Unit 2: Federalism

The Supreme Court recently ruled that a piece of legislation passed by Congress was unconstitutional BEFORE it was presented to the President to be signed or vetoed. This is an example of what type of check?

• Legislative over Judicial

• Legislative over Executive

• Judicial over Legislative

• Judicial over Executive

Answer explanation

The judicial is checking the legislative branch by preventing any legislation being passed that violates the Constitution!

Which branch of government contains the Supreme Court and lower Federal courts created by Congress?

• Legislative

• Executive

• Judicial

Which best describes the veto process in the United States?

• It allows Congress to avoid Judicial Review

• It enables the president to avoid challenges from the Supreme Court

• It provides the Supreme Court with a check on the President

• It provides the president with a check on the legislative

Answer explanation

When both chambers of Congress pass a law, it is sent to the President where he can either sign, veto, or pocket veto the bill.

This acts as a LIMITED check on Congress because if the president vetoes it, there is a method to override the veto, but it is a difficult process!

Congress passes a bill.
The President does not like it, so he vetoes it.
The bill returns to Congress, where both chambers vote to override the veto.

This is an example of which principal of government?

• Judicial Review

• Federalism

• Rule of Law

• Checks and Balances

Answer explanation

The law was passed by the legislative branch and vetoed by the executive branch. The President's veto is a check on the legislative branch, but the legislative branch can override, which is a check on the executives power!

The Constitution states that the President, Vice President and all other civil officers can be impeached and removed from office.
It also states that Congress has the SOLE power of impeachment.
What is the purpose of this?

• To prevent one branch of the government from becoming too powerful

• To enable voters to impeach federal officials directly

• To limit Congress' power over other branches

• To allow Congress to pass laws easily

States as well as the Federal government are allowed to tax citizens.
This is an example of...

• Denied powers

• Concurrent Powers

• Enumerated Powers

• Reserved Powers

Popular Sovereignty is based on the belief that.....

• God selects who rules the country

• The people rule and government can only exist with the consent of the governed

• People do not have to follow laws they disagree with

• All people are obligated to follow the laws regardless of their position in society

Congress has the sole power to make treaties.

This type of power is...

• Denied Power

• Enumerated Power

• Implied Power

• Reserved Power

After the Revolution, the United States were dealing with many issues, and this ultimately came to a head when Shays' Rebellion exposed the issues of not having an executive branch.
This led to...

• the 13 states separating and creating their own countries

• Congress amending the Constitution

• Replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution

• Amending the Articles of Confederation to strengthen the federal government

The Great Compromise led to....

(Select two)

Groups:

(a) The Great Compromise

,

(b) NOT The Great Compromise

• States could decide to outlaw or allow slavery

• Members of the House of Representattives would be determined by states population

• Each state would be given one vote in Congress

• Each state would get 2 Senators

• 3 out of 5 enslaved people would count towards a states population