U.S. History

Chapter 9: Citizenship & the Constitution

Section 1: Understanding the Constitution

The Federal System

•Representative Democracy—a government led by officials who are chosen by the people

The Federal System

•Federalism

–Power divided between state & national governments

–A system of shared responsibility

The Federal System

•Delegated Powers—powers granted to the federal government

“The Congress shall have Power…To make all Laws which shall be necessary

and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers

vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States…”

--United States Constitution Article I, Section 8

The Federal System

•Elastic Clause—allows Congress to stretch its powers to address issues that the nation’s founders may not have foreseen

The Federal System

•Reserved Powers—powers retained by the state governments or by its citizens

The Federal System

•Concurrent Powers—powers that are held by both the federal & state governments

The Legislative Branch

•Separation of Powers—the division of government into distinct areas with different braches of government exercising different powers

Legislative

Executive Judicial

The Legislative Branch

• House of Representatives

– 435 members

– Representation based on population

– Apportionment—planned distribution

The Legislative Branch

•Apportionment determined by examining population changes shown in census count.

The Legislative Branch

•Membership Requirements

–25 years old–US citizen for 7 years–Resident of state/district

The Legislative Branch

•House of Representatives

–2 year term

–Presiding Officer: Speaker of the House

Nancy PelosiSpeaker of the House

110th Congress

The Legislative Branch

•Senate

–2 senators per state

–50 states = 100 senators

The Legislative Branch

•Membership Requirements

–30 years old–US citizen for 9 years–Resident of state

The Legislative Branch

•Presiding Officer: Vice President

–Casts tie breaking votes

–President pro tempore leads in absence

Dick CheneyVice President of the United States

Executive Branch

George W. Bush43rd President of the United States

Executive Branch

•Chief officer: President

•Job Requirements

–Native-born US citizen–35 years old–US resident for 14 years

Executive Branch

•Term

–4 year term

–22nd Amendment limits to two terms

–VP becomes president upon death/removal

Franklin D. Roosevelt32nd President of the United States

Elected to four terms as President

“The President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States, shall

be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of,

Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

--United States Constitution Article II, Section 4

Executive Branch

•Impeach—to bring charges against a president suspected of committing a crime or violating essential duties

Andrew Johnson17th President of the United States

Impeached 1868

Bill Clinton42nd President of the United States

Impeached 1998

House of RepresentativesImpeach—charge

Simple majority to impeach

SenateTrial

2/3 majority to convict

Removal from office

Working with Congress

•Veto—power of the president to cancel laws that Congress passes

•Congress can override veto with 2/3 majority of both houses

Congress passes a bill Bill sent to president

Sign bill into lawVeto bill

Bill returned to Congress

Bill passed by 2/3 majority of both housebill becomes law;

presidential veto overridden

Bill fails to attain 2/3 majority in both housesbill dead

Working with Congress

•Executive Order—a command that has the force of law

•Pardons—Power to grant freedom from punishment for a person convicted of a federal crime or facing criminal charges

Working with Congress

•Commander-in-chief

•Cabinet—heads of executive departments who advise the president

The Judicial Branch

•Federal Judiciary

–Consist of Federal Courts & Supreme Court

–Strike down unconstitutional laws

The Judicial Branch

•Judges

–Appointed by president

–Lifetime appointment

The Judicial Branch

•Multi-tiered Court system

–District Courts–Courts of Appeal–Supreme Court

The Supreme Court

•“Court of final appeal”

•Hears about 100 cases a year

•Most cases involve important constitutional issues

The Supreme Court

•Nine justices

•Presiding Officer: Chief Justice

•No specific requirements

The Three Branches of Government