🗽 US History · A New Nation
Checks and Balances flashcards
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All 16 flashcards at a glance
Card 1
What are the three branches of the federal government, and what is each one's main job?
Legislative (Congress) makes laws. Executive (the President) carries out laws. Judicial (the federal courts) decides cases and says what the law means.
Card 2
What is separation of powers?
Dividing government's powers among separate branches, each with its own job, so that no one person or group holds all of them.
Card 3
What are checks and balances, and how are they different from separation of powers?
Checks and balances are powers that let each branch limit the others. Separation of powers says who does what. Checks and balances says how the branches limit one another.
Card 4
Who can veto a bill, and how can a veto be overridden?
The President can veto a bill. Congress can override the veto if each house passes the bill again by a two-thirds vote of the members voting.
Card 5
Who negotiates a treaty, and whose approval does it need?
The President negotiates it. It needs the approval of the Senate, by a vote of two-thirds of the senators present.
Card 6
In an impeachment, which house brings the charges, which holds the trial, and what vote convicts?
The House impeaches (brings the charges). The Senate holds the trial. Conviction needs two-thirds of the senators present.
Card 7
What does impeachment mean?
A formal charge of serious wrongdoing against an official. It is not the same as removal. An official is removed only if the Senate convicts.
Card 8
What is judicial review?
The power of courts to decide that a law or government action violates the Constitution, so that it cannot be enforced. The words do not appear in the Constitution.
Card 9
What is the power of the purse?
Congress's control of taxes and spending. Federal money can be spent only if Congress provides it by law.
Card 10
How is the Constitution amended?
Congress proposes an amendment with two-thirds of both houses, and three-fourths of the states ratify it. The President has no role.
Card 11
What can the President pardon?
Offenses against the United States (federal crimes). A pardon does not cover state crimes.
Card 12
What idea did Montesquieu contribute to the framers' thinking?
He argued that liberty is safer when the powers to make laws, carry them out and judge disputes are held by different people. His book The Spirit of the Laws appeared in 1748.
Card 13
In your own words, what did Madison argue in Federalist No. 51?
Officials will naturally defend their own branch's power, so the Constitution should give each branch the tools and motive to resist the others. Each branch's wish to guard its power becomes a safeguard.
Card 14
Who confirms federal judges, and how long do they serve?
The Senate confirms the President's nominees. Federal judges hold office during good behavior, which in practice means for life unless they resign, retire or are removed by impeachment.
Card 15
What is federalism, and how is it different from checks and balances?
Federalism is the sharing of power between the national government and the states. Checks and balances divides power among the branches of the national government.
Card 16
How long are the terms of House members, senators and the President?
House members serve two years, senators six years and the President four years.