psci 100 exam 2

100 senators — 2 per state, regardless of population. They serve 6-year terms.

435 members, apportioned by state population. They serve 2-year terms.

Senate: 30+ years old, citizen for 9+ years.
House: 25+ years old, citizen for 7+ years.
Both must reside in the state they represent.

Confirm presidential appointments, ratify treaties (2/3 vote), and try impeachment cases.

Initiate all revenue/tax bills and bring articles of impeachment against federal officials.

Standing (permanent, policy areas), Select/Special (temporary, investigation), Joint (both chambers), Conference (reconcile House/Senate bill differences).

The Speaker of the House — they preside over the chamber and set the legislative agenda.

To count votes and ensure members of the majority party show up and vote in line with party leadership.

1) Introduced in a chamber. 2) Sent to committee. 3) Committee reviews/votes. 4) Floor debate & vote. 5) Repeated in other chamber. 6) Conference committee if versions differ. 7) Both chambers vote on final version. 8) President signs, vetoes, or takes no action (10 days). 9) Veto can be overridden by 2/3 majority in both chambers.

When the president takes no action on a bill and Congress adjourns within the 10-day window — the bill dies without a formal veto.

A 2/3 majority in both the House and the Senate.

Must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and a U.S. resident for 14+ years.

Commander in Chief, Chief Executive, Chief Diplomat, Chief Legislator, Chief of State, Party Leader, and Appointer.

Found in Article II & III — the president must faithfully execute and enforce the laws passed by Congress, even if they personally disagree with them.

A directive issued by the president that carries the force of law without needing congressional approval. It can be overturned by Congress (legislation), courts (ruling it unconstitutional), or a future president.

Grants the president broad executive power to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the office.

1) House Judiciary Committee investigates and drafts articles of impeachment. 2) Full House votes — simple majority (218+) to impeach. 3) Senate holds a trial, presided over by the Chief Justice. 4) Senate votes — 2/3 majority (67 senators) needed to convict and remove. If convicted, VP takes over.

Impeachment is the formal charge (done by the House, simple majority). Removal requires a Senate conviction (2/3 vote). A president can be impeached but not removed.

1) District Courts — 94 (trial courts, where cases begin). 2) Circuit Courts of Appeals — 13 (hear appeals). 3) Supreme Court — 1 (highest, final authority).

Establishes the Supreme Court; Congress can create lower courts; judicial power over cases involving the Constitution, federal law, treaties, and state disputes; jury trials for criminal cases; defines treason.

Number of Supreme Court justices (set by Congress), qualifications for justices (no age/degree requirement), specific jurisdiction of lower courts, and judicial review (established by Marbury v. Madison).

At least 4 of the 9 Supreme Court justices must agree to hear a case (grant certiorari) for it to be accepted.

1) Petition for writ of certiorari. 2) Rule of Four — 4 justices agree to hear it. 3) Briefs submitted by both sides; amicus curiae briefs from interest groups. 4) Oral arguments — 30 min per side. 5) Private conference — justices discuss and vote. 6) Opinions written (majority, concurring, dissenting). 7) Decision published — becomes binding precedent (stare decisis).

"Friend of the court" brief — filed by outside interest groups or individuals who are not party to the case but want to offer relevant information or arguments to influence the decision.

Majority: the official ruling and its reasoning (binding).
Concurring: agrees with the outcome but for different reasons.
Dissenting: disagrees with the majority ruling.

Bicameral: State Senate (40 members, 4-year terms) and State Assembly (80 members, 2-year terms). Term limits: 12 years combined in either chamber.

Executive power is distributed among several independently elected officials — Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Controller, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Insurance Commissioner.

Trial court judges are elected by voters in nonpartisan elections. Appellate and Supreme Court justices are appointed by the Governor, then face retention elections (voters keep or remove them with no opposing candidate). Also called the Missouri Plan / merit selection.

Initiative: citizens propose laws/amendments via signatures, placed on the ballot.
Referendum: legislature refers a measure to voters, or voters petition to reject a law.
Recall: citizens collect signatures to hold a special election to remove an elected official before their term ends.

Both bicameral.
Federal: single president; CA: plural executive. Federal: judges appointed for life; CA: appointed + retention elections.
Federal: no direct democracy; CA: Initiative, Referendum, Recall.
Term limits: president 2 terms, Congress none; CA legislature 12 years combined.