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CIVICS
Test CE 2b, 2c, 2d, 3b, 7b, 6a and 6b
81
Civics
8th Grade
01/02/2013

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Cards

Term
3 branches of government
Definition
  • legislative
  • executive
  • judicial
Term
Legislative branch
Definition
makes the laws
Term
Executive branch
Definition
Carries out the law
Term
Judicial branch
Definition
Interprets the laws
Term
3 levels of government
Definition
  • local
  • state
  • national (federal)
Term
U.S. Constitution has 3 parts
Definition
  • preamble
  • articles
  • amendments
Term
Charters of the Virginia Company of London
Definition
guaranteed the colonists would have the rights of the Englishmen
Term
Virginia Declaration of Rights
Definition
served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution
Term
Declaration of Independence
Definition
  • stated grievances against the king of Great Britain
  • declared the colonies independent from Great Britain
  • affirmed "certain unalienable rights"
  • established the idea that all people are equal under the law
Term
unalienable rights
Definition
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Term
Articles of Confederation
Definition
  • established the first form of national government for the independent states
  • maintained that major powers resided with individual states
  • weaknesses of the central government
Term
What part of the US Constitution did the Virginia Statute of Religous Freedom influence?
Definition
the religion part of the First Amendment
Term
The Constitution of the US....
Definition
  • establishes the structure of the US gov't
  • guarantees equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected
  • affirms individual worth and dignity of all people
  • protects the fundamental freedoms
Term
what does the preamble of the constitution express?
Definition
the reasons the Constitution was written
Term
goals stated in the Preamble
Definition
  • for a more perfect union
  • establish justice
  • insure domestic tranquility
  • provide for the common defense
  • promote the general welfare
  • secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity
Term
form a more perfect union means
Definition
to form a government better than that under the Articles of the Confederation
Term
to establish justice means
Definition
to have fair laws and fair courts
Term
to insure domestic tranquility means
Definition
the make sure there is peace within the borders
Term
to provide for the common defense means
Definition
to keep the country safe from its enemies
Term
to promote the general welfare means
Definition
to give all the opportunity to be happy, healthy and wealthy
Term
to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity
Definition
to ensure that we and future generations keep our freedoms
Term
The most important words in the US Constitution....
Definition
"we the people"
Term
what does "we the people" mean?
Definition
the people rule (the power comes from the people)
Term
What is the procedure used to amend the Constitution?
Definition
  • proposal
  • ratification
Term
Proposal
Definition
action by Congress (2/3 vote of both houses of Congress)
Term
ratification
Definition
by 3/4 of the state legislatures
Term
The amendment process is complex or simple?
Definition
complex
Term
Why is the amendment process complex?
Definition
so only necessary amendments are added to the Constitution
Term
27
Definition
the number of amendments added to the Constitution so far
Term
Bill of Rights
Definition
first 10 amendments to the Constitution
Term
What is the procedure to amend the Constitution of Virginia?
Definition
  • PROPOSAL: action by the general assembly
  • RATIFICATION: by the voters of VA
Term
What does propose mean?
Definition
suggest
Term
What does ratify mean?
Definition
to approve
Term
The Constitution of the USofA establishes and protects the citizens'
Definition
fundamental rights and liberties
Term
rights guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution
Definition
  • freedom of religion
  • freedom of speech
  • freedom of the press
  • freedom of assembly
  • freedom of petition
Term
Freedom of Religion
Definition
gov't may not establish an official religion or endorse (say one religion is better than another) a religion
Term
Freedom of Speech
Definition
individuals are free to express their opinions and beliefs
Term
Freedom of the press
Definition
the press has the right to gather and publish information, including that which criticizes the gov't
Term
Freedom of assembly
Definition
individuals may gather peacefully
Term
Freedom of petition
Definition
individuals have the right to make their views known to public officials
Term
We can worship any way we want (or not) is an example of
Definition
freedom of religion
Term
Making a speech or expressing your opinion to your friends is an example of
Definition
freedom of speech
Term
Newspapers and tv news shows are covered under
Definition
freedom of the press
Term
Birthday parties, going to the mall or gathering for any reason are examples of
Definition
freedom of assembly
Term
Sign a petition to send to your Congressman or emailing your Congressman are examples of
Definition
freedom of petition
Term
14th amendment
Definition
extends the due process protections to the actions of the states
Term
What is due process?
Definition
All of the procedures that the gov't has to follow if you are accused of a crime
Term
Federalism
Definition
the division of power between the states and the national gov't
Term
What document establishes a federal form of gov't in this nation?
Definition
U.S. Constitution
Term
 Under the Constitution, what level of gov't is supreme?
Definition
National
Term
The powers not given tot he national gov't by the U.S. Constitution are_______ to the states.
Definition
reserved
Term
There are certain powers that are _____ to both the national and state governments by the Constitution
Definition
denied
Term
What are the powers of the national gov't called?
Definition
expressed
Term
What do we call the powers that both the national gov't and the state gov't share?
Definition
concurrent
Term
primary responsibilities of the national level of gov't
Definition
  • conduct foreign policy
  • regulate commerce
  • provide for the common defense
Term
what are the primary responsibilities of the state level of gov't?
Definition
promote publich health, safety and welfare
Term
When federal mandates require state actions without enough funding____exist.
Definition
tensions
Term
legislative branch
Definition
  • make the laws of the nation
  • approve the budget
  • confirm presidential appointments
  • raises revenue
  • declares war
Term
Congress is
Definition
the national legislative branch
Term
Congress has a
Definition
bicameral legislature
Term
what does bicameral mean?
Definition

It means Congress has two houses: 

Senate and House of Representatives

Term
Headed by the President of the US
Definition
executive branch
Term
The President is the
Definition
Chief Executive of the nation
Term
executive branch powers
Definition
  • executes the laws of the land
  • prepares the annual budget
  • appoints cabinet officers, ambassadors and federal judges
  • administers the federal bureaucracy
Term
Judicial branch
Definition
  • federal courts

 

Term
highest court in the land
Definition
U.S. Supreme Court
Term
Difference between a justice and a judge
Definition

Justice is on the Supreme Court

Judges are in the other levels of the court system

Term
judicial review
Definition
Power to determine the constitutionality of laws and executive acts
Term
federal courts try two different kinds of cases
Definition
  • those involving federal law
  • those involving interpretation of the Constitution
Term
budget
Definition
plan for making and spending money
Term
separation of powers
Definition
Each branch of gov't has its own special powers
Term
checks and balances
Definition
Each branch of the gov't has the power to check the other two branches of gov't
Term
How can the legislative branch check the executive branch?
Definition
  • override presidential vetoes
  • impeach and convict a president
Term
How can the legislative branch check the judicial branch?
Definition
  • confirm or refuse to confirm federal judges/justices
  • impeach and convict judges/justices
Term
How can the executive branch check the legislative branch?
Definition
  • propose legislation
  • prepare an annual budget for Congress to approve
  • calls special sessions of Congress
  • vetoes legislation Congess has passed
Term

How can the executive branch check the judicial branch?

 

Definition
the president appoints judges/justices
Term
How can the judicial branch check the legislative branch?
Definition
declare acts of Congress to be unconstitutional
Term
How can the judicial branch check the executive branch?
Definition
Declare executive actions to be unconstitutional
Term
What's the definition of appoint?
Definition
pick someone to do the job
Term
What's the definition of impeach?
Definition
formally charging a public official of misconduct in office
Term
What does veto mean?
Definition
to reject a bill passed by Congress
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