Review, Part Three

What is Judicial Review?

The power of the judiciary branch to rule (or judge) on the constitutionality of laws or acts passed by Congress

What were the Federalist Papers?

Letters written by Al Hamilton and Madison that encouraged the states to ratify, or vote to authorize the Constitution as the law of the land

What is the Speaker of the House?

A ranking member from the majority party, is in charge of the House of Representatives, and is third in the line for presidential secession

How is the President Commander-in-Chief?

First in charge of the military, determines military strategy, but may not declare war, must have an act of congress

What are standing committees

Congressional committees where most of the work is done, they study proposed bills and report back to the rest of the house of congress

What is Gross Domestic Product?

The total of all goods and services produced within the United States, in factories, small stores & businesses, and corporations

What is a Filibuster?

The rule of unlimited debate in the Senate, and can only be stopped by 60 senators voting for a cloture motion

How does Congress spend money?

First, all spending (or appropriation bills) must originate in the House before they go to the senate

What is the War Powers Act?

Passed in 1973, Restricted the President’s power to put troops into harms way, without an official authorization of Congress

What is a Pardon?

When someone on death row (or just in prison) has their crime completely and totally forgiven – they can go free and their actions are no longer on their record

What is a Reprieve?

It is an official order from the President that officially delays the carrying out of one’s sentence – usually an execution

What is the Secretary of Defense?

It is the Civilian head of the Military, right behind the President. It may be a former general (might even have served as a youth) but a civilian in charge

What is the Attorney General?

The head of the Department of Justice, has a bunch of lawyers working for him (or her), is the President’s lawyer, but is the legal department for the executive branch of government

What is the State Department?

Works for the President, Sets and administers America’s foreign policy, under the direction of the President

What is the Federal Reserve?

Really, it is the bank for the government, called the FED, sets monetary policy for the United States, independent of the President’s wishes

What is the Securities & Exchange Commission?

Started during the Great Depression, to monitor the trades on the Stock market to make certain trades are honest

What was the Stamp Act of 1763?

Passed by England against the young colonies, it was a tax on every single piece of paper, document, playing card, in the colonies.

How many people are there in Congress?

Thousands, really, but there are 100 Senators and 435 Congressmen…each state has a changing # of members, depending on the Decennial census and the reapportionment of the members

How can someone become a US citizen?

Being born in America, or being born to American Parents anywhere else in the world, or through naturalization which is the process of immigrants becoming citizens

What was America’s Good Neighbor Policy?

Just what it say, it was America’s attempt at improving our relations with Latin America – Franklin Roosevelt’s foreign policy in our hemisphere

The end of Part Three