The Constitution was written during the Constitutional Convention—which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787.

After being signed, it still needed to be ratified by 9 out of the 13 states. This happened on June

21, 1788.

Kinda amazingly, the Constitution replaced the initial

governing papers called The Articles of Confederation.

This presentation is interactive. Click on the Images to learn more....

Scene at the Signing of the Constitution (a

famous painting by Howard Chandler Christy)

For those who are wondering.... John Hancock signed the Declaration of

Independence

Checks & BalancesClick on the different Branches to explore

more....to go back, click on the icon in the lower left hand side

The Cabinet:

Department of Statehttp://www.state.gov

Department of the Treasuryhttp://www.treasury.gov

Department of Defensehttp://www.defense.gov

Department of Justicehttp://www.usdoj.gov

Department of the Interiorhttp://www.doi.gov Department of Agriculturehttp://www.usda.gov

 Department of Commercehttp://www.commerce.gov

Department of Laborhttp://www.dol.gov

Department of Health and Human Serviceshttp://www.hhs.gov Department of Housing and Urban Developmenthttp://www.hud.gov Department of Transportationhttp://www.dot.gov

 Department of Energyhttp://www.energy.gov Department of Educationhttp://www.ed.gov Department of Veterans Affairshttp://www.va.gov Department of Homeland Securityhttp://www.dhs.gov

Advisors withCabinet Rank: White House Chief of Staff

Environmental Protection Agencyhttp://www.epa.gov

Office of Management & Budgetwhitehouse.gov/omb

United States Trade Representativewww.ustr.gov

United States Ambassador to the United Nationswww.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/

Council of Economic Adviserswww.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/cea/ Small Business Administrationwww.sba.gov/

Presidents:

•are elected to 4 year terms•Must be a natural born

citizen•Must be 35+ years old

•Must have been a permanent resident of the

U>S. for 14 years•Commander-in-Chief

of the U.S. Military

The Vice President takes over as president upon the

death, resignation or removal of the President.

He is also the President of the Senate & casts any tie-breaker votes. Because of

this, there is still some debate whether the Vice President belongs to the Executive Branch or the

Legislative Branch.

•Enforces the laws•Proposes a budget•Nominates judges to Supreme Court

Checks & Balances:

Checks & BalancesClick on the different Branches to explore

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•Interprets laws & declares whether they are constitutional•Appointed by the President•Approved by the Senate

Checks & Balances:

There are no camera’s allowed in the Supreme Court, so we only have courtroom sketches to see what is going on in there.

There is debate over whether this rule should be lifted to allow for more transparency.

The Supreme Court:

•9 Members•Appointed for Life

Personally, I’d like to see what goes on it there and hear the arguments. I’m curious, and I think this is one branch of the government that is still shrouded in some mystery. I’m not sure that is a good thing.

Checks & BalancesClick on the different Branches to explore

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•Tries & votes on impeachment proceedings for federal officials•Approves treaties that the President negotiates

•Makes laws•Votes on Bills that become laws•Passes the national budget•Approves the appointments of federal judges•Has the power to declare war

Checks & Balances:

CongressCongressChecks & Balances:

•Investigates & brings impeachment charges onto federal officials•Originates spending & taxing bills

Checks & Balances:

Members of the House:

•Are elected to 2 year terms•Must be 25+ yrs. old to serve•Must have been a citizen of the United States for the past seven years•Must be an inhabitant of the state they represent.

There are 435 districts in the Unites States. This number is determined by law.

Each state is guaranteed at least 1 member, and it is determined by population count as to how many representatives each state receives.

Gerrymandering is the slang-term given to the process by which politicians can redesign a state’s district’s map to favor the ruling

party in the next election.

Here’s a fun way to learn more:The ReDistricting Game

I think the Founding Fathers intended the members of the House to be elected every 2

years to keep them close to the will of the people.

If a Representative has to worry about constantly getting re-

elected by their constituents, s/he will usually vote according

to whatever the majority of their voters want.

Click here to find your

Representative

Learn More:

Rep. David McKinleyWV District 1

Rep. Nick Rahall WV District 3

Rep. Shelley Moore CapitoWV District 2

West

Virginia

Each state has 2 Senators, which are voted in directly by the people.This wasn’t always the case. Before the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, Senators to be elected by each State’s legislature.

The Filibuster is a tradition of the Senate. It allows Senators to hold up votes that they don’t agree with by talking, talking, and talking

some more until the time to vote passes.

Here’s a fun way to learn more:Senate Filibustering as explained by Mean Girls

Members of the Senate:

•Are elected to 6 year terms(a third are elected every 2 years)•Must be 30+ yrs. old to serve•Must have been a citizen of the United States for the past nine years•Must be an inhabitant of the state they represent.

Click here to find your Senator

Click on the map to learn more about West Virginia’s Senators:

West

Virginia

Sen. Jay Rockefeller Sen. Joe Manchin

Checks & BalancesClick on the different Branches to explore

more....to go back, click on the icon in the lower left hand side