| Terms |
Definitions |
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President Pro Tempore
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president of the Senate in absence of the Vice President (literally a "temporary" president)
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U.S. Code (Title 8)
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enumerates legislature concerning questionable citizenship
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Official Senatorial Title of "Whips"
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Assistant Leaders
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Highest United States Court
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the Supreme Court
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The United States Constitution
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provides a basic framework for the U.S. government
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Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction
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article 3, section 2 describes cases that do originate in the Supreme Court
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Brown vs. Board
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black girl to white school; overturned Plessy vs. Ferguson
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Born Overseas to U.S. Citizens
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considered native-born
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22nd Amendment
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set the term limit for President after FDR's presidency
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Article 2, Section 1
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lists qualifications for President
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Total Replacement of House Members
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could theoretically occur every 2 years
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A State's Number of Representatives
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each has 2, regardless of population
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Minimum Citizenship Requirement for Senators
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9 years as a U.S. citizen
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Non-Existent Restrictions for Senators
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gender, race, class, social standing, etc.
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Roe vs. Wade
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Texan woman wanted a late-in-term abortion; legalized abortion "on demand" (fewer restrictions, more accessible)
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Term Limits of Other Executives
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non-existent for Vice President, cabinet members, etc.
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Term of a Supreme Court Justice
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life, pending "good behavior"
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Article 1 Courts
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aid legislative duties; include bankruptcy courts, military appeal courts
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Edwards vs. Aguillard
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Louisiana school taught evolution and creation; declared creationism inherently religious, no larger "secular purpose"
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Current Number of Supreme Court Justices
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9
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Torcaso vs. Watkins
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elected man forced oath "I believe in God" to assume office; declared no religious tests for public office
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Article I, Section 3
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lists qualifications for Senators
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Born in a U.S. Territory
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considered native-born
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Highest Appellate Court
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the Supreme Court; may only be reached by the losing party appealing a higher court
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Majority Leader
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senior member of the majority party
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Constitutionality of Laws
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the Supreme Court has the final say regarding this
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Duty of the Legislature
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to make laws
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Current Speaker of the House
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Nancy Pelosi
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Election of Representatives
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chosen by the people (direct election)
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Duty of the Judicial Branch
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to interpret the law
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Residence Requirement for President
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lived in the U.S. for 14 years
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Non-Existent Restrictions for Representatives
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gender, race, class, social standing, etc.
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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longest serving President; remained in office for nearly 4 terms during WW2
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Article 3
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briefly describes the Judicial branch; shortest section regarding the government's branches
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Supreme Court Impeachment
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carried out by the Legislative branch
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Current Election of Senators
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chosen by the people (direct election)
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Role
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an action performed out of necessity; taken on at will
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Current President Pro Tempore
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Daniel Inouye
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14 Collective Years
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a common interpretation of the President's residency requirement; includes military bases, embassies, and U.S. businesses' international offices
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Current Number of Senators
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100 (may change with state addition)
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Duty
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an official responsibility; legally required
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Marbury vs. Madison
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John Adam's "midnight judges"; established "judicial review"
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"De Jure"
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according to law; how things should be (duty)
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"De Facto"
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according to fact; how things actually are (role)
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Minority Leader
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senior member of the minority party
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Term of a Representative
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2 years; elected every 2nd November
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Establishment Clause
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derived from the 1st amendment; all religious activity must be voluntary, no official declaration of religion
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Term of a Senator
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6 years
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Current President
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Barack Hussein Obama II
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Judicial Review
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the Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional
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A State's Number of Representatives
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proportionate to its population
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Position of Speaker of the House
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Constitutionally mandated; chosen by the House
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United States National Census
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Constitutionally mandated; occurs every 10 years (decennial)
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District Courts
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federal scope courts inferior to the Supreme Court; spread throughout the country in several "districts": similar to state courts
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Head of Executive Branch
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President of the United States
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Abington School District vs. Schempp
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Pennsylvania school mandated reading the Bible; emphasized the "establishment clause";
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Minimum Age Requirement for Senators
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30 years old
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Senator Seat Vacancy
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a state's governor initiates a temporary election
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William Henry Harrison
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shortest serving President; remained in office for 1 month
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Born in a U.S. State, after its Statehood
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certainly native-born
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Duty of Executive Branch
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to enforce laws
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Lower House
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House of Representatives
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Current House Majority Leader
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Steny Hoyer
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Dual-Scope Judicial System
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unique in global government; reflects power of the States
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Plessy vs. Ferguson
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black man sitting with whites; allowed "separate but equal" segregation for 60 more years
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Minimum Citizenship Requirement for Representatives
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7 years as a U.S. citizen
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Term of Military Appeal Court Justice
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15 years
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Names of Legislators (either house)
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Congressmen, Congresswomen, Congresspeople
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Speaker of the House
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presides over House events; highest leader
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Original "Election" of Senators
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appointed by state legislatures
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Upper House
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Senate
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President of the Senate
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the Vice President; casts the deciding vote in case of a tie
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Minimum Age Requirement for Representatives
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25 years old
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Term of a President
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4 years
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U.S. Virgin Islands
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an example of a U.S. territory
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Names of Senate Members
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Senators
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Article I, Section 2
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lists qualifications for Representatives
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Most Recent Supreme Court Appointee
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Elena Kagan
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Residence Requirement for Senators
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live in the state he represents
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Current President of the Senate
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Joseph Biden
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Appellate Court
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a tiered system of court appeals and referrals
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14 Consecutive Years
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the doubtful interpretation of the President's residency requirement; unlikely due to travel abroad and military service
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Minimum Age Requirement for President
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35 years old
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Current Senate Minority Leader
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Mitch McConnell
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Representative Seat Vacancy
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a state's governor initiates a temporary election
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Purpose of Framer's Choice of Senate Appointment
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to offset the more impulsive, less sensible House
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The Miranda Rights
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"You have the right to remain silent; anything you say can and will be used against you."
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Article 3, Sections 3
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not even related to the structure of the Judicial branch
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Current Legal Fixed Total Number of Representatives
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435 (may change with population increases)
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Reapportionment
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rearrangement of the 435 House seats according to the census's information; occurs every 10 years
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Article 2, Concerning Impeachment
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includes the only mention of the Chief Justice
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Supreme Court Decision
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may be necessary to solidify the 14 year residency requirement
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Constitutional Enumerated Members of the Executive Branch
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Vice President; executive departments and their leaders (cabinet); the military; various agencies, councils, advisors, and offices; embassies and ambassadors
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Roles of the President
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builds morale and unity; leads his party; develops legislature; manages crises; recruits personnel; sets budget and priorities; bargains and persuades; resolves conflict; global leadership
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Residence Requirement for Representatives
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live in the state he represents
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Non-Existent Restrictions for Supreme Court Justices
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age, citizenship, residency
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Senatorial Election Cycle
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one-third of Senators are up for reelection every 2nd November; allows for two-thirds of Senators to remain experienced
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Two Houses of the Legislature
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House and Senate
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Current Vice President
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Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
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Current Senate Majority Leader
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Harry Reid
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Names of House Members
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Representatives
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Non-Existent Restrictions for President
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gender, race, class, social standing, etc.
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Miranda vs. Arizona
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arrested man admits many crimes; enforced reading of rights to those arrested
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Majority and Minority Whips
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an interface (communicators) between the leads and other House members
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Minimum Number of Representatives
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at least 1, even if mathematically unwarranted
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Minimum Citizenship Requirement for President
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native-born U.S. citizen
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Current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
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John Roberts
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Duties of the President
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enforce laws; commander of military; foreign affairs; negotiate treaties; nominate cabinet and justices; review and sign or veto bills; issue pardons; address Congress yearly (State of the Union Address)
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Current House Minority Leader
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John Boehner
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Number of Supreme Court Justices
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no constitutional mandate; fluctuated from 5-10
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Term of Bankruptcy Court Justice
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14 years
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Wallace vs. Jaffree
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Alabama school day started with prayer; emphasized the "establishment clause"
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Maximum Presidential Term Limit
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2 full terms
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