Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances
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Questions and Answers

Which branch of the national government is supposed to be the most important?

  • Legislative branch (correct)
  • Executive branch
  • Judicial branch
  • None of the above
  • What is the main job of the legislative branch?

  • Make laws (correct)
  • Execute laws
  • Interpret laws
  • None of the above
  • Which branch of the national government is in charge of executing the law?

  • Legislative branch
  • Executive branch (correct)
  • Judicial branch
  • None of the above
  • Who nominates Supreme Court justices?

    <p>The executive branch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the checks that the executive branch has over the courts?

    <p>Refusing to carry out court decisions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did the Framers of the Constitution create checks and balances?

    <p>To protect the rights of the citizens</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the checks that the judiciary has over the executive branch?

    <p>Declaring executive actions unconstitutional</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting the law?

    <p>Judicial branch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of checks and balances in the American government?

    <p>To create a balance of power between the three branches</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which branch of government has the greatest number of checks on the other branches?

    <p>Legislative branch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can Congress limit the power of the judiciary?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which house of Congress must revenue bills start in?

    <p>The House of Representatives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens after a bill is referred to a committee?

    <p>The committee votes on the bill</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of markup in the legislative process?

    <p>To write up the bill in formal, legal language</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens if a bill receives the majority of votes in the House of Representatives?

    <p>It passes and moves on to the Senate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a conference committee in the legislative process?

    <p>To reconcile different versions of a bill from both houses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a pocket veto?

    <p>When the President neither signs nor vetoes a bill and Congress goes out of session</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens if Congress overrides a presidential veto?

    <p>The bill becomes a law over the President's signature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a procedural hurdle that can kill a bill in Congress?

    <p>The President vetoing the bill</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the filibuster in Congress?

    <p>To delay or block the passage of a bill</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the House Rules Committee in the legislative process?

    <p>To create rules for debate on a bill</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the veto gates in the legislative process?

    <p>To make it difficult for Congress to act unless there's broad agreement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the text, what is the main focus of the electoral connection?

    <p>Getting elected</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of Crash Course: Government and Politics?

    <p>To teach about government and politics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who supports Crash Course US Government?

    <p>Voqal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the text, why are presidential elections often the focus of public attention?

    <p>Because the media covers presidential elections more extensively</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the text, why is Congress considered the most important branch of government?

    <p>Because it is the branch that is most responsive to the people</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the text, why are elections important for politicians in Congress?

    <p>Because they have to pay attention to what the constituents want</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the Constitution, how often are members of the House of Representatives chosen?

    <p>Every two years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How often are elections held for 1/3 of the Senate?

    <p>Every two years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What determines the number of districts in the House of Representatives?

    <p>The Census</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are state Senators elected?

    <p>By the entire state</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to political scientist David Mayhew, what are the three categories of activities that Congressmen engage in to secure re-election?

    <p>Advertising, credit claiming, and position taking</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of credit claiming in the context of Congressional elections?

    <p>To demonstrate accomplishments to voters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the franking privilege in the context of Congressional elections?

    <p>Allowance for sending election materials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the incumbency advantage in Congressional elections?

    <p>The advantage of being an already elected official</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who supports Crash Course US Government in producing their videos?

    <p>Voqal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the mission of Voqal?

    <p>To advance social equity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is Crash Course made with?

    <p>Staffer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is true about standing committees in Congress?

    <p>They handle the day-to-day business of Congress</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of select committees in Congress?

    <p>To deal with particular issues beyond the jurisdiction of standing committees</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of joint committees in Congress?

    <p>To be made up of members of both houses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which committee oversees the Library of Congress?

    <p>Joint Committee on the Library</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does Congress have so many committees?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the power of controlling which ideas become bills called?

    <p>Gatekeeping Authority</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Under the speakership of Newt Gingrich, what changes were made to the Congress?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of staff in Congress is responsible for performing unbiased factual research for Congresspeople and their staff?

    <p>Congressional Research Service</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of caucuses in Congress?

    <p>To coordinate legislative efforts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of committees in Congress?

    <p>To make the process of lawmaking more efficient</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the Speaker in Congress?

    <p>To refer bills to committee and act as gatekeeper</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is responsible for choosing the House Majority Leader?

    <p>The Speaker of the House</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is the de facto spokesperson for the minority party in the House?

    <p>The Minority Party</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is the leader of the Senate?

    <p>The Majority Leader</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the President pro tempore in the Senate?

    <p>Presides over the Senate sessions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is the leader of the House of Representatives and what is their role?

    <p>The Speaker of the House, who is elected by the majority party and has significant power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary task of the Majority Whip in the House of Representatives?

    <p>Counting votes on important legislation and ensuring party members vote along party lines.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How often are elections held to choose the Speaker of the House?

    <p>Every two years, coinciding with the election of the entire House of Representatives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the text, why do the official leadership of Congress have little trouble raising money for campaigns?

    <p>Donors want to give to proven winners</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the text, why do political parties raise so much money to win elections?

    <p>To have control over both houses and the presidency</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the text, why do parties matter in Congress?

    <p>Parties provide a common set of values</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the text, why did the Tea Party caucus make it difficult for Speaker Boehner to put forward an agenda?

    <p>They felt Boehner compromised too much with the Democrats</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT one of the main factors that influence congressmen when they make decisions?

    <p>The media</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is sometimes called case work in Congress?

    <p>Direct service to constituents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the relative lack of important congressional votes in recent years suggest?

    <p>Congressmen are prioritizing direct service to constituents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which party had the majority in both houses of Congress during the first few years of the Obama presidency?

    <p>Democrats</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is true about interest groups and their influence on congressmen?

    <p>Interest groups provide information that congressmen can use in writing bills.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of government is created when the president and the congressional majority are in opposite parties?

    <p>Divided government</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main role of political parties in influencing lawmakers?

    <p>Political parties pressure lawmakers to vote a certain way.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main focus of Congress from 2010 to 2012?

    <p>Repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Hastert Rule?

    <p>A rule that requires a majority of the majority party to support a bill before it is brought to a vote.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the text, what factor makes the most difference in the decision-making process of Congress?

    <p>Structures of Congress and party majority</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When do interest groups have the most influence on legislation?

    <p>During the writing of legislation in committees.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is the current President of the United States?

    <p>Barack Obama</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of starting with the Constitution in these episodes?

    <p>To provide a formal description of the executive branch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is responsible if the President becomes more powerful than what is suggested in the Constitution?

    <p>Congress</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a qualification for someone to become President of the United States?

    <p>Having previous experience as a member of Congress</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a formal power of the President?

    <p>Sending soldiers to do military things</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was the Electoral College created as the method for selecting the President?

    <p>To prevent the people from electing demigods or the person they wanted</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the President's power to receive ambassadors?

    <p>It legitimizes the existence of a nation-state</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which president revived the practice of making the State of the Union an actual speech?

    <p>Woodrow Wilson</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What power does the President have to veto laws passed by Congress?

    <p>Legislative power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What power does the President have to appoint judges?

    <p>Executive power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What power does the President have to grant pardons and reprieves?

    <p>Executive power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the expressed powers of the President?

    <p>The President is the commander in chief of the army and the navy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are informal powers of the President?

    <p>Informal powers are powers that are not mentioned in the Constitution but are implied by its wording.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of this episode of CrashCourse Government and Politics?

    <p>To discuss the powers of the President that are not in the Constitution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which power allows the President to act unilaterally and bypass the legislative process?

    <p>The power of executive orders</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of the President's power of impounding funds?

    <p>To prevent the implementation of certain programs or projects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the check on executive privilege?

    <p>A court order</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a limitation of executive orders compared to laws passed through the normal channels?

    <p>They can be easily overturned by the next President</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which branch of government has the power to declare war?

    <p>The Congress</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the War Powers Resolution?

    <p>To limit the President's power to use troops without authorization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between an executive agreement and a treaty?

    <p>Executive agreements do not require ratification by the Senate, while treaties do</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where does the President's power to direct administrative agencies come from?

    <p>The President's power to appoint agency heads</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting the law?

    <p>Judicial branch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of Article I of the Constitution?

    <p>To define the powers of Congress</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two types of powers held by Congress?

    <p>Enumerated powers and implied powers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which amendment extended the power of taxation to include income taxes?

    <p>Sixteenth Amendment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which amendment gave Congress the power to enforce the right to vote for citizens who are eighteen years of age or older?

    <p>Nineteenth Amendment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which clause permits Congress to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution its powers?

    <p>Necessary and Proper Clause</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which Supreme Court case affirmed the federal government's authority to establish a national bank under the tax and spend clause?

    <p>McCulloch v. Maryland</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which article of the Constitution grants Congress the power to raise and support armies?

    <p>Article I</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the text, which section of the Constitution allows Congress to control state laws that lay duties on imports or exports?

    <p>Section 10 of Article I</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What power does Section 3 of Article III grant to Congress?

    <p>The power to create exceptions and regulations to the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the text, which article of the Constitution allows Congress to propose amendments?

    <p>Article V</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which branch of the federal government was involved in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>Judicial</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who appointed William Marbury to a judicial position?

    <p>John Adams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What principle did the Marbury v. Madison case establish?

    <p>Principle of judicial review</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What power did the Supreme Court announce in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>Judicial review</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who wrote the opinion for the Supreme Court in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>John Marshall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the Court interpret the text of the Judiciary Act of 1789 regarding its jurisdiction?

    <p>It granted the Court original jurisdiction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which branch of the federal government did Marbury v. Madison help define the boundary between?

    <p>Judicial</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who appointed the several dozen Federalist Party supporters to new circuit judge and justice of the peace positions?

    <p>John Adams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Marbury v. Madison establish regarding the U.S. Constitution?

    <p>It is both law and a statement of political principles and ideals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>John Marshall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which political party did William Marbury support?

    <p>Federalist Party</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did Jefferson instruct James Madison to withhold the undelivered commissions?

    <p>The commissions were void because they had not been delivered before Adams left office.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What power did the Supreme Court establish in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>The power of judicial review</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who wrote the Court's opinion in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>John Marshall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the first question that the Court answered in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>Did Marbury have a right to his commission?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of court order did the Court determine was the proper remedy for Marbury's situation?

    <p>Writ of mandamus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Court hold about the Supreme Court's jurisdiction over the case in Marbury v. Madison?

    <p>The Supreme Court had exclusive jurisdiction over the case.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome of the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Madison and upheld Jefferson's decision to withhold the commissions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who appointed the new judges and justices of the peace before leaving office?

    <p>John Adams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the political affiliation of William Marbury, the plaintiff in the case?

    <p>Federalist</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court when Marbury v. Madison was decided?

    <p>John Marshall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main reason for Jefferson instructing Madison to withhold the undelivered commissions?

    <p>The commissions were void because they had not been delivered before Adams left office.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What power did the Supreme Court establish in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>The power to invalidate laws that violate the Constitution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome of the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>The Supreme Court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction over the case.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Chief Justice John Marshall, what is the essence of civil liberty?

    <p>The right to claim protection of the laws</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of court order did the Court determine was the proper remedy for Marbury's situation?

    <p>Writ of mandamus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Court determine about the delivery of Marbury's commission?

    <p>It was merely a custom, not an essential element of the commission itself</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Court hold regarding the power of the Supreme Court to issue the writ of mandamus?

    <p>The courts could provide the legal remedy as long as it involved a mandatory duty to a specific person</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which president appointed the judges whose commissions were undelivered in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>John Adams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Marbury believe was the proper remedy for his situation?

    <p>To have his commission delivered</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Supreme Court establish in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>The power of judicial review</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court asking for a writ of mandamus?

    <p>William Marbury</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the Chief Justice of the United States when the Supreme Court issued its decision in Marbury v. Madison?

    <p>John Marshall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Supreme Court hold regarding Madison's refusal to deliver Marbury's commission?

    <p>It was illegal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What power did the Supreme Court establish in Marbury v. Madison?

    <p>Judicial review</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the second question that the Court answered in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>Did Marbury have a legal remedy?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the third question that the Court answered in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>Did the Supreme Court have proper jurisdiction?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Court determine about Marbury's commission?

    <p>It was valid and Madison's withholding was unlawful.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the proper remedy for Marbury's situation according to the Court?

    <p>A writ of mandamus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which president appointed William Marbury to a judicial position?

    <p>John Adams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the political party affiliation of William Marbury?

    <p>Federalist</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thomas Jefferson instruct his Secretary of State, James Madison, to do with the undelivered commissions?

    <p>Destroy them</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at the time of the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>John Marshall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which party did the opposition Democratic-Republican Party favor during the presidential election of 1800?

    <p>Democratic Party</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who did Jefferson instruct to withhold the undelivered commissions of the appointees?

    <p>James Madison</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main reason for Madison's refusal to deliver Marbury's commission?

    <p>The commissions were void because they had not been delivered before Adams left office</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Chief Justice John Marshall, what is the essence of civil liberty?

    <p>The right to claim protection of the laws</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of court order did the Court determine to be the proper remedy for Marbury's situation?

    <p>Writ of mandamus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the basis for the Court's determination of its jurisdiction over the case?

    <p>Interpretation of the Judiciary Act of 1789</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Court conclude about Marbury's commission being withheld by Madison?

    <p>It violated Marbury's vested legal right</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which branch of the federal government did Marbury v. Madison help define the boundary between?

    <p>Judicial branch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who appointed several dozen Federalist Party supporters to new circuit judge and justice of the peace positions?

    <p>John Adams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What principle did Marbury v. Madison establish in the United States?

    <p>Principle of judicial review</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court when Marbury v. Madison was decided?

    <p>John Marshall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the basis for the Court's determination of its jurisdiction over the case?

    <p>The Judiciary Act of 1789</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What power did the Supreme Court announce in the Marbury v. Madison case?

    <p>Judicial review</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did Jefferson instruct James Madison to withhold the undelivered commissions?

    <p>He believed the commissions were void</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Chief Justice John Marshall, what is the essence of civil liberty?

    <p>The right to claim protection of the laws</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Court determine regarding the delivery of Marbury's commission?

    <p>Delivery of the commission was merely a custom, not an essential element</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of court order did the Court determine was the proper remedy for Marbury's situation?

    <p>Writ of mandamus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Chief Justice John Marshall borrow from the Massachusetts State Constitution in his opinion?

    <p>The phrase 'The government of the United States has been emphatically termed a government of laws, and not of men.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

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