Mini Unit: Federal Government
I. Foundations of Government
1. Separation of Powers Model for governance where each branch of government have different and independent duties, powers, and responsibilities.
2. Amendment A change to a document
3. Article I Establishes the Legislative Branch of government
4. Article II Establishes the Executive Branch of government
5. Article III Establishes the Judicial Branch of government
6. Amendment Describes how changes (amendments) can be made to the Constitution
7. Article VI Establishes the Constitution as the “law of the land”
8. Electoral College a group of people who formally elect the President of the US
9. Preamble The primary function of this section of the US Constitution is to explain
the reasons for having a constitution.
10. Federalism a basic principle of the government that states that government power
should be divided between the national and state governments
11. Checks and balances System created so that each branch of government can limit the powers of the other branches; ensures that one branch of government does not become more powerful than the others.
12. Popular Sovereignty The basic principle of government that states that the people are the final
source of the government’s authority
II. Separation of Powers
Which branch of government is each role describing? Legislative, Executive, Judicial
13. Executive Selected by electoral college
14. Judicial Terms are for life or until they retire
15. Executive has the power to enforce or carry out the laws
16. Legislative members are voted into office by popular elections
17. Judicial members are nominated by the President
18. Executive Branch of government that has the President and his Cabinet
19. Legislative Congress – House of Representatives and the Senate
20. Legislative has the power to impeach the President
21. Executive Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces
22. Legislative Creates laws that allow for trade with other countries
23. Judicial Supreme Court is the head of this branch
24. Judicial Decides if laws are working fairly
III. Checks and Balances
Match the power of each branch to who is being checked.
Who has the power? Who can’t do what they want?
a. Executive Can Veto Laws Legislative
b. Legislative Approves Appointments Judicial
c. Legislative Can override vetoes Executive
d. Judicial Determines if actions are constitutional Executive
e. Judicial Determines if laws are constitutional Legislative
f. Executive appoints judges Judicial
IV. Constitution and Bill of Rights
31. Article VII Article that ratifies the Constitution
32. Article V Allows for changes of the Constitution
33. Article III Creates the Judicial Branch
34. Article I Creates the Legislative Branch
35. Article II Creates the Executive Branch
36. Article IV Defines the rights of the state to enforce their own laws
37. Amendment I Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition the government
38. Amendment VIIII_ Any rights not listed in the Constitution are implied for the states
39. Amendment II the right to own a gun
40. Amendment VII the right to a civil trial for anything $20 or more
41. Amendment VI the right to a speedy trial, jury by peers, and have a lawyer
42. Amendment V the right to remain silent and to have due process to life, liberty, and property
43. Amendment IV protection against search and seizure, must have a search warrant
44. Amendment VIII protection against cruel and unusual punishment.