By: Ashley HoffmanTechnology in Education

8:00- 9:15

THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

What makes up our Government?

Legislative Branch

• United States Congress is part of this branch

• Congress is made up of 2 houses:• House of Representatives• Senate

• Main goal of this branch is to make Laws• Members are elected by the people

House of Representatives

• Made up of 435 members • State population determines the number of

representatives• Members are elected every 2 years• Must be at least 25 years old• Must be a U.S citizen for 7 years• Must live in the state they are elected in

The Senate

• Total of100 Senators• 2 from every state• Senators are elected every 6 years• Must be at least 30 years old• Must be a U.S citizen for 9 years• Must live in the state that they are

representing

Jobs of the U.S. Congress

• The House initiates revenue bills• The House impeaches Federal officials• The House elects the president in case of a tie• Senate tries Impeachment Cases• Senate confirms the justices appointed

The Process of making a Law

• House of Representatives must pass the Bill with majority rule

• The Senate must do the same• President can either pass or veto the Bill• Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 majority in

both the Senate and House

• Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

What is the main job of the Legislative branch?

To make the Laws

What are the two parts of the Congress?

SenateHouse of Representatives

How long is the term for the Senate? For the House of Representatives?

Senate: 6 yearsHouse of Representatives: 2 years

The Judicial Branch

• Members are appointed by the President• Main goal to enforce the laws passed by

Congress• Make decisions on Legal Cases• Supreme Court heads the Judicial Branch• Court is run by Justices

The Supreme Court

• Only court established by the Constitution• Motto is “Equal Justice Under the Law”• Have power to decide if federal, state, and

local governments are acting within the law• Decisions of this court are final

Supreme Court Justices

• Nine Judges on the court• One chief judge and eight associate judges• Appointed by the president• Approved by Senate• No age requirement• Justices remain in office for life or until they

resign

How many Justices serve on the Supreme Court?

Nine

What is the main job of the Judicial Branch?

Enforce the laws passed by congress

The Executive Branch• Power is invested with the President• Job is to enforce the laws• The Cabinet is also part of this branch

• Made of 15 executive departments• Presidents closest confidants• Ex: Department of Education, Department of

Agriculture

• Federal Agencies help in enforcing the laws

The President

• Commander in Chief• Elected by the people and electoral college• Must be at least 35 years old• Must be a natural U.S. born citizen• Must have lived in the U.S. for 14 years• Serve 4 year terms• Can be reelected for a second term

The Vice President

• Second in command• Takes over if something happens to the

president• President chooses the Vice President• Elected by the Electoral College• Is the president of the Senate

Name at least 2 criteria in order to be president.

• Must be at least 35• Must be at natural born citizen• Must live in the U.S. for 14 years

Who is the President of the Senate?

The Vice-President

Checks and Balances

• Make sure that each branch is not too powerful

• Each branch is restrained by the other two• Also known as the separation of powers

How does the government make sure that one branch does not become too powerful?

Checks and Balances

Name one Checks and Balance.

• The Executive Branch can veto laws made by the legislative branch

• The Legislative Branch can reject Judicial nominations

• The Judicial Branch can declare actions of the Executive Branch unconstitutional

The End

CreditsGovernment Information:http://www.whitehouse.gov/our-governmenthttp://www.congressforkids.net

Picture of Congress:http://www.treehugger.com/obama-next-100-congress.jpg

House of Representatives Shield:http://www.cyberlearning-world.com/lessons/house_large_seal.gif

U.S. Senate Shield:http://thirdcoastdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/US-Senate.gif

Picture of the Supreme Court:http://law.marquette.edu

Supreme Court Shield:http://feministcampus.blogspot.com

Credits Cont.Picture of The White House:http://researchguides.library.tufts.edu

Picture of the Presidential Seal:http://valpo.edu

Government Breakdown:http://sheehansocialstudies.com

Picture of President Obama:http://topnews.in

Picture Of Vice President:http://babble.com

How a Bill become Law Video:www.youtube.com

Picture of the Constitution:http://theblogprof.blogspot.com