The United States Government Branches of Government: Executive Legislative Judicial Types of Government: Federal State Local Standard III.4 American Government and Politics

Branches Of Government Legislative Executive Judicial

Legislative Branch Congress House of Representatives Senate

House of Representatives Requirements of representatives At least 25 years old U.S. citizen for at least 7 years Live in the state you represent What they do Sort through bills that go to the senate for further approval How many are there? 435 representatives in the United States Each state gets a certain amount of representatives based on their population Legislative Branch

Senate Requirements for senators At least 30 years old U.S. citizen for at least 9 years Live in the state they represent What they do Approve treaties the president makes Approve supreme court justices How many are there? 100 senators 2 senators per state Legislative Branch

Executive Branch President : the leader of our nation Vice President : the leader of our senate, and 2nd in command

Judicial Branch Supreme Court : the highest court in the United States Other Federal Courts

The Supreme Court Established by Article III of the Constitution Decides the final verdict on all cases appealed to this court All the members are appointed by the President Judicial Branch

Other Federal Courts Created and established by Congress Three types U.S. Court of Appeals U.S. District Courts U.S. Bankruptcy Courts Judicial Branch

State Governments Two parts Constitution Powers

State Governments: Constitutions Each state has their own constitution It can’t contradict the national Constitution Also has a legislative, judicial and executive separation of powers Instead of a president there is a governor State Government

State Governments: Powers Ratify amendments Manage public health and safety Oversee trade within the state Make and enforce laws Tax Borrow money (the state government cannot override the federal government: comparison of powers with federal government) State Government

Federal Versus State Government Coin Money Declare War Conduct foreign relations Oversee foreign and interstate trade Ratify Amendments Manage public health and safety Oversee trade within the state Make and enforce laws Tax Borrow Money State Federal Government State Government

Federal Government Constitution Powers Checks and Balances

Federal Government: Constitution The federal constitution is “the supreme law of the land” It was written in 1787 Ratified in 1790 Replaced the Articles of Confederation as the official governmental rulebook Cannot be overruled by any state or local constitution Federal Government

Federal Government: Powers Coin money Declare war Conduct foreign relations Oversee foreign and interstate trade Make and enforce laws Tax Borrow Money Works through a system of checks and balances between branches of government (Comparison of powers with state governments) Federal Government

Local Governments Most people live under multiple local governments Each category has its own set of rules, but none of them can go beyond the powers of the state or federal governments Five categories County Town and Township Municipality Special District School District

Federal Checks and Balances Each branch of the government can limit the powers of the others Example: how a bill becomes a law: Federal Government State Government