Branches of Government

The Three Branches of Government Legislative Branch – Makes the laws. Made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Judicial Branch – Judges/interprets the laws - The Court system for the U.S. The highest court in America is the Supreme Court Executive Branch – Enforces/Carries out the laws. Headed by the President and Vice President. No one branch is more powerful than any other. A system of checks and balances is used to ensure that this balance of power is never broken.

Branches of Government (cont’d) All branches are equally powerful. Each branch has its own responsibility. Checks and Balances makes sure one branch never becomes too powerful

Legislative Branch Legislature is made up of House and Senate. Congress meets the first week in January of every odd numbered year. Lawmaking branch of the Federal government. Also controls spending.

The House of Representatives Members elected based on population. Number of Reps for each state varies. Elected for 2 year terms. Presiding officer of the House is the Speaker of the House. 435 members

House of Representatives (cont’d) Qualifications: Must be 25 years old Must be a citizen of the U.S. for seven years. Must be a resident of the state that elects you. North Dakota Representative Earl Pomeroy

The U.S. Senate Two senators per state regardless of population. 100 members Senators are elected for 6 year terms. Led by the Vice President of the United States. President pro Tempore – presiding officer when VP is gone.

United States Senate (cont’d) Qualifications: Must be at least 30 years old. Must be a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years. Must be a resident of the state that elects you. Both Senators and Representatives make $162,500 per year. North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan

Bills Thousands of bills are introduced each year. Both houses use committees to evaluate proposed bills. Types of Committees: Standing, Subcommittees, select committees, joint committees, and conference committees.

Types of Committees Standing – Permanent committees in both houses that specialize in particular areas. Subcommittees – Focus on a particular aspect or issue. Select Committees – Deal with issues requiring special attention. Joint Committees – Meet to consider specific issues. Conference Committees – Work to compromise two similar bills into a single bill.

Bill Process Committees can pigeonhole a bill, meaning they kill it without really looking at it. Once a committee approves the bill, it goes to the full House or Senate for debate. Congress either approves, rejects, or sends the bill back to the committee. When both houses pass the bill it goes to the president to be signed into law. The president can veto the bill if he does not approve. It can still become law with a 2/3 vote.

The Executive Branch The White House

The Executive Branch Joe Biden Executive Branch is headed by the President and Vice President President today: Barack Obama Vice President: Joe Biden Main goal is to enforce the laws enacted by Congress.

Requirements for Presidency Must be at least 35 years old Must be a natural born U.S. citizen. Resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years.

Electoral College 1. States vote for President. 2. Each state has a group of assigned electors. Some for each political party. 3. Electors: individuals who elect the President 4. If their candidate wins the popular vote they go to the D.C. and cast their vote for the candidate. 5. Each state only has as many electoral votes as it does representatives in Congress. ND has three electors. What if there is a tie? House of Representatives votes.

Painless Guide to the Executive Branch

Order of Succession What happens if the President is killed? 1st Person: Vice President 2nd Person: Speaker of the House 3rd Person: President pro Tempore (Senate) 4th Person: Secretary of State

Presidential Odds n’ Ends Impeach: To be found guilty of wrongdoing while in office. Impeachment Trials: Begin in the House Senate acts as the Jury. Only two Presidents have ever been impeached: Andrew Johnson Bill Clinton Salary of the: President: $400,000 Vice President: $198,600 Elections are held every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Inaugurations are held January 20 the year following the election. Oath of Office administered by the Chief Justice of Supreme Court

The Judicial Branch

Judicial Branch Main job of the Judicial Branch is to judge the laws passed by Congress and approved by the President. Highest court in the land: Supreme Court. Led by 9 Supreme Court Justices.

Supreme Court Supreme Court Justices: Appointed for life or until retirement. Nine Justices with one Chief Justice (John Roberts) Justices are appointed by the President and Confirmed by Congress.

Supreme Court (cont’d) Supreme Court Powers and Responsibilities Determine Constitutionality of laws passed by Congress. Judge meaningful cases with the Constitution. Interpret the Constitution.

Constitutional Amendments 2 ways amendments are passed: 1st way Bill must pass both houses of Congress with a 2/3 majority. Once passed by Congress the bill goes to individual state legislatures for approval. 2nd way Convention called by 2/3 of states Propose one or more amendments. Must be passed by ¾ of states.

Judicial Branch Odds n’ Ends Treason – The act of disloyalty to ones country. To be convicted: must have testimony of two witnesses to the same act or a confession. $$$$$$$$$$ Chief Justice makes around $202,900 Associate Justices make $194,200. Current Justices: Chief Justice: John Roberts Associate Justices: Choose 3 John Paul Stevens Samuel Alito Antonin Scalia Anthony Kennedy David Souter Clarence Thomas Sonja Sotomayor Stephen Breyer

Judicial Branch Video