The United States The United States GovernmentGovernment

Karen PollardKaren Pollard2005-20062005-2006

The United States GovernmentThe United States Government

Three Branches of GovernmentThree Branches of Government * Legislative Branch* Legislative Branch

* Executive Branch* Executive Branch * Judicial Branch* Judicial Branch

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Founding FathersFounding FathersJames

Madison;

Primary author of The

Constitution

Benjamin Franklin

George Washington

Thomas Jefferson

Patrick Henry

John Jay

John Adams

Alexander Hamilton

The ConstitutionThe Constitution

The The Founding FathersFounding Fathers, the framers of the , the framers of the ConstitutionConstitution, wanted to form a , wanted to form a government that did not allow one person government that did not allow one person to have too much authority or control. to have too much authority or control.

The framers wrote the Constitution to The framers wrote the Constitution to provide for a provide for a separation of powersseparation of powers, or , or three separate branches of government. three separate branches of government.

This is done through This is done through checks and balanceschecks and balances

The Three Branches of The Three Branches of GovernmentGovernment

The Capitol BuildingThe Capitol Building

What is the Legislative Branch?What is the Legislative Branch?

The legislative branch of government The legislative branch of government is made up of the Congress and is made up of the Congress and government agencies. government agencies.

The The ConstitutionConstitution established this established this branch and gave Congress the power branch and gave Congress the power to make laws. to make laws.

The Legislative Branch & The Legislative Branch & CongressCongress

The U.S. Congress is made up of two The U.S. Congress is made up of two parts, the parts, the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives and the and the SenateSenate. .

Congress meets at the U.S. Capitol in Congress meets at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

Its primary duty is to write, debate, Its primary duty is to write, debate, and pass bills, which are then passed and pass bills, which are then passed on to the President for approval. on to the President for approval.

Other Powers of CongressOther Powers of Congress

Makes laws controlling trade Makes laws controlling trade between states and between thebetween states and between theUnited States and other countries. United States and other countries.

Makes laws about taxes and Makes laws about taxes and borrowing money. borrowing money.

Approves the making of money. Approves the making of money. Can declare war on other countries. Can declare war on other countries.

Two Parts of CongressTwo Parts of CongressThe House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives

Representation is based on the Representation is based on the number of people living in each number of people living in each state. state.

There are a total of 435 There are a total of 435 representatives in the House. representatives in the House.

States with larger populations have States with larger populations have more representation than states with more representation than states with smaller populations. smaller populations.

The House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives

RepresentativesRepresentatives

Representatives must:Representatives must: Be at least 25 years old. Be at least 25 years old. Be a U.S. citizen for the past 7 years. Be a U.S. citizen for the past 7 years. Live in the state they represent. Live in the state they represent. Each representative serves a term of Each representative serves a term of

2 years. 2 years. There is no limit on the number of There is no limit on the number of

terms a representative can serve. terms a representative can serve.

Jobs of RepresentativesJobs of Representatives

Start laws that make people pay Start laws that make people pay taxes. taxes.

Decide if a government official Decide if a government official should be put on trial before the should be put on trial before the Senate if s/he commits a crime Senate if s/he commits a crime against the country. against the country.

Two Parts of CongressTwo Parts of CongressThe SenateThe Senate

Each of the 50 states sends 2 people Each of the 50 states sends 2 people to the Senate.to the Senate.

Total of 100 senatorsTotal of 100 senators Each state has equal representation Each state has equal representation

in the Senate.in the Senate.

The United States SenateThe United States Senate

SenatorsSenators

Senators must:Senators must: Be at least 30 years old. Be at least 30 years old. Be a U.S. citizen for the past 9 years. Be a U.S. citizen for the past 9 years. Live in the state they represent. Live in the state they represent. Each senator serves a term of 6 Each senator serves a term of 6

years. years. There is no limit on terms a senator There is no limit on terms a senator

can be elected.can be elected.

Jobs of SenatorsJobs of Senators

Say yes or no to any treaties the Say yes or no to any treaties the president makes. president makes.

Say yes or no to any people the Say yes or no to any people the president recommends for jobs, such president recommends for jobs, such as cabinet officers, Supreme Court as cabinet officers, Supreme Court justices, and ambassadors. justices, and ambassadors.

Can hold a trial for a government Can hold a trial for a government official who does something very official who does something very wrong. wrong.

The Executive BranchThe Executive Branch

The executive branch of government The executive branch of government makes sure that the laws of the United makes sure that the laws of the United States are obeyed. States are obeyed.

The President of the United States is the The President of the United States is the head of the executive branch of head of the executive branch of government. government.

The President gets help from the Vice The President gets help from the Vice President, department heads (Cabinet President, department heads (Cabinet members), and heads of independent members), and heads of independent agencies. agencies.

The White HouseThe White House

President’s Oval Office

The White House

The White HouseThe White House

Diplomatic Reception Room

State Dining Room

The Red Room

The Blue RoomThe Vermeil Room

Parts of the Executive BranchParts of the Executive Branch

President: President: Leader of the country and Leader of the country and commands the military. commands the military.

Vice President:Vice President: President of the Senate President of the Senate and becomes President if the President and becomes President if the President can no longer do the job. can no longer do the job.

Departments: Departments: Department heads advise Department heads advise the President on issues and help carry out the President on issues and help carry out policies. policies.

Independent Agencies: Independent Agencies: Help carry out Help carry out policy or provide special services. policy or provide special services.

Jobs of The PresidentJobs of The President

Head of the executive branchHead of the executive branch Approves or vetoes laws that Congress createsApproves or vetoes laws that Congress creates American Head of State; meeting with leaders American Head of State; meeting with leaders

of other countries and can make treaties with of other countries and can make treaties with them. them.

Chief of the Government Chief of the Government Official head of the U.S. militaryOfficial head of the U.S. military Can declare war with the approval of Congress. Can declare war with the approval of Congress.

To Be The PresidentTo Be The President

Must be at least 35 years oldMust be at least 35 years old Must be a natural-born U.S. citizen Must be a natural-born U.S. citizen

and have lived in the U.S. for at least and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years14 years

Serves a term of four yearsServes a term of four years Can serve two terms for a total of Can serve two terms for a total of

eight yearseight years

The President’s AdvisorsThe President’s Advisors

When the President wants advice, he asks When the President wants advice, he asks a group of people called the a group of people called the CabinetCabinet. .

They advise the President. They advise the President. The Cabinet includes the The Cabinet includes the Vice PresidentVice President, ,

the heads of 15 executive branch the heads of 15 executive branch departments, and other Government departments, and other Government officials chosen by the President. officials chosen by the President.

The Cabinet meets at least once a week to The Cabinet meets at least once a week to discuss matters that effect the United discuss matters that effect the United States. States.

The Presidential CabinetThe Presidential Cabinet Secretary of StateSecretary of State Secretary of DefenseSecretary of Defense Secretary of TreasurySecretary of Treasury Attorney GeneralAttorney General Secretary of the InteriorSecretary of the Interior Secretary of AgricultureSecretary of Agriculture Secretary of CommerceSecretary of Commerce Secretary of EnergySecretary of Energy

Secretary of HousingSecretary of Housing Secretary of Secretary of

TransportationTransportation Secretary of EducationSecretary of Education Secretary of Veteran’s Secretary of Veteran’s

AffairsAffairs Secretary of LaborSecretary of Labor Secretary of Health & Secretary of Health &

Human ServicesHuman Services Secretary of Homeland Secretary of Homeland

SecuritySecurity

The Judicial BranchThe Judicial Branch

The judicial branchThe judicial branch of government is of government is made up of the court system. made up of the court system.

The Supreme Court is the highest The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. court in the land.

Courts decide arguments about the Courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws, how they are meaning of laws, how they are applied, and whether they break the applied, and whether they break the rules of the Constitution. rules of the Constitution.

The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court

The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. court in the United States.

The Supreme Court hears cases that The Supreme Court hears cases that have made their way through the have made their way through the court system.court system.

The main power of the Supreme Court The main power of the Supreme Court is to decide cases that challenge the is to decide cases that challenge the Constitution.Constitution.

Justices of the Supreme CourtJustices of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is made up of nine The Supreme Court is made up of nine Justices. Justices.

One is the One is the Chief JusticeChief Justice. . Appointed by the President and must be Appointed by the President and must be

approved by the Senate. approved by the Senate. Justices have their jobs for life, unless they Justices have their jobs for life, unless they

resign, retire, or are impeached by the resign, retire, or are impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate House and convicted by the Senate

There are no requirements to be a justice; There are no requirements to be a justice; but they are trained in the law.but they are trained in the law.

The JusticesThe Justices

2005

How Laws are MadeHow Laws are Made

Laws can be made by the national Laws can be made by the national government or by individual state government or by individual state governments.governments.

National laws are made in Congress.National laws are made in Congress. Congress can make laws on all kinds Congress can make laws on all kinds

of matters. of matters.

Laws begin in the SenateLaws begin in the Senate

A Senator writes a bill.A Senator writes a bill. A committee reviews the bill; then…A committee reviews the bill; then…

*Sends the bill back with no changes.*Sends the bill back with no changes.*Makes changes and sends it back.*Makes changes and sends it back.*Tables the bill -- *Tables the bill -- In other words, they do nothing.In other words, they do nothing.

The bill is voted on by the Senate and The bill is voted on by the Senate and over half of the senators (51 of 100) over half of the senators (51 of 100) must vote yes to pass it. must vote yes to pass it.

Laws and The House of Laws and The House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

The bill goes to a House committeeThe bill goes to a House committee The committee studies the billThe committee studies the bill The bill is voted on by the The bill is voted on by the

representatives.representatives. Over half of the representatives (218 Over half of the representatives (218

of 435) must vote yes to pass the of 435) must vote yes to pass the bill. bill.

Laws and the PresidentLaws and the President

If the bill passes the Senate and House…If the bill passes the Senate and House… Then the bill goes to the President Then the bill goes to the President If the president signs the bill, it becomes a If the president signs the bill, it becomes a

law. law. The bill may also become law if the president The bill may also become law if the president

does not sign it for 10 days.does not sign it for 10 days. If the president rejects (If the president rejects (vetoesvetoes) the bill, it can ) the bill, it can

still become a law if two-thirds of the Senate still become a law if two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the House vote in favor of it.and two-thirds of the House vote in favor of it.

Finally, the Supreme Court decides if it’s Finally, the Supreme Court decides if it’s ConstitutionalConstitutional

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Founding fathers wanted to avoid Founding fathers wanted to avoid tyranny.tyranny.

Framers of the Constitution balanced Framers of the Constitution balanced power among the 3 Branchespower among the 3 Branches

Each branch “checks” or restrains the Each branch “checks” or restrains the powers of the other two branches.powers of the other two branches.

Balance of PowerBalance of Power“Checks and Balances“Checks and Balances

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

The power of government is balanced The power of government is balanced when it takes all 3 branches of when it takes all 3 branches of government to pass laws.government to pass laws.

The U.S. Congress begins the law as a The U.S. Congress begins the law as a billbill

The President passes/vetoes the lawThe President passes/vetoes the law The Supreme Court decides if the law The Supreme Court decides if the law

if Constitutionalif Constitutional

Responsibilities of Responsibilities of CitizensCitizens

VotingVoting

Serving on a JuryServing on a Jury

Paying taxesPaying taxes

Serving in the MilitaryServing in the Military

Obeying the LawsObeying the Laws

We rest this case.We rest this case.