Structures, Powers, & Checks/Balances

Chapter 8, Section 1 Separation of Powers

(Military ) Chiefs of StaffThe Executive BranchThe Executive Branch

President’s 5 Roles

Chief ExecutiveChief Diplomat

Commander-in-Chief of the Military

Chief of StateLegislative leader

Chapter 8, Section 2The Executive Branch: Powers and Duties of the President

• To carry out the nation’s laws• To direct foreign policy• To make treaties• To appoint ambassadors• To act as Commander in Chief of the armed forces• To suggest new laws and work for their passage• Can grant pardons• Can call special sessions of Congress• To stand as a symbol of the nation

Chapter 8, Section 2Electing the President: Presidential Facts

• The President is elected for a 4-year term.• The President may be elected to no more than two complete

terms.• The President is elected by a complex system known as the

electoral college.• When Americans vote for President, they are really voting for

a group of electors pledged to the candidate. • A few weeks after Election Day, the electors meet in each

state to vote. The candidate who receives a majority of the electoral votes nationwide becomes President.

Chapter 8, Section 2Electing the President: The Electoral College

Chapter 8, Section 2The Legislative Branch: Congress

House of Representatives• 435 members• Number of representatives for a state is based on that state’s

population• 2-year terms• Leader of the House is the Speaker.

Senate• 100 members• Two senators per state• 6-year terms• Leader of the Senate is the Vice President of the United States.

When the Vice President is away, the president pro tempore takes over.

Chapter 8, Section 2The Legislative Branch: The Powers of Congress

Listed Powers and Duties of Congress• To make laws• To levy taxes• To borrow money• To coin money• To establish post offices• To fix standard weights and measures• To declare war

Elastic Clause• Congress can “make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper” for

carrying out its duties.

Chapter 8, Section 2How a Bill Becomes a Law

Bill—a proposal for a law

Chapter 8, Section 2 The Judicial Branch

Separation of Powers

ExecutiveChecksOn the

Legislative

Executive

LegislativeJudicial

* Can propose laws

* Can veto laws

* Can call specialsessions of Congress

* Makes appointments

* Works out foreign treaties

* Can grant pardons to federal offenders

ExecutiveChecks On theJudicial

* Appoints federal judges

Legislative

* Can declare what the president does unconstitutional

(against the law)

Executive

Judicial

Judicial Checks onthe Executive Branch

* Can declare what Congress does unconstitutional

(against the law)

Judicial Checks onthe Legislative Branch

Chapter 8, Section 2Examples of Checks and BalancesOne branch checks another branch by doing the following

President Congress vetoing, or rejecting, bills Congress has passed

Congress President overriding, or overruling, the President’s veto

Congress President approving or disapproving Presidential appointments

Congress President ratify or not ratify treaties the President has negotiated

Congress President The House can impeach, or bring charges of wrongdoing against, the President. The Senate then conducts a trial.

Supreme President and Congress declaring laws unconstitutional

Powers Reserved to States

Powers Delegated to NationalGovernment

Create corporation laws

Regulate trade within state

Establish &maintain schools

Establish local governments

Make laws aboutmarriage & divorce

Conduct elections

Provide for public safety

Coin money

Declare War

Regulate interstate & Foreign trade

Set standard weights & measures

Create & maintain armed forces

Make copyright & patent laws

Establish postal offices

Establish foreign policy

Create federal courts

Admit new states

The Federal System

Provide for public welfare

Administer criminal justice

Start banksRaise taxes

Borrow money

Chapter 8, Section 1 Federalism