Govt. 101 This is going to be fun!!

Government The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

United States Government 3 Branches – Legislative: Congress presents and passes laws – Executive : President – Judicial: Courts (all levels)

Congress Legislative- power to make laws ( called Congress) The United States Congress is bi-cameral (two- houses) made up of the Senate, and House of Representatives. Senate -is elected for 6 year terms and is considered the Upper House. House of Representatives- elected for two year terms and considered the lower house Much more on all of this later!!

Executive Branch Executive Branch-has the power to execute, enforce, and administer the law. This is the office of the Presidency. Elected for 4 year terms with a 2 term limit

Judicial Judicial Branch- power to interpret laws, interpret meaning and settle disputes. This is the Court system.

Dictatorship vs. Democracy Dictatorship – Powers of the government are held by one single person Democracy - When the powers of government are held with a majority of the people.

Divine Right Theory Social Contract Theory- agreeing to create a state- People within a given area agreed to give up to the state as much power as was needed to promote the safety and well-being of all

Republic United States currently works under a Republic Democracy. Republic is when the people elect representatives to speak and vote for them. In a true democracy no representatives are elected and “the people” would vote on everything. This is impractical because it is impossible for the entire countries population to be in Washington D.C and make a vote on every bill or Amendment.

The State Not to be confused with “a state” the state is a general term meaning people in a defined geographic area organized politically ( having a government) and can make laws for themselves. Otherwise known as a Nation

Sovereignty The absolute power within a territory ( state, nation) to decide its own laws and domestic policies. The United States is a sovereign state meaning that we can decide on our own laws, foreign and domestic policies and economic structure.

Constitution Constitution- the fundamental law of the government.

Preamble “We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence [ defense], promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”