United States Government Basics

Bicameral Legislature Legislative Branch Bicameral Legislature

Congress Both houses must approve laws before the president can sign Can override a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote Majority rule for most votes

Congress (cont.) Majority Party controls schedule in each house Speaker of the House most powerful member of Congress

Senate 100 members – 2 per state At least 30 years old 9 years US citizen Resident of state elected from Who is the head of the Senate? Vice President…who is the current V.P.? Joe Biden

John Cornyn (R) & Sen.-elect Ted Cruz (R) Senate Powers Confirms presidential appointments like federal judges and Cabinet members Holds impeachment trials Approve all treaties with foreign governments Who are the current Senators from Texas? John Cornyn (R) & Sen.-elect Ted Cruz (R)

House of Representatives 435 members Minimum of 1 per state At least 25 years old 7 years US citizen Resident of state and district elected from Who is the current Speaker of the House? Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)

House Powers Starts bills that call for spending money Starts impeachment proceedings Breaks ties in Electoral College Who is the Congressman from the 2nd District? Rep. Ted Poe (R)

Executive Branch

President Must be at least 35 Natural born citizen 14 years residency in the US Can serve only 2 terms (22nd Amendment) These apply to VP also Who is the President of the U.S.? Barack Obama

President as Chief Executive Develops federal policy Enforces the law Appoints federal officials Prepares the national budget

President’s Role Commander-in-Chief of the military Makes foreign policy Chief of State Symbolic representative of the nation Annual State of the Union address

President’s Powers Enforces federal laws Grants reprieves and pardon Appoints federal judges, ambassadors, Cabinet members Make treaties Can veto legislation

Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? Judicial Branch Supreme Court only court created by the Constitution All other federal courts created by Congress All federal judges appointed by president and approved by Senate Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? John Roberts

Supreme Court No stated requirements for office, but usually experience as a lawyer or lower federal judge Lifetime appointment 9 members

Powers Final say on cases involving federal law Final say on cases involving 2 or more states Cases involving foreign ambassadors

Supreme Court (cont) Decides issues of Constitutional law Most cases come on appeal from a lower federal court Cases can be appealed from a state court Decisions by majority vote Decisions are final

Supreme Court (cont.) Greatest Power is Judicial Review Supreme Court determines what is & is not constitutional