Federalism: How is Power Shared?

System of government in which power is divided between a central government and smaller political units, such as states

Delegated powers: given by Constitution to national government

Reserved powers: powers kept by states Concurrent powers: shared by both

national and state governments

Powers delegatedTo

NationalGov’t

Powers reservedFor state

Gov’ts

SharedConcurrentPowers

Separation of Powers: How is Power Divided?

Founding fathers concerned that too much power might fall into hands of one group

Division of government into branches No one power is given all the power Legislative Branch: makes laws Executive Branch: President enforces the

law Judicial Branch: Supreme Court

interprets the law

Checks and Balances: How is Power Evenly Distributed?

Each branch of government can exercise checks or controls over other branches

Branches are separate but depend on each other to perform work of government

Congress makes laws; President can veto law; Supreme Court can declare law passed by Congress and signed by president as against the Constitution

Limited Government: How is Abuse of Power Prevented?

Power of government restricted Everyone must obey the law, rich,

powerful, those in government Article 1 Section 9 of the Constitution lists

powers denied to Congress Article 1 Section 10 forbids states to take

certain actions

Individual Rights: How Are Personal Freedoms Protected?

Bill of Rights guarantees certain individual rights

Later amendments also advanced cause of individual rights

Position Term Minimum Age Residency Citizenship

Representative 2 years 25 State in which elected 7 years

Senator 6 years 30 State in which elected 9 years

President 4 years 35 14 years in the U.S. Natural-born

Supreme Court Justice unlimited none none none

Federal Office Terms and Requirements

Process for Amending the Process for Amending the ConstitutionConstitution

1. 1. ProposingProposing: 2/3 Vote of both houses of : 2/3 Vote of both houses of Congress OR 2/3 state legislatures call for Congress OR 2/3 state legislatures call for a national conventiona national convention

2. 2. Ratifying:Ratifying: ¾ approval of state ¾ approval of state legislatures OR ¾ approval at a state legislatures OR ¾ approval at a state conventionconvention

Amendment 18: Prohibition (1919); Amendment 18: Prohibition (1919); Amendment 21 Repeal of Prohibition (1933)Amendment 21 Repeal of Prohibition (1933)

Prohibition banned the manufacture, sale, Prohibition banned the manufacture, sale, transportation, importation/exportationtransportation, importation/exportation

Bootlegging and rise of organized crimeBootlegging and rise of organized crime SpeakeasiesSpeakeasies Virtually impossible to police with only Virtually impossible to police with only

1,550 federal agents to police the country1,550 federal agents to police the country

Amendment 22: Limit on Presidential Amendment 22: Limit on Presidential Terms (1951)Terms (1951)

George Washington set tradition of two George Washington set tradition of two termsterms

Resulted from four terms of Franklin Resulted from four terms of Franklin Delano RooseveltDelano Roosevelt

Limits presidents to two termsLimits presidents to two terms Passed to prevent an “imperial Passed to prevent an “imperial

presidency”, check presidential powerpresidency”, check presidential power

Amendment 25: Presidential Disability, Amendment 25: Presidential Disability, Succession (1967)Succession (1967)

Prompted by President Kennedy’s death in Prompted by President Kennedy’s death in 1963, no provision in Constitution for 1963, no provision in Constitution for disabled presidentdisabled president

Vice President becomes PresidentVice President becomes President President can temporarily turn over power President can temporarily turn over power

(surgery, for example)(surgery, for example) Cabinet deem president unfit (never Cabinet deem president unfit (never

invoked) and remove him or herinvoked) and remove him or her

2525thth Amendment Clips Amendment Clips West Wing 1 - West Wing 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFjHiNdjAz8 West Wing part 2West Wing part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCaWDyDCrpk The West Wing" put an interesting spin on the amendment to wind The West Wing" put an interesting spin on the amendment to wind

up its fourth season, putting two invocations of its provisions into its up its fourth season, putting two invocations of its provisions into its plot simultaneously.  First, Vice President John Hoynes resigned plot simultaneously.  First, Vice President John Hoynes resigned from office following a sex scandal, creating a vacancy in the office.  from office following a sex scandal, creating a vacancy in the office.  Just two episodes later, with no Vice President confirmed to Just two episodes later, with no Vice President confirmed to succeed him, President Josiah Bartlet declares himself disabled succeed him, President Josiah Bartlet declares himself disabled under Section 3 of the amendment following the kidnapping of his under Section 3 of the amendment following the kidnapping of his daughter, Zoe.  House Speaker Glen Allen Walken is installed as daughter, Zoe.  House Speaker Glen Allen Walken is installed as Acting President in the final scene of the show's fourth season, and Acting President in the final scene of the show's fourth season, and continues in service for two episodes before Bartlet, his daughter continues in service for two episodes before Bartlet, his daughter being rescued from her captors, resumes office.  "Bingo" Bob being rescued from her captors, resumes office.  "Bingo" Bob Russell is confirmed later as Hoynes successor. Russell is confirmed later as Hoynes successor.