The Big Box Citizenship Review Sheet: Answers
Using your textbook, class notes, and the Internet, try to fill in the blanks in the boxes below.
 
 
    Branch 
Level
Legislative
makes the law.
Executive
  enforces the law.
Judicial 
interprets the law.
Federal 
(The United 
States) 
 
 
 
 		 Upper House: Senate 
Term of office: 6 years. 
Minimum Age: 30  years. 
Presiding officer: Vice President = Pres. of the Sen. 

Lower House: House of Representatives 
Term of office: 2 years. 
Minimum Age: 25 years. 
Presiding officer: Speaker of the House 		 Headed  by: President of  US  

Second in command: 
Vice President  

Advisors: Cabinet  

Foreign Affairs: Secretary of  State  

Defense: Secretary of  Defense  

Economy: Secretary of  Treasury  

Legal: Attorney General

 Highest Level: Supreme Court 
Term: Life 
Primary Role: Judicial Review 
How Chosen: Nominated by President/Confirmed by Senate. 

Middle level: US Court of Appeals  
Term: Life 
Primary Role: Hear appeals from US District Court. 
How Chosen: Nominated by President/Confirmed by Senate. 

Lowest Level: US District 
Primary Role:Original jurisdiction in all cases involving federal law.
State 
(Maryland) 
 
 
 		 Legislative Body: 
_______________ 
Upper House: State Senate  
Term of office: 4 years. 
Minimum Age: 25 years. 
Presiding officer: President  
of the Senate (elected from membership) 

Lower House: House of Delegates. 
Term of office: 4 years. 
Minimum Age: 21 years. 
Presiding officer: Speaker of the House 		 Headed  by: Governor 

Second in command: 

Lt. Governor 

Advisors: Cabinet  

State Affairs: 

Defense: Governor (commands state police & militia). 
Taxation: 
Legal: Attorney General 
 

 Highest Level: Court of Appeals  
Term: 15 years 
Primary Role: Interpret laws for the state. 
How Chosen: Appointed by Governor. 

Secondary Top Level:  
MD Court of Special Appeals  
Term: 10 
Primary Role: Reduce caseload of Court of Appeals. 
How Chosen: Selected by Governor/Confirmed by Senate. 

Middle level:  
MD Circuit Court  
Term: 15 years. 
Primary Role: Original jurisdiction in felony cases. 
How Chosen: Elected 

Lowest level: 
MD District Court  
Term: 15 years. 
Primary Role: Original jurisdiction in misdemeanor cases. 
How Chosen: Elected. 
Local 
(Hagerstown, 
Washington County,
MD)
 
 
 		 For Cities: City Council  

For Counties: 
County Council

 For Cities: Mayor 

For Counties: County Executive


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