers reserved for the state
Constitution designed to guarantee equal governments and not the federal government.
rights for women.

Originally proposed in 1923.

The amendment has been reintroduced in

every session of Congress since 1982.

Marbury v. Madison
Voting
Rights
Act of
1965

71. 72.
Designed to enforce the voting Establishes the Supreme Court’s power of
rights guaranteed by Fifteenth Amendment to judicial review (deciding whether laws passed
the United States Constitution. by Congress are constitutional).

Prohibits discrimination in voting.

It is considered one of the most effective

pieces of civil rights legislation ever enacted in
the U.S.
 Brown v.
Board of
Education

Plessy v. Ferguson

73. 74.
“Separate, but equal” was constitutional. Segregation in the public schools is
unconstitutional.
Upholds state laws requiring segregation.
Reverses the Court’s earlier position on
segregation set by Plessy v. Ferguson.

Gideon v. Miranda v.
Wainwright Arizona

75. 76.
Established free legal help for those who Ruled that a person’s Fifth Amendment rights
cannot otherwise afford representation in begin at the time of arrest.
court.
The name “Miranda Rights” come from this
case.
 Tinker v. Des Moines
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

77. 78.
Establishes the extent of public school Establishes that the 1st Amendment does not
students’ constitutional rights while at school. require schools to promote particular types of
student speech (specifically about a school
Specifically about black armbands worn to newspaper).
school to protest the war in Vietnam.
The paper was sponsored by the school and the
school was within its rights to prevent
publication of articles it found inappropriate.

In re Gault
United
States v.
Nixon

79. 80.
Court ruling forced President Nixon to turn Landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that
over secret tapes of White House held that juveniles accused of crimes in a
conversations. delinquency proceeding must be afforded many
of the same due process rights as adults.
Due process of law more important than
“executive privilege” which is the right to
withhold information from other government
branches.
 Heller v.
D.C.

Bush v. Gore

81. 82.
After issues with voters’ ballots in Florida, the Court held that the Second Amendment
FL Supreme Court issued a recount. The US protects an individual right to possess a
Supreme Court ruled that this was firearm unconnected with service in a militia,
unconstitutional, since in essence the FL and to use that firearm for traditionally lawful
Supreme Court was creating a new election law purposes, such as self- defense within the
(something they cannot do). The recount was home.
stopped and George Bush declared the winner
in Florida, and the nation.

Juvenile Rights
Segregation

83. 84.
Minors in juvenile court delinquency The enforced separation of different racial
proceedings do not have the same groups.
constitutional rights as those given to adults in
regular criminal court cases.

In re Gault strengthened some of their rights;

such as, the right to know the charges, and
right to an attorney.
 Communist Party
Libertarian Party

85. 86.
Political party in the United States, which Political party in the United States that
supports communism – the economic and
believes each individual has the right to
political system in which the government owns control his or her own body, action, speech,
the means of production and decides what will
and property. Government's only role is to help
be produced. individuals defend themselves from force and
fraud.

Socialist Party Democratic Party

87. 88.
Political Party in the United States which One of the two major political parties in the
supports socialism – working people own and United States.
control the means of production and
distribution through democratically- controlled Considered to be more liberal, the party
public agencies, cooperatives, or other supports a stronger role for the federal
collective groups. government in providing social programs.
 Republican Party Two-Party System

89. 90.
One of the two major political parties in the U.S. only has two main political parties, but
United States. hundreds of smaller parties.

Considered to be more conservative, the party Smaller parties, usually, do not have a
supports reducing the power of the federal significant impact on national politics, but
government in providing social programs. have, at times, swayed the vote enough to help
one of the major candidates to win.

Constitutional Requirements for the Constitutional Requirements for the

House of Representatives Senate

91. 92.
Candidates must: Candidates must:
• be at least 25 years old. • be at least 30 years old.
• have been a citizen of the U.S. for at • have been a citizen of the U.S. for at
least 7 years. least 9 years.
• be a legal resident of the state you • be a legal resident of the state you
represent. represent.
Constitutional Requirements for the
President

Special Interest Groups

93. 94.
Candidates must: Organizations of people with common interests
• be at least 35 years old. who try to influence government policies and
• be a native born U.S. citizen. decisions.
• be a resident of the United States for
at least 14 years.

Lobbyist Lobbying
95. 96.
A person paid to represent an interest group’s Seeking to influence a politician or public
viewpoint. official on an issue.
 Political
Action
Committee

Watchdog
97. 98.
The part of a special interest group that A group of people who act as protectors of
collects voluntary contributions from members other citizens against illegal, inefficient and
to fund political candidates and political unethical practices in government.
parties that the interest group favors.
They closely monitor how things are done by
politicians and draw attention to anything that
is not done properly.

Bias

Symbolism

99. 100.
An attitude that always favors one way of The use of symbols to represent ideas or
feeling or acting over any other. qualities.

Not always obvious. Used often in political campaigns to sway

voters.
 Propaganda Domestic Policy

101. 102.
Ideas used to influence people’s thinking or An area of public policy which concerns laws,
behavior. government programs, and administrative
decisions which are directly related to all
Used often in political campaigns to sway issues and activity within a nation's borders.
voters.

Foreign Policy

United States State Department

103. 104.
A country’s plan for dealing with other Executive department responsible
countries of the world. for international relations of the United
States.

Created in 1789.

It was the first executive department

established.
Alliance

Ambassadors

105. 106.
Association formed for mutual benefit Highest-ranking officials representing a
between countries. government in a foreign country.

Diplomacy

Diplomat

107. 108.
The art of dealing with foreign governments. A person appointed by a country to
conduct diplomacy with another country
or international organization.

An ambassador would be the highest-ranking.

 Foreign Affairs
Doctrine
109. 110.
A statement of government policy especially in Activities of a nation in its relationships with
international relations. other nations; international relations.

Domestic Affairs

Secretary of State

111. 112.
Issues relating to your own country. Official of the federal government heading
the U.S. Department of State, principally
concerned with foreign affairs.
 Embassy

Treaty

113. 114.
The residence or office of an ambassador in a A formally concluded and ratified agreement
foreign country. between countries.

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) International Non-Governmental

Organization (INGO)

115. 116.
Private organizations that pursue activities to Has the same mission as a non-governmental
relieve suffering, promote the interests of the organization (NGO), but it is international in
poor, protect the environment, provide basic scope and has outposts around the world to
social services, or undertake community deal with specific issues in many countries.
development.
 North Atlantic Treaty Organization

North American Free Trade Agreement

(NAFTA) (NATO)

117. 118.
Designed to remove tariff barriers between Security alliance to safeguard the freedom
the United States, Canada, and Mexico over a and security of its members through political
fifteen year time span. and military means.

Most comprehensive regional trade agreement

ever negotiated by the United States.

International Red Cross/Red Crescent

119. 120.
Organization that acts before, during and Organization that promotes peaceful
after disasters and health emergencies to coexistence and worldwide cooperation.
meet the needs and improve the lives of
vulnerable people around the world. Currently has 192 permanent member
countries.
 World Court (International Court of
Justice)
United
Nations
Children’s
Fund

121. 122.
A United Nations program that provides long- Judicial branch of the UN.
term humanitarian and developmental
assistance to children and mothers Its main functions are to settle legal disputes
in developing countries. between member countries.

Bay of Pigs

World Trade Organization (WTO)

123. 124.
International trade agreement – its main Unsuccessful military invasion of Cuba in 1961
function is to ensure that trade flows as by U.S. sponsored troops.
smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.
The invasion was a major embarrassment for
159 countries are members. U.S. foreign policy.
 Iran
Hostage
Crisis

Cuban Missile Crisis

125. 126.
13 day confrontation over the Soviet Union A diplomatic crisis between Iran and
building missile bases in Cuba. The United the United States when 52 Americans were
States decided on a military blockade - they held hostage for 444 days (November 4, 1979,
would not permit offensive weapons to be to January 20, 1981), after a group of Iranian
delivered to Cuba. students took over the US Embassy in Tehran.
U.S. and Soviet Union (with UN’s help) came to
an agreement to avoid nuclear war.

Vietnam War
Korean War

127. 128.
In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. Controversial war to stop the spread of
The U.S. and 15 other members of the UN communism in SE Asia. The U.S. sent economic
helped defend South Korea. In 1953, the and military aid to help the non-communist
conflict reached a stalemate. southern half. By 1975, the Communist
government controlled all of Vietnam.
Tensions still remain high between the two
countries.
 Gulf Wars I and II World War I

129. 130.
The First Persian Gulf War, Jan.–Feb., 1991, was an U.S. initially tried to remain neutral, but
armed conflict between Iraq and a coalition of 39
German submarines attacked U.S. merchant
nations including the United States. It was a result of
ships making this impossible.
Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990.

The Second Persian Gulf War, also known as the Iraq The U.S. entered the war as an "associated
War, Mar.–Apr., 2003, was a largely U.S.-British invasion power", rather than a formal ally of France and
of Iraq. It started in part because the Iraqi the United Kingdom, in order to avoid "foreign
government failed to cooperate fully with UN weapons
entanglements".
inspections in the years following the first conflict.

World War II Direct Democracy

131. 132.
U.S. takes a neutral position until the Japanese Type of government in which the power to
attack at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. govern lies directly in the hands of the people
rather than being exercised through their
End of the war led to the formation of the United representatives.
Nations.

United States is finished trying to isolate

(isolationism) itself from the rest of the world.
Representative Democracy Oligarchy

133. 134.
Type of government in which the people elect Type of government in which all power belongs
representatives to carry on the work of the to a small group of people.
government for them.

The United States is one.

Also called a republic.

Socialism Communism

135. 136.
Economic system where working people own The economic and political system in which the
and control the means of production and government owns the means of production and
distribution through democratically-controlled decides what will be produced.
public agencies, cooperatives, or other
collective groups.

There are many varieties.

 Autocracy
Monarchy

137. 138.
Type of government having a ruler who inherits Type of government where one person has
the position, may rule for life, and holds unlimited power.
powers varying from very limited to total.
North Korea is an example.

Republic

Absolute Monarchy

139. 140.
Type of government in which the monarch has Type of government in which the people elect
absolute power among his people. representatives to carry on the work of the
government for them.

The United States is one.

Also called a representative democracy.

Parliamentary System of Government

Federal System of Government

141. 142.
A system of democratic government in which A system of government that divides the
the executive branch is held accountable to powers of government between the national
the legislature (parliament). (federal) government and state and local
governments.
The executive and legislative branches are
interconnected. The United States is a federal government.

Unitary
Confederal
System of
System of
Government
Government

143. 144.
A system of government where the states A system of government where power is almost
have the power and the national government is entirely centralized in a national government.
weak. Power is allowed to local governments only for
the sake of convenience (such as garbage
Think: Articles of Confederation collection times or issuing parking tickets).

Many countries (but not the U.S.) have this

system of government.
 Governor

President

145. 146.
The chief executive of a state government. The chief executive of a nation.

Prime Minister Legislative Branch

147. 148.
The most senior minister of cabinet in Branch of the government, created by Article I in
the executive branch of government in the Constitution, that makes the laws.
a parliamentary system. Is bicameral with the House of Representatives
and Senate.
Delegated powers include: collecting taxes, borrowing
Example: The UK has a Prime Minister.
money, coining money, punishing counterfeiters, regulating trade,
granting copyrights and patents, making immigration law, forming the
federal court system, punishing piracy, declaring war, funding and
regulating armed forces, forming and arming militias, establishing the
postal service, and creating Washington D.C., and to make all laws
which shall be necessary and proper.
 Senate
House of Representatives

149. 150.
One part of the Legislative Branch. One part of the Legislative Branch.

Has 435 elected members -number of Has 100 elected members with each state
representatives for each state depends on having two senators.
that state’s population.
Has special powers: all impeachment trials held in the
Any appropriations (spending money) bill must Senate, all treaties must be approved with a 2/3 vote, and all
appointed high officials (like Supreme Court justices) must be
start in this chamber. approved with a majority vote.

Executive Branch

151. 152.
Branch of the government, created by Article II in Branch of the government, created by Article
the Constitution, in charge with enforcing the laws. III in the Constitution, in charge of handling
disagreements over the law.
The President is Commander in Chief of the armed
forces, and also has the power to make treaties.
Is made up of the Supreme Court, Lower
Yet, only Congress can declare war, and the Senate
Courts, and Special Courts.
must approve any treaty with a 2/3 vote.
 Supreme Court Concurrent Powers

153. 154.
The Supreme Court is the nation’s highest court Powers that are shared by a state and federal
with 9 justices appointed by a President and government.
approved by a majority of the Senate.
Examples include raising and collecting taxes,
Justices serve for life or until they resign (can
making and enforcing laws, creating state and
also be impeached).
local court systems, and borrowing and
Usually determine constitutionality of laws.
spending money.

Delegated Powers

Impeachment

155. 156.
Powers that are clearly spelled out in the Formal process in which an official is accused of
Constitution for the federal government. unlawful activity.

Examples include conducting foreign policy, At the federal level, charges must be presented in
the House of Representatives and then the trial is
printing money, maintaining a post office, and
in the Senate.
defending the country.
Does not necessarily mean removal from office.
 Implied Powers
Enumerated Powers

157. 158.
Powers that Congress has exercised under the Powers granted to Congress by
“necessary and proper” clause (also called the Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
elastic clause):
“To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper These include: coining money, regulating trade,
for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers…” making immigration law, declaring war, and
funding & regulating armed forces.
Example: establishing national military
academies.

Reserved Powers
Supremacy Clause

159. 160.
Powers granted to the states. The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of
the land.
These include marriage laws, driving laws,
traffic regulations, maintaining education No one can violate the U.S. Constitution.
systems, conducting elections.
Federal law supersedes state law when there is
th
Protected by the 10 Amendment a conflict.
 Amendment Process Caucus

161. 162.
2 ways to propose a new amendment: A meeting of supporters or members of a
2/3 vote in both houses of Congress; 2/3 of states can
specific political party or movement.
ask Congress for a national convention to propose a new
amendment

2 ways to ratify a new amendment: 3/4 of state

legislatures; 3/4 of special state conventions approve it

Takes a long time and it is not easy to gain approval and

ratify a new amendment.

How a Bill Becomes a Law Appointment Confirmation

163. 164.
Appropriations bills must start in the House. The U.S. Constitution gives the president the
Others can start in either chamber. power to appoint officials like Cabinet secretaries,
Must be introduced, goes to committee, gets Supreme Court justices and ambassadors with the
out of committee to get voted on, and goes to "advice and consent of the Senate"
To protect the interests of the American people,
the other chamber to go through a similar
the Senate holds confirmation hearings to examine
process there. Then sent to the president to
candidates for presidential appointment.
sign or veto. Presidential appointments must be approved by a
If vetoed, Congress can override with a 2/3 majority of the Senate.
vote in both houses (unless it is a pocket veto).
 Executive Order

Congressional Committee Selection

165. 166.
Congress divides its legislative, oversight, and Orders from the President usually to his own officials.
administrative tasks among approx. 200 committees Do not require approval from Congress but they must
and subcommittees. find support in the Constitution, either in a clause
The list of members of each committee is officially granting the President specific power, or by a delegation
approved by a full vote of its chamber. However, those of power by Congress to the President.
decisions are actually made by the party leadership.
Considerations in making the assignments include each Have significant influence over the internal affairs of
member's areas of expertise, the interests of government, deciding how and to what degree laws will
their constituents, and seniority. Political favors also be enforced, dealing with emergencies, and waging war.
often come into play in committee assignments.

Judicial Review

167. 168.
A president’s constitutional right to reject a The power of the courts to review the actions
decision or proposal made by Congress. of the executive and legislative branches – can
strike down laws that are deemed
President can also decide not to sign a bill without unconstitutional.
an official approval/rejection and one of two things
can happen after 10 days:
Became an established power of the judicial
1. Congress is in session, the bill becomes a
law.
branch with the Supreme Court case Marbury
2. Congress is not in session, the bill dies v. Madison (1803).
(called a pocket veto).
 Writ of Certiorari
Court
Order

169. 170.
An order issued by a court of law requiring a Order asking for judicial review. A minimum of
person to do something or to refrain from four of the nine Justices on the Supreme Court is
doing something. required to grant a writ of certiorari, referred to
as the "rule of four".

The court denies the vast majority of petitions and

thus leaves the decision of the lower court to
stand without review; it takes roughly 80 to 150
cases each term.

Ordinance Statute

171. 172.
A law or regulation made by a city or town A law enacted by the legislative branch
government. (federal or state) of a government.
ACT

Cabinet

173. 174.
Another name for a law. Composed of the most senior appointed officers of
the executive branch of the United States, who
It can either be a public law, relating to the are usually the heads of the federal executive
general public, or a private law, relating to departments.

specific institutions or individuals.

All Cabinet members are nominated by the
president and then presented to the
Senate for confirmation or rejection by a simple
majority.

Chief
Justice

Standing Committee
175. 176.
Highest judicial officer. Permanent committees identified by chamber
rules that exist in either the House of
One of the Supreme Court justices (whether Representatives or Senate.
federal or state).
Considers bills and issues as well as monitors
agencies, programs, and activities that fall
under its authority.
 Special Committee

Conference Committee

177. 178.
A conference committee is a committee of Established by a separate resolution of a
the Congress appointed by the House of chamber, sometimes to conduct investigations
Representatives and Senate to resolve and studies, and, on other occasions, also to
disagreements on a particular bill. consider measures.

Can be temporary or permanent.

Majority Leader Minority Leader

179. 180.
The chief spokesperson for the majority party The floor leader of the second largest group in
in a legislative body. a legislative body.
 Pardon President Pro Tempore
181. 182.
The action of forgiving an error or offense. The second-highest-ranking official of the United
States Senate since the Constitution states that
Power of the executive branch at the federal the Vice President of the U.S. is the President of
and state level. the Senate.
Since 1890, the most senior senator in the
majority party has generally been chosen to fill
this position.
During the Vice President's absence, they are
empowered to preside over Senate sessions.

Speaker of the House

School
Board

183. 184.
The presiding officer of the House of A group of people who are in charge of local
Representatives. schools.

The House elects the position on the first day Usually members are elected; although in some
of every new Congress (every other year) and areas they are appointed by other
in the event of the death or resignation of an governmental officials.
incumbent Speaker.
Appellate Court

Federal Court System

185. 186.
Any court of law that is empowered to hear Highest Court Supreme Court
an appeal of a trial court or other lower court.

Commonly called an appeals court or court of

appeals. Court of Appeals

Lowest Court District Court

FL’s State Court System

Appeal

187. 188.
Highest Court State Supreme Court Apply to a higher court for a reversal of the
decision of a lower court.
District Court of
Appeals

Circuit Courts

County Courts
Lowest Court
Trial Courts

Jurisdiction

189. 190.
A court that is authorized to hear any type The official power to make legal decisions and
of civil or criminal case. judgments; authority.

Examples: U.S. District Courts, Circuit Courts,

County Courts

Constitution of the State of Florida Amending FL’s Constitution

191. 192.
The document that establishes and describes 5 ways to propose a new amendment in Florida: ¾
the duties, powers, structure, and function of vote in both houses of the state legislature,
the government of Florida, and establishes the constitutional revision committee (meets every 20
basic law of the state. years), taxation and budget commission (meets
every 20 years), majority of voters calling a
Constitutional Convention, or by voter initiative to
have it placed on the ballot.

All amendments must be approved by 60% of the

voters.
Florida Declaration of Rights
193.
First section of the Florida Constitution.

Is similar to the U.S. Bill of Rights but, like

most state bills of rights, is broader than the
federal version.