Post on 29-Dec-2015
Branches of the Government
3 branches of government
The United States has three branches of government: the executive, the legislative and the judicial.
Each of these branches has a distinct and essential role in the function of the government
Executive Branch
Cabinet – group of advisers to the president Chief Executive – the person who holds the
office of head of state of the United States government
Pardon – the power to forgive someone who has committed a crime
Reprieve - Cancel or postpone the punishment Impeach - to accuse an official of a crime while
in office
President Qualifications
You have to be 35 years old to run for President.
You must be born in the United States.
You must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.
President
Term of office – 4 years No one may be elected President more than
twice.
Salary – $400,000
What if the President dies…
Vice President of the United States
Speaker of the House
President pro tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
What does he do?
Main Job: enforcing the laws of the land Duties
Commander-in-Chief Negotiate treaties Appoint ambassadors Prepare national budget Veto/sign bills State of the Union Grand pardons Suggest laws
Cabinet
The Department of Agriculture
The Department of Commerce
The Department of Defense
The Department of Education
The Department of Energy
Health and Human Services
The Department of Homeland Security
Housing and Urban Development .
Interior
Justice
The Department of Labor
State
The Department of Transportation
Treasury
Veterans Affairs
Welcome future Voters
Make sure you name is on your packet and pass it forward.
Get out paper for notes and something to write with.
Legislative Branch - Congress
Senate – Small states favor
-Every state gets two representatives
House of Representatives – Large states favor
-The number of representatives are based on the states population
Become a Senator
at least 30 years old.
a U.S. citizen for at least nine years at the time of election to the Senate.
a resident of the state one is elected to represent in the Senate.
House of Representatives
must be at least 25 years of age
must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years
must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected.
Congress Facts
Congress makes and spends taxes
Senators serve 6 year termsHouse Reps serve 2 year terms
Vocab to know Elastic clause –grants Congress the power to
pass any law necessary for the carrying out of the previously listed powers.
Legislative Branch – congress: makes the laws, controls the money, and has the power to declare war.
Bill – A draft or idea for a law
Ex post facto law – "after the fact" laws passed to stop a behavior that was once legal.
Vocab continued Veto – reject
Quorum –number of members who must be present to legally conduct business
Amend – change or add
Pigeonhole – to postpone action on a bill
Conference committee – Senators and Representatives trying to reach a compromise
How does a bill become a law?
Congress helps make Laws
Bill is introduced to the House Bill goes to committee – researched Bill is debated The House votes on the bill Sent to the Senate (repeat steps 1-4) Sent to the President to be signed
If vetoed Bill returns to congress and must be passed again.
Powers of congress
Declare war
Regulate trade between states
Print and coin money
Make laws for the US
Approve treaties
TOMORROW
Homework: Using yournotes fill out the Legislative Packet
Final branch of the
government
Checks and balances
Welcome!
Please pass your packets to the windows then up to Natalia.
I am passing out your note sheet for today you need to get out a pencil or pen to write with.
Judicial Branch “Characters” Witness –
presents any info concerning the case
Defendant – defends against charges
Jury – Hears evidence in the case and determines guilty or innocent
Prosecutor – tries to prove guilty
Judge – Maintains order and makes sure rules are followed
Vocabulary
Appellate Jurisdiction – Authority to hear and decide a case from a lower court
Original Jurisdiction – Authority to hear and decide a case for the first time
Impeach – Accusing government of crime in office
Judicial Review – examine a law and decide if it is constitutional
Due Process of Law – Legal procedures which every citizen is entitled to
Judicial Branch
Main job: enforce laws
Federal courts – don’t have to hear every case Jurisdiction –
if a law is constitutional cases involving treaties ambassadors and public ministers problems between two or more states Violation of federal law
lowest to highest: 1. District Courts
original jurisdiction 2. Courts or Appeal (In the middle)
original 3. Supreme Court
original & appellate
Judges
Term: for LIFE
Appointed by the President
The Constitution sets no requirements.
Check and Balances
Congress Judicial Impeach/remove federal judges Establish courts & set number of judges
Congress Judicial Declare laws unconditional
President Judicial Appoints federal judges Grant pardons, reprieves Can commute sentences
Civil VS Criminal
Civil – breach of contract, Divorce, damages, loss/injury of something
Criminal - committing a crime against the government Murder, assault, bribery, kidnapping, shoplifting
Federal – national level
State – specific to the state
Checks and Balances Important to the Constitution
Limits the power of the other branches
Each branch “checks” the power of the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between them.
Lets talk Homework
This weekend…
You each will get one amendment (addition/chance to the Constitution)
You need to make a poster for that amendment Number Picture – how do you visualize it? What does it mean?