Lecture 6 (4)
6
Executive Departments The Department of Housing and Urban Development appeared in 1965. It helps provide housing, particularly for low-income groups. The Department of Interior protects and develops the nation’s natural resources; it also enforces federal hunting and fishing laws; and is responsible for the welfare of Indian tribes. The Department of Defense is responsible for the nation security. The Department of Justice moves against violators of federal laws. The FBI and federal prisons are under his jurisdiction. The Department of Transportation, organized in 1966) coordinates transportation activities. The Department of Agriculture aids food production and looks after the interests of farmers. The Department of Commerce helps develop domestic commerce as well as trade with other countries. The Department of Labour is concerned with working conditions, safety and welfare of the nation’s nonfarm workers. The Department of Energy (1977) is responsible for research, development and demonstration of
Transcript of Lecture 6 (4)
Executive DepartmentsThe Department of Housing
and Urban Development appeared in 1965. It helps
provide housing, particularly for low-income groups.
The Department of Interior protects and develops the
nation’s natural resources; it also enforces federal hunting and
fishing laws; and is responsible for the welfare of Indian tribes.
The Department of Defense is responsible for the nation
security. The Department of Justice moves against violators of federal laws. The FBI and federal prisons are under his jurisdiction.
The Department of Transportation, organized
in 1966) coordinates transportation activities.
The Department of Agriculture aids food
production and looks after the interests of farmers.
The Department of Commerce helps develop
domestic commerce as well as trade with other
countries.
The Department of Labour is concerned with working
conditions, safety and welfare of the nation’s
nonfarm workers.
The Department of Energy (1977) is responsible for
research, development and demonstration of
Legislative branches
• The Legislative Branch – Congress – consists of
the Senate and
the House of Representatives.
Each Senator is elected for six years and each representative – for two years, with no limitation on the number of terms.
Each of the 50 states elects two Senators under a system in which one-thirds of the Senate is elected every two years. A Senator must be over 30 years old and must have been an American citizen for at least nine years.
The House of Representatives has 435 members. Each state is divided into congressional districts of equal population, and the voters of each district elect one Representative to Congress. A member must be at least 25 years of age and must have been an American citizen for no less than seven years.
Both branches of Congress must approve the bills before they become laws. The Senate alone confirms the President’s nominee for high-level official positions, and ratifies treaties with other nations.
The Judicial Branch of the government is headed by the Supreme Court, which consists of the Chief Justice of the USA and eight Associate Justices. The Court decides whether laws are constitutional, when cases appealed from lower courts raise this question. It also acts on disputes involving the national government, or two or more states, or citizens of different states.
