Download Civics Review Legislative and Executive Branches

IB MYP HONORS CIVICS & ECONOMICS
NCFE REVIEW: Legislative & Executive Branches
1.
What does Congress do?
Make laws – “Create”: Make executive dept. agencies; create lower courts
2.
Explain the leadership role for each of the following members of Congress:
a. Speaker of the House
Leader of House – from majority party; chosen by seniority
Becomes President if the President & Vice President cannot serve
b.
President of the Senate
Is the VP – tie breaker vote (because 100 Senators)
Only politician to serve in 2 branches
c.
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Day to Day leadership of the Senate – from majority party, based on seniority
d.
Majority Leaders of Congress
From majority parties – based on seniority
Both houses – Republican
Job is to wrangle support for their platform/bills
e.
Minority Leaders of Congress
From minority parties – based on seniority
Both houses - Democrat
Also wrangle support for THEIR platform / bills
f.
Party Whips
Leaders in both parties – “whip up” support for bills
3.
Explain the impeachment process.
House votes to impeach; Senate tries impeachment
2 presidents impeached (Johnson & Clinton); none removed from office
“impeach” – only means ‘accuse’
4.
Define the following:
a. Cloture
Ends a filibuster by vote (Senate)
b.
Filibuster
Only in Senate – talking a bill to death
c.
Apportionment
Divide the # of reps in the house (435) among 50 states based on population (a portion). Population is counted by census
every 10 years – “re-apportionment”
Remember “a portion” of the members of the House
d.
Gerrymandering
Illegally re-drawing voting districts to favor one party (see apportionment)
e.
Seniority System
Way that members of Congress get the positions on committee and House leadership they want
Been there the longest – get committee / leadership positions in Congress
f.
Habeas Corpus
Tells why you’re in jail – Congress can’t suspend this right (says so in Constitution)
g.
Bills of Attainder
Congress can’t pass these laws b/c they take away your right to trial by jury (says so in Constitution)
h.
Ex Post Facto Law
Congress can’t these laws b/c they make an action a crime AFTER it’s committed (says so in Constitution)
i.
Censure
Only in Congress – vote of “no confidence” in members if they do something “bad” (scandal)
j.
Expulsion
Voted out of Congress
k.
Immunity
Congress members’ freedom of speech is protected
5. Fill out the following chart for the two houses in Congress
Senate - Upper House
House of Representatives - Lower House
A
E
G
B
D
F
I
K
L
H
J
O
M
N
P
Q
S
U
T
V
a.
d.
g.
j.
m.
p.
s.
u.
BOTH
C
R
Has 100 members
b. Has 435 members
c. Has 535 members
Must be 25 years old
e. Must be 30 years old
f. Be a US citizen for at least 7 years
Must be a 9 year US citizen
h. Must live in the district you represent
i. Must live in the state you represent
Led by Speaker of the House
k. Led by President Pro Tempore
l. Can filibuster
Can vote for cloture
n. Can attach riders to bills
o. Votes to impeach
Tries impeachment
q. Appropriations bills begin here
r. Overrides presidential vetoes
Representation based on population
t. Representation based on equal vote
Has a “Rules Committee” to hear and prioritize bills
v. Approves presidential treaties and appointments
6. What are some “non-legislative” powers of Congress?
Impeachment, committee system, approving/rejecting presidential appointments & treaties
Anything that doesn’t involve the process of making laws…
7.
Directions Matching Committee Systems: Place the letter of the correct description in the blank. Each letter used once.
______1.
Standing committee C
______2.
Select committee D
______3.
Joint committee B
______4.
Conference committee A
A. Both houses meet to agree on details of proposed law
B. Both houses meet to focus on certain areas, such as
tax policy
C. Permanent committees
D. Created for a special reason, and only for a certain
length of time
8.
Explain the significance of the committee system to the lawmaking process.
The purpose of the committee system is to RESEARCH/DEBATE bills! Bills in committee are either Killed or Passed! This
system determines if bills move forward, so it’s SIGNIFICANT!
9.
Directions for How a Bill Becomes a Law: Below are 15 statements concerning how a bill can become a law. Number them in
chronological order (1-15) so that they tell the steps that could occur for the bill to become a law.
(introduced, committee, subcommittee, floor, other side, president)
______1.
The standing committee decides not to pigeonhole the bill.
______2.
A representative decides to sponsor the bill and has it drafted.
______3.
The idea for the bill is suggested by a citizen, a lobbyist, or a member of the House of Representatives.
______4.
The bill is sent to a standing committee in the House of Representatives.
______5.
The representative introduces the bill into the House of Representatives.
______6.
The full committee votes to approve the bill.
______7.
The subcommittee holds public hearings and makes changes to the bill.
______8.
The bill is sent to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
______9.
The subcommittee returns the bill to the full committee.
______10.
The standing committee sends the bill to a subcommittee.
______11.
The full House of Representatives votes to approve the bill.
______12.
The President signs the bill into law.
______13.
The full House of Representatives debates the bill.
______14.
After both the House of Representatives and Senate pass the bill, it is sent to the President.
______15.
The bill goes to the Senate for approval.
ACTUAL ORDER:
The idea for the bill is suggested by a citizen, a lobbyist, or a member of the House of Representatives.
A representative decides to sponsor the bill and has it drafted.
The representative introduces the bill into the House of Representatives.
The bill is sent to a standing committee in the House of Representatives.
The standing committee decides not to pigeonhole the bill.
The standing committee sends the bill to a subcommittee.
The subcommittee holds public hearings and makes changes to the bill.
The subcommittee returns the bill to the full committee.
The full committee votes to approve the bill.
The bill is sent to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
The full House of Representatives debates the bill.
The full House of Representatives votes to approve the bill.
The bill goes to the Senate for approval.
After both the House of Representatives and Senate pass the bill, it is sent to the President.
The President signs the bill into law.
10. What is the role of the Legislative Branch in the lawmaking process?
Initiate/Propose bills, pass on to President
11. What is the role of the Executive Branch in the lawmaking process?
Signing/veto bills into law; enforce laws
12. What is the role of the Judicial Branch in the lawmaking process?
Interpret laws’ meaning if it’s in conflict
13. Political Parties(bipartisan politics) have a tremendous impact on Congress. There are many conflicts today that can trace origins
back to when Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed upon the formation of the early foundations of US Government. It
deals a great deal with the power of national government versus state governments. Explain the following:
a. Size of Federal Government
Democrats (Federalists) BIG federal government involvement in your life will improve America
Republicans (Anti-Federalists) SMALLER federal government involvement in your life will improve America; states can d
do a better job helping Americans
b.
Federalism
How much power should federal and state government have in relation to each other?...
What things can the federal government do? What things can state governments do? When should the federal
government get involved to create equality? (see answers above)
c.
Protection of Individual Rights
Foremost concern for Anti-Federalists (against stronger federal government); while both Democrats & Republicans are
concerned with this, it's mostly a Republican issue
d.
Strict and Loose interpretations of the Constitution
Federalists were loose interpreters of the Constitution – more support for implied powers (similar to Democrats)
Anti-Federalists were strict interpreters of the Constitution – not fans of implied powers, of course – it gave too much
power to the federal government (similar to Republicans)
e.
Patriot Act
An act issued under Republican dominance of government after 9/11 terrorist attacks – Gives federal government the
right to collect evidence without an official warrant because it’s for “national security” interests to be on the lookout for
terrorists
f.
Homeland Security
Again, a Republican venture – This was a new cabinet department of the Executive Branch added in response to the 9/11
attacks. It helps organize major agencies, like the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc.
g.
Separation of Church and State
Democrats tend to favor more; Republicans less – Federalists and Anti-Federalists both were more concerned about the
encroachment of the federal government’s power into churches (like from England)
h.
Right to bear arms
While both Democrats and Republicans support this 2nd amendment right to some extent, Republicans tend to favor less
federal government regulation on firearm ownership. Federalists and Anti-Federalist both were concerned enough about
the power of government that they wanted citizens to be able to form a militia to protect themselves against government
14. What is the purpose of the Executive Branch?
Enforce laws (“enforce” can also mean regulate, administrate, execute)
15. List the 3 qualifications in the US Constitution in order to become President.
Be 35, a natural born citizen, live in the US 14 consecutive years
16. After the President, list the next 4 members in line for presidential succession.
VP, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State
17. What is the purpose of executive departments?
Help advise the President on issues
18. How many executive departments exist?
15
19. Which department was created recently?
Homeland Security (see above)
20. Define:
a. Veto
The President refuses to sign a bill into law; sends it back to Congress (who can override the veto)
b. Executive Order
The president issues an order (aligned with his Constitutional roles – for example, as commander-in-chief), and it has the
force of law
c. Executive Agreement
Like an executive order, but it’s an agreement the President makes with other countries. It’s also like a treaty, but it doesn’t
require Senate approval. It should be directly aligned with his Constitutional roles
d. Treaty
A binding agreement with another country the President makes, it must be approved by the Senate
e. Pardon
In his role as chief executive, the President can release someone from prison or forgive them of a criminal charge
f. Commute
In his role a chief executive, the President can change or alter a criminal sentence
g. Reprieve
In his role as chief executive, the President can delay a punishment
h. Amnesty
In his role a chief executive, the President can pardon (forgive) a group of people (like those who dodged the draft in the
Vietnam War)
21. Explain how the following amendments are related to the Executive Branch:
a. 12
Changes the way the President & VP are elected – after 12th amendment, both must run on same ballot
b.
20
Is the “lame duck” amendment – changes the time from March to January when the President is elected in
November until he takes office
c.
22
Sets a 2 term limit for the President (or 10 year maximum)
d.
23
Gives residents of DC 3 Electoral College votes for the President
e.
25
Establishes the procedure to use when/if the VP must take over as President – helps to create the Presidential
Succession Act
22. PRESIDENTIAL ROLES Directions: Place the number of the role in its appropriate box. All numbers will be used once.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Issue pardons and reprieves
Head the federal bureaucracy
Call out army to keep domestic order
Appoint Supreme Court justices
Attend the funeral of a foreign leader
Grant amnesty
Make a State of the Union address
Submit a budget to Congress
Chief Executive
1, 2, 4, 6, 11
Commander-inChief
3, 9
9. Order American soldiers into battle
10. Make treaties
11. Issue executive orders
12. Encourage passage of laws
13. Attend White House concerts
14. Appoint ambassadors
15. Hold/host dinners to raise money to elect a governor
Chief Diplomat
5, 10, 14
Head-of-State
5, 7, 13
Legislative Leader
12
Economic Leader
8
Party Leader
15
23. Explain how executive agencies help the Executive Branch enforce laws.
Answer directly to President – law enforcement - FBI
24. Explain how regulatory agencies/boards/commissions help the Executive Branch enforce laws.
Independent of President – help enforce laws – Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
25. Explain the purpose of government corporations in the Executive Branch.
Independent of Pres.; supposed to make a profit – USPS – US Postal Service
26. For the following agencies, write what the abbreviation stands for, then match the agency to the correct description.
AGENCY/BUREAU
Stands for
Match to what it does
Federal Bureau of Investigation
E
FBI
Central Intelligence Agency
H
Drug Enforcement Administration
A
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives
G
National Transportation Safety Board
I
US CIS
United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services
B
Federal Emergency Management
Administration
F
FEMA
Centers for Disease Control
D
Internal Revenue Service
C
CIA
DEA
ATF
NTSB
CDC
IRS
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
ENFORCES laws against drug trafficking
g. ENFORCES federal laws against firearms and tobacco
ENFORCES laws dealing with immigration
h. The federal agency that deals with foreign countries
ENFORCES tax laws; is part of the Department of Treasury
i. Works on improving transportation safety
Researches and responds to disease threats
Is part of the Department of Justice; the US’s top law ENFORCEMENT agency
Responds to disasters and emergencies; part of the Department of Homeland Security
27. Explain how the Legislative and Executive Branches check and balance each other.
(Budget, War/Military, Treaties, Appointments, Enforcement Agencies)
The President prepares a budget, Congress approves it
Congress declares war, the President becomes the Commander in Chief of the military
The President makes treaties; the Senate approves them
The President makes appointments to office in the Executive Branch and Judicial Branch; Senate approves them
Congress creates Executive Department Agencies; The agencies make regulations to enforce the laws
The President can be impeached with the vote of the House and trial by Senate; the Chief Justice of the United States’ Supreme
Court serves as the judge
Congress passes bills; the President can veto them; Congress can override the veto
28. Completely fill out the following chart on Branches and Levels of Government:
Branches
&
Levels
Legislative
(make law)
Executive
(enforce law)
Judicial
(interpret law)
National
Congress
House & Senate
President & VP
US Supreme Court
State
General Assembly
House & Senate
Governor &
Lieutenant Governor
NC Supreme Court
Local
City Council or
County Commissioners
Mayor or
County Commissioners
Local courts under state court
system