Government exam review guide
Read Chapter 13, section 1
1. What are the three formal qualifications for being President?
2. How long is a term of office for the President?
3. Today, how many terms can a President serve? Which amendment established that rule?
4. Why was the rule in question #3 created?
5. What is one reason people do not like the rule in question #3?
6. What is the maximum number of years a person can be President? (Look closely)
Chapter 13, section 2
7. Which amendment deals with Presidential succession?
8. List the first three positions for Presidential succession in order.
9. Which amendment deals with determining Presidential disability?
10. Who determines Presidential disability?
11. Who has to be informed about the President being unable to run the country?
12. What are the two formal duties of the Vice President?
13. What does it mean when a presidential candidate picks a running mate to “balance the ticket”?
14. How is a Vice Presidential vacancy filled?
Chapter 13, section 3
15. Why did delegates at the Constitutional Convention not want the general population electing the President?
16. What group officially chooses the President and Vice President?
17. How did the 12thAmendment change voting for the President and Vice President?
Chapter 10, section 1
18. How long is a term of Congress? According to the 20th Amendment, when should a term begin?
19. How long is a session of Congress? What does it mean that Congress must adjourn sine die?
20. Who can call a special session of Congress?
Chapter 10, section 2
21. How many members are in the House of Representatives?
22. How is representation apportioned in the House of Representatives?
23. How long is a term for a Representative?
24. How often is the House of Representatives reapportioned?
25. When do congressional elections occur?
26. Describe the single member district arrangement.
27. What is gerrymandering?
28. What are the three formal qualifications for being a member of the House of Representatives?
29. What is the long standing custom for being a representative for a district?
Chapter 10, section 3
30. How did the 17th Amendment change the election of senators?
31. How long is a term for a senator?
32. Explain the idea that the senate is a continuous body?
33. What are the three qualifications for a senator?
Chapter 11, section 4
34. Explain the Necessary and Proper Clause.
35. Describe the battle between Jefferson and Hamilton over implied powers.
Chapter 11, section 5
36. According to the 12th Amendment, when and how does the House choose the President of the United States?
37. Has the House of Representatives ever chosen a President before and if yes, when?
38. What electoral duty does the Senate have?
39. What does impeach mean?
40. Who has the power of impeachment? What vote is necessary to impeach a person?
41. According to your book, how many impeachments have there been?
42. What is the Senate’s role in impeachment?
43. Who are the two presidents in US history to be impeached?
44. Who approves appointments made by the President?
45. Describe the policy of senatorial courtesy.
46. Who approves treaties made by the President?
Chapter 12, section 1
47. What is the title given to the person who is elected the permanent presiding officer in the House of Representatives?
48. Who is the president of the Senate?
49. Who is the president pro tem?
50. Describe the job of floor leaders. Describe the job of the party whips.
Chapter 12, section 2
51. Who is the “traffic cop” in the House of Representatives?
52. What is the purpose of a conference committee?
Chapter 12, section 3
53. What is a bill?
54. Where is most of the work on a bill done?
55. Describe debate on a bill in the House of Representatives.
Chapter 12, section 4
56. How is debate on a bill different in the Senate, compared to the House of Representatives?
57. What is a filibuster?
58. What is cloture?
Chapter 18, section 1
59. Why is it said that the US has a dual court system?
60. What created the Supreme Court?
61. What created the inferior courts?
Define the following
62. Exclusive jurisdiction
63. Plaintiff
64. Defendant
65. Original jurisdiction
66. Appellate jurisdiction
67. Who selects federal judges? Who approves those selections?
68. Explain the concept of judicial restraint.
69. Explain the concept of judicial activism.
Chapter 18, section 2
70. Define district courts.
71. What type of jurisdiction do the district courts have?
72. What are criminal cases?
73. What are civil cases?
74. What is the purpose of the Courts of Appeals?
Chapter 18, section 3
75. Which case established the idea of judicial review?
76. What type of jurisdiction does the Supreme Court have?
77. What is a writ of certiorari?
78. What is a certificate?
79. What is the purpose of a brief?
80. What is a precedent?