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a member of a state or nation who ows allegiance to it by birth or natuarlization and is entitled to full civil rights |
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a form of government in which the surpreme authority rests with the people |
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an adjective describing a legislative body composed of two chambers |
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a system of government in which a written constitution divides the power between central, or national, government and local govs |
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a special tax, demanded by states, as a condition of voting |
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basic principle of the american system of gov which asserts that the people are the source of all and any governmental power; and the gov can only exist with their consent |
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those powers, expressed, implied, or inherent, granted to the national government by the constitution |
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those delegated powers of the national government that are suggested by the expressed powers set out in the constitution |
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those powers that both the national government and the states possess and exercise |
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basic principle of the american system of national government that the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided amoung the three |
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system of overlapping the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the others |
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a change in, or addition to, a constitution or law |
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majority rule/minority rights |
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in a democracy, the majority of the people will be right more often than they will be wrong |
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separates church and state |
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the second part of the constitutional guarentee of religious freedom, which guarentees to each person the right to believe whatever they choose to believe in matters of religion |
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part of the 14th amendment which guarentees that no state deny basic rights to its people |
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evidence gained as the result of an illegal act by police cannot be used against the person from whom it was seized |
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false and malicious use of printed words |
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false malicious use of spoken words |
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a court order that forces or limits the performance of some act by a private individual or by a public official |
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a court order authorizing, or making legal, some official action, such as a search or an arrest |
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the constitutional rights which police must read to a suspect before questioning can occur |
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find not guilty of a charge |
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the formal device by which a person can be accused of a serious crime |
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a formal complaint before a grand jury which charges the accused with one or more crimes |
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a sum of money that the accused may be required to post (deposit with the court) as a guarentee that they will appear in court at the proper time |
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an order for a person to appear and to produce documents or other requested materials |
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the separation of one group from another |
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power of a government to take private property for public use |
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the legal process by which a fugative from justice in one state is returned to that state
(4th amendment) |
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done every 10 years; tells gov. the population |
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the drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party |
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to bring formal charges against a public official; the house of reps has this power |
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the Senate will not approve a appointment made by the president if that appointment is opposed by a majority-party in the senate |
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issue a formal condemnation |
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a legislative act that inflicts punishment without a court trial |
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a law applied to an act committed before the law was passed |
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head of the house of reps; john boehner |
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the second leader of the senate; replaces the vice president when not there; dan inouye |
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a proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration |
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the presidents power to reject a bill passed by congress |
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tactics aimed to stall a bill in congress (talking is endless) |
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limits the debate on a bill |
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a measure relating to the business of either house or expressing an opinion; does not have the force of law and does not require the presidents signature |
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a temporary joint committee to settle disputes/differences between both houses' versions of a bill |
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a formal agreement between two or more sovereign states |
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release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime |
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a blanket pardon on a group of law violators |
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the president doesnt sign a bill into a law and congress is not in session |
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where the president can pick and choose parts that will get passed of a bill; not allowed now |
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unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so that it will go through |
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a pact made by the president directly with the head of a foreign state |
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directive, rule, or regulation issued by the president |
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one role of the president as the commander of the nations armed forces |
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the power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action |
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the authority of a court to hear a case |
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the authority of a court to review decisions of lower courts |
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the power of a court to hear a casce first before any other court |
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the betrayal of one's country |
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what document did the constitution replace? why? |
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articles of confederation because it had no central government. the power was only in the states. |
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when was the constitution written? |
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the intro to the constitution; overview |
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what is the bill of rights? whats its purpose? |
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first 10 amendments; to give the people their rights that were not put into the original writing |
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how many articles are in the constitution? |
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how many amendments are in the constitution? |
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the legislative branch/ congress' power |
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the main idea of: article 2 |
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the executive branch/presidents powers |
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the main idea of: article III |
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the judicial branch and how judges serve |
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the main idea of: article IV |
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relations amoung the states |
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the main idea of: article V |
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how to amend the constitution |
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the main idea of: article VI |
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the national debt; surpremacy; national law and oath |
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the main idea of: article VII |
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how to ratify the constitution |
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what are the qualifications for a representative? |
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25 years old; 7 years a citizen; lives in the state they want to represent |
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what is the term for a representative? |
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what are the qualifications for the president? |
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35 years of age; natural born citizen; 14 years resident |
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how long is the presidents term? |
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2 and a half terms (10 years) |
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how does the president check congress? |
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how does the president check the judicial branch? |
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what are the vice presidents qualifications? |
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same as the presidents!
35 years young; natural born citizen; 14 years resident |
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who are the five next in succession? |
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vp, speaker of the house, the president pro tem, secratary of state, secratary of treasury |
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how does one become a federal judge? |
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they are appointed by the president |
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what is the federal judges term? |
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how can federal judge get out of office? |
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impeached; die; resign; retire |
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what is the jurisdiction of the district courts? |
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what is the jurisdiciton of the appellate courts? |
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what is the jurisdiciton of the surpreme court? |
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which article of the constitution describes the prodecdure for amending the constitution? |
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when was the bill of rights ratified? why? |
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1791 because the people wanted/needed those rights and they were not in the original writing |
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which principles of the constitutional government are evident in the bill of rights? |
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popular sovereignty- because the rights are for the people
federalism- because it gives the state their powers |
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are any of your rights absolute? |
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yes, they all are and because we are born with these rights in a sovereign state, and no one can take them away from us |
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can congress force you to be baptized? can it prevent you from being baptized? |
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no and no. first amendment |
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can you yell fire in a crowded theater if there is no fire? |
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can you knowingly print lies about the governor in the school paper? |
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not really first amendment |
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can you write an editorial in the tribune critical of the government? |
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can you peacefully protest abortion and capital punishment? |
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can state and local governments regulate some weapons sales? |
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during a war, could congress pass a law requiring private citizens to feed and house some soldiers? |
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can a police officer pull your car over for no reason and demand that you open your trunk? |
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what is a search warrent? and why is it an important document? |
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it allows someone to search you and your posessions. its important because it protects you againts random searches (fourth amendment) |
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what does a grand jury do? |
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(7th amendment) grand jury is the formal device by which a person can be accused of a serious crime |
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what is double jeopardy? and can it ever happen? |
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(fifth amendment) no person can be tried for the same crime twice. no it cant happen. |
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why does the bill of rights protect a person from having to testify against himself? |
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(4th amendment) power of government to take private property for public use |
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why does the accused have a right to a speedy trial by jury? does this really happen today? |
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(7th amendment) maybe not speedy but they do get a jury of peers, |
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does the accused have the right to confront the witnesses against him? does that conflict with rights of the victim? |
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no the accused doenst have the right to do that, and it does conflict with the rights of the victim (5th amendment) |
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does the accused have the right to a lawyer even if he doesnt have enough money? |
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yes 6th amendment says so |
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can a person request a jury trial for civil cases? is there a minimum amount of damages invovled? |
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a representative government |
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someone cannot put others in clear and present danger (like yelling fire in a theatre) and get away with it |
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the senate can override a presidential veto- then that bill will become a law |
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the presidents speech to the nation |
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the lowest level of courts; where the trials are held |
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where someone goes next if they disagree with the ruling on their sentance |
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the highest of all courts; has both forms of jurisdiction; can reject having courts sent up by having 4 out of 9 justicies deny it |
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the judges of the surpreme court |
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where there is a representative for every certain amount of people in a state. its apportioned correctly |
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what are the primary functions of the legislative; executive; and judicial branches? |
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legislative- makes laws
executive- enforces laws
judicial- interprets laws |
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how does the legislative branch check the other two? |
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judicial: impeach the federal judges; creates the lower courts
executive: override vetos; approves treaties/appointments |
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how does the executive branch check the other two? |
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judicial: appoints the justices/federal judges
legislative: may veto legislation; may all special sessions of congress |
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how the judicial branch check the other two? |
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executive: delcare the acts of the president unconstitutional
legislative: delcare the acts of congress unconstitutional |
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(8th amendment) bail is a sum of money that the accused must give to get in court at the proper time/get out of jail |
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is capitol punishment specifically prohibted by the constitution? |
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no its not (8th amendment?) |
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what is the due process of law? |
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the government must act fairly and in accord with the rules (5th amendment) |
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what is the exclusionary rule? and why is it sometimes controversial? |
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it is the evidence gained as a result of illegal act by police and it cannot be showed; because its illegal! |
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what are the miranda warnings? and why are they important? |
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(5th amendment) the constitutional rights are read when arrested before questioning can occur |
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do the people of the US have rights that are not specifically listed in the constitution? |
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what is the electoral college? |
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(12 amendment) people who are chosen to make the final decisions on the president and the vice president |
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if the electoral college fails to select a president and a vice president then who does it? |
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the house picks the president and the senate picks the vice president |
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must the vice president have the same qualifications for office as the president? |
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yes because he might have to be president! |
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what group of people was granted sufferage under the 15 amendment? |
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does the government have the right to impose an income tax? |
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yes! the 16th amendment says so! |
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which amendment emancipated all of the slaves? |
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what does equal protection clause mean? |
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forbids a state from discriminating against people (14th amendment) |
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if a vacancy occurs because a senator resignes or dies in office, how is that vacant office filled? |
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(17th amendment) the govenor of the state invovled will call an election to fill the seat |
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what was prohibition? and what happened to it? |
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it was when no one could sell/buy alcohol; it ended up being reappealed |
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what was the purpose of the 19th amendment? |
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to give women their equal rights that they deserved |
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when is inauguration day? |
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january 20 (20 amendment) |
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how often must congress meet? |
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at leasat once in every year (20 amendment) |
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what happens if the person elected to be president dies before inauguration? |
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the vice president will be sworn in to be president (20 amendment) |
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what is the term limit for the office of president? has anyone ever served longer than this? |
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2-2 1/2 terms (10 years max) FDR served for 4 terms! (22 amendment) |
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how many electors does the district of columbia have? what is the district of columbia? |
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it is washington DC; it can only have 3 electors (23 amendment) |
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can a state impose a poll tax for federal elections? |
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no it cannot (24 amendment) |
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what happens if there is a vacancy in the office of the vice president? |
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the president gets to appoint a new vice president (not succession!!) 25 amendment |
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what happens if the president is suddenly stricken with a serious illness and can no longer do his duties? who has the power to carry out the duties? |
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(25 amendment) the vice president takes over the presidential duties |
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what is the legal voting age for federal elections? |
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18 years old (26 amendment) |
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did native americans get the right to vote from one of the amendments? |
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NO the 15 amendment disallows discrimination for african americans |
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what is the 27th amendment and when was it original proposed? |
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it limits congress's power to fix salaries of its memebers. it was proposed in 1789 (when constitution was ratified) but it wasnt ratified until 1992! |
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what are the powers of the house? |
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impeach the president
power of the purse
they pick the president if the electoral college fails
be in line for succession |
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what are the powers of the senate? |
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try impeachment cases
approve treaties
approve any/all appointments
elect the vp if the electoral college fails |
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what are the powers of congress? |
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delcare war
pass bills
propose constitutional amendments
if the vp is vacant then they appoint it
override vetos |
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what are the powers of the president? |
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make appointments (judges)
veto/pass bills to laws
send out the troops
*know the rols of the pres!* |
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what are the powers of the vice president? |
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counts electoral college votes; presides over the senate; helps the president win his election |
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how long is the vice president's term? |
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he stays with the president until his term is up (or resigns/dies) or if the pres resigns/dies his term changes and he has 10 years max to be pres |
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someone goes/says something against the government |
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the direction of the surpreme court to the lower courts to send up the records |
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could congress potentially pass a law that says that during war you must quarter troops? |
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yes! they have that right DURING WAR! not during peace time |
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can your town force your church to take down a nativity scene placed on church property? |
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no its the first amendment- freedom of speech/religion |
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