United States United States Government Government

BasicsBasics

7 Principles of 7 Principles of GovernmentGovernment

FederalismFederalism Federalism Federalism is a system is a system

of government in which of government in which the states and national the states and national government share government share powers. powers.

The Framers used The Framers used federalism to structure federalism to structure the Constitution. the Constitution.

The Constitution assigns The Constitution assigns certain powers to the certain powers to the national government. national government. These are These are enumerated/delegated enumerated/delegated powers.powers.

Powers kept by the states Powers kept by the states are are reserved powersreserved powers. .

Powers shared or Powers shared or exercised by national and exercised by national and state governments are state governments are known as known as concurrent concurrent powerspowers. .

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers Established in order Established in order

to avoid having too to avoid having too much power might much power might fall into the hands of fall into the hands of a single groupa single group

This principle This principle creates the creates the division division of basic of basic government roles government roles into 3 branchesinto 3 branches. . No one branch is No one branch is given all the power.given all the power.

Articles 1,2, and 3 Articles 1,2, and 3 of the of the Constitution Constitution detail detail how powers are split how powers are split among the three among the three branchesbranches

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances Based on the Based on the

philosophy of philosophy of Baron Baron de Montesquieude Montesquieu, , an 18th-century an 18th-century French thinker, French thinker, "Power should be a "Power should be a check to power.“ check to power.“

Each branch of Each branch of government can government can exercise exercise checks, or checks, or controlscontrols, over the , over the other branches. other branches. Though the Though the branches of branches of government are government are separate, they rely separate, they rely on one another to on one another to perform the work of perform the work of government. government.

This ensures that This ensures that the branches work the branches work together fairly. together fairly.

Legislative BranchLegislative BranchBicameral LegislatureBicameral Legislature

Congress

Senate House of Representatives

CongressCongress Both houses must Both houses must

approve all approve all legislation before legislation before the president can the president can sign itsign it

Can override a Can override a presidential veto presidential veto with a 2/3 votewith a 2/3 vote

Majority rule for Majority rule for most votesmost votes

CongressCongress Majority Party Majority Party

controls schedule controls schedule in each housein each house

Speaker of the Speaker of the House most House most powerful member powerful member of Congressof Congress

SenateSenateThe “Upper House” of CongressThe “Upper House” of Congress

Originally chosen by Originally chosen by state legislaturesstate legislatures

100 members 100 members – 2 per – 2 per statestate

At least 30 years At least 30 years oldold

9 years US citizen9 years US citizen

Resident of state Resident of state elected fromelected from

Senate Senate Powers granted by ConstitutionPowers granted by Constitution

Confirms Confirms presidential presidential appointments appointments like federal like federal judges and judges and Cabinet membersCabinet members

Holds Holds impeachment impeachment trialstrials

Approves all Approves all treaties with treaties with foreign foreign governmentsgovernments

House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

The “Lower House” of CongressThe “Lower House” of Congress 435 members435 members

Minimum of 1 per Minimum of 1 per statestate

At least 25 years At least 25 years oldold

7 years US citizen7 years US citizen

Resident of state Resident of state and district elected and district elected fromfrom

House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

Power granted by ConstitutionPower granted by Constitution Starts all bills Starts all bills

that call for that call for spending of spending of moneymoney

Starts Starts impeachment impeachment proceedingsproceedings

Breaks ties in Breaks ties in Electoral Electoral CollegeCollege

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

President

CabinetDepartments

ExecutiveOffice

Agencies,Boards,

Commissions

PresidentPresident Must be at least 35Must be at least 35

Natural born Natural born citizencitizen

14 years residency 14 years residency in the USin the US

Can serve only 2 Can serve only 2 terms (22terms (22ndnd Amendment)Amendment)

These apply to VP These apply to VP alsoalso

President as Chief President as Chief ExecutiveExecutive

Develops federal Develops federal policypolicy

Enforces the lawEnforces the law

Appoints federal Appoints federal officialsofficials

Prepares the Prepares the national budgetnational budget

President’s RolePresident’s Role Commander-in-Chief of Commander-in-Chief of

the militarythe military

Makes foreign policyMakes foreign policy

Chief of State Chief of State Symbolic representativeSymbolic representative

of the nationof the nation

Annual State of the Annual State of the Union addressUnion address

President’s PowersPresident’s Powers Enforces federal Enforces federal

lawslaws

Grants reprieves Grants reprieves and pardonand pardon

Appoints federal Appoints federal judges, judges, ambassadors, ambassadors, Cabinet membersCabinet members

Make treatiesMake treaties

Can veto legislationCan veto legislation

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch Supreme Court Supreme Court

only court only court created by the created by the ConstitutionConstitution

All other federal All other federal courts created by courts created by CongressCongress

All federal judges All federal judges appointed by appointed by president and president and approved by approved by SenateSenate

Supreme CourtSupreme Court No stated No stated

requirements requirements for office, but for office, but usually usually experience as a experience as a lawyer or lower lawyer or lower federal judgefederal judge

Lifetime Lifetime appointmentappointment

9 members9 members

Supreme Court PowersSupreme Court Powers Final say on Final say on

cases involving cases involving federal lawfederal law

Final say on Final say on cases involving cases involving 2 or more states2 or more states

Cases involving Cases involving foreign foreign ambassadorsambassadors

Supreme Court (cont)Supreme Court (cont) Decides issues of Decides issues of

Constitutional lawConstitutional law

Most cases come on Most cases come on appeal from a lower appeal from a lower federal courtfederal court

Cases can be Cases can be appealed from a appealed from a state courtstate court

Decisions by Decisions by majority votemajority vote

Decisions are finalDecisions are final

Supreme Court (cont.)Supreme Court (cont.)

Greatest Power Greatest Power is is Judicial Judicial ReviewReview

Supreme Court Supreme Court has final say on has final say on what is and is not what is and is not constitutionalconstitutional