Competency 5 Government and Citizenship

A Republic is

• a political party

• A representative democracy is led by someone who is not a monarch, such as a president- Ex: the US

• allied with the Jedi Order and managed the universe through the Galactic Senate

• A small group of powerful and wealthy people rule the nation w/ the support of the military

What are the three branches of government for the US and Texas called?

• Judicial Branch

• Legislative Branch

• congress

• Executive Branch

Executive Branch

• Composed of a president and a vice president elected every four years by electoral votes

• Composed of a federal court system that includes the Supreme Court and a system of lower courts--district courts, appeals courts, bankruptcy courts, and special federal courts

• Composed of Congress, which is divided into 2 parts--The Senate and the House of Representatives

System of Checks and Balances

• Individual branches check the others to be sure that no one assumes full control of the central govt

• Legislative Branch can check the Executive Branch by passing laws over presidential veto by a two-thirds majority in both houses. This branch exerts control over the Judicial Branch by refusing to confirm the president's judges

• Executive Branch can check the Legislative Branch by the use of the veto and the Judicial Branch by appointing federal judges

• Judicial Branch can check the other two branches through the process of judicial review, which can declare legislation unconstitutional or illegal

Which branch collects taxes, coins money and regulates its value?

• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Branch

Which branch interprets the Constitution, resolve conflicts among states, and interpret laws and treaties

• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Branch

Which branch is composed of a president and a vice president elected every four years by electoral votes?

• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Branch

What are the similarities between the US Constitution and the current Texas constitution?

• consent of government -popular sovereignty

• three branches

• Bill of Rights

• no elastic clause

What are the differences between the US Constitution and the current Texas constitution?

• Bill of Rights

• length - TX is longer

• Texas is easier to amend than the US

• Texas has no elastic clause

True or false Taxes- are ways that the government can collect money from its citizens to pay for things that the people need, like schools and roads.

• True

• False