1. American Government Final Exam Study Session

2. Discuss what the terms impeachment means as well as the situations in which it has been used.
The term impeach means to indict (formal accusation) for crime.
There have only been two Presidents who have been indicted for their crimes
Andrew Johnson for Tenure Office of Act
Senate failed to convict by one vote
Bill Clinton for Perjury and Obstruction of Justice
Senate failed to convict by 17 votes

3. Know the qualifications (including informal) for holding office in the Executive Branch
Executive Branch Formal Qualifications
Married with kids
Money (inherited, by marriage, personal fortune)
35 years old
Religious faith
Natural Born Citizen
Character
A resident of the US for at least 14 years.
Proof of Citizenship
A “story” – war hero, peanut farmer, actor, etc.
Executive Branches Informal Qualifications
So far, male
Perceived as being in the political mainstream
Military service
Government experience
Television presence – name recognition, photogenic and articulate
College education

4. List the duties and responsibilities of the President
Roles
Send and receive diplomatic Representatives
Chief of State
Grant pardons and reprieves
Chief Executive
See that laws are faithfully executed
Chief Legislator
Chief Administrator
Appoint Federal Judges, Cabinet members, and other government employees
Chief Diplomat
Commander in Chief
Chief Economic Planner
Presidential Powers (Implied)
Presidential Powers (Expressed)
Powers to issue Executive Orders
Command the armed forces
Removal Powers
Make treaties
Approve or veto acts of Congress

5. What are the Executive Branches informal powers
Executive Orders: Orders issued by the President that carry the force of law
FDR’s Interment of Japanese Americans during WW2
Truman’s integration of the military during the Korean War
Clinton’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy”
GWB trying suspected terrorists in military tribunals
Executive Agreements (#16): International agreements made by a President that has the force of treaty (a treaty requires Senate approval)
Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase
GHW Bush trade agreement with Japan re: auto industry
GWB’s announced cuts in the US nuclear arsenal without a treaty.
Executive Privilege: claim by presidents that they have the discretion to decide that the national interest will be better served if certain if information is withheld from the public (people, courts, and Congress)
Nixon’s refusal to turn over the Watergate tapes
Clinton’s refusal to turn over evidence re: alleged affair with Monica Lewinsky

6. Know the qualifications (including informal) for holding office in the Legislative Branch
HOR (formal)
Informal Qualifications for both houses
25 years old
7 years a US Citizen
A resident of the state
Party identification
Senate (formal)
Name familiarity
Gender
30 years old
Religion
9 years a US Citizen
Ethnic characteristics
Political experience

7. Identify the five roles of a member of Congress and identify which is the role where most of the official business is done?
Lawmaking
Representing their constituents
Servants of their constituents
Committee Members
Politicians

8. Identify the three types of Powers granted to Congress and which clauses go with the powers.
The three types of powers: delegated (Article I: Section 8, Article II, and Article III) , inherent (exist because a national government is a sovereign nation), and implied (not in the constitution – except Article I: Section 8: Clause 18)
Below are examples of each of the THREE POWERS
Article I: Section 8: Clause 18 (Implied Power)
Necessary and Proper Clause/Elastic Clause
Article I: Section 8: Clause 11 (Expressed Power)
War Powers Clause
Article I: Section 8: Clause 3 (Expressed Power)
Commerce Clause
Regulate immigration, deportation of aliens, acquire territory, to protect the nation against rebellion (Inherent Power)
It would be good if you understood the Article, what a clause is, and why these three clauses are important

9. List the various leadership roles within the Congress, and their duties and responsibilities.
Speaker of the House
Leading member of the majority party – usually longest serving member
Most powerful member
Not as powerful as the Speaker
Follows the VP in line
Floor Leaders
Presides and keeps order
Majority and Minority
Major role in com. assignments
Most powerful members after Speaker
President of the Senate
Can oversee session, but cannot debate
Parties chief spokespeople
Selected through party caucuses
Votes only in a tie
Helps pass laws their party wants
Not chosen by Senate
Mostly ceremonial
Whips
President Pro Tempore
Presides in the absences of the VP
Assistant floor leaders
Serve as Liaisons (gossips)
Elected by the Senate itself

10. List and discuss the various committees within Congress and their differences.
Standing Committee – permanent, handle bills, specialize in one subject
House Rules, Ways and Means, Appropriations
Select Committee – temporary, set up for specific purpose
Committee to investigate Watergate Scandal
Joint Committee – temporary or permanent, includes members of both houses
The Library, Printing
Conference Committee – temporary, work to compromise when both houses pass different versions of the same bill

11. Describe the process for how a bill can become a law
Most bills die here.
Describe the process for how a bill can become a law

12. Know the qualifications (including informal) for holding office in the Judicial Branch
There are no formal qualifications for being a judge
Informal Qualifications
Lawyer
A record of political activity
Age

14. Compare and Contrast separation of powers with checks and balances.
Separation of Powers is a model of government in which different parts of the government are responsible for different functions; in the US these different areas Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
References to an institution
Each institution does not depend on the other to exist
Checks and Balances is a means of trying to ensure that no one of the above mentioned areas can operate completely on its own
Method of governance
Both operate to maintain the republic

15. Define the United States Constitution and its purpose.
Definition
Document that created the present government of the United States. Written in 1787 and went into effect in It establishes the three branches of the US government. The BOR explains the basic rights of all American citizens
Purpose
Establish a federal government
Delegate to the federal government certain limited powers

16. Differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate

17. Define Judicial Review, provide the court case which gives the Supreme Court precedent, and then discuss judicial review’s purpose.
Judicial Review – the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review (and possible invalidation) by the judiciary.
Example of separation of powers
Supreme Court Case – Marbury v. Madison
Purpose - judicial review is considered a key check on the powers of the other two branches of government by the judiciary

18. Constitution
Supremacy Clause (Article VI) – the Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the Land”
1st Amendment – Freedom of Speech, religion, press, assemble, protest, and petition the govt.
5th Amendment - grand jury indictment, eminent domain, due process, self-incrimination, and double jeopardy
10th Amendment – limits powers delegated to federal govt.
13th Amendment – abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude
15th Amendment – can’t deny someone the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude
22nd Amendment – presidential term limits

19. Declaration of Independence
Jefferson’s biggest influence when writing the Declaration of Independence was John Locke.
John Locke believed in the natural rights of man – life, liberty and property.
Jefferson changed the philosophy of Locke to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Why did he change it?

20. Federalism
The term federalism creates a dual system of government…where states and the federal system have shared powers, powers specific to the states, and powers specific to the federal government.
For example, the federal government and the state governments both have the power to tax, but because of the supremacy clause the states cannot tax the federal government, but the federal government can tax the states. This was established in the McCulloch v. Maryland Case.

21. Comparing Two Systems of Government
Presidential System
Voters elect the executive and legislature
The legislative and executive are co-equal
Creates prolonged conflicts and deadlocks
Checks and balances
Parliamentary System
Voters elect the legislature
The chief executive is drawn from the legislature

22. Voting Electoral College
When the people go to the poll, they are choosing who they want their electoral college to vote for in December.
This group directly elects our president.
Popular Vote
The people’s vote for the president

23. Good Luck!!