With Liberty and Justice, the Federal Government

Let’s Review

What was the nation’s first Constitution called?

Articles of Confederation

Name the meeting in which delegates from 12 states met to revise the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention

What kind of government did James Madison propose?

Republic - a form of government in which power resides with the citizens who elect representatives to make laws

What 2 plans for representation in government did the delegates debate?

Virginia Plan & New Jersey Plan

How did they compromise?

The Great Compromise

What compromise did the delegates come up with regarding how slaves’ votes should be counted?

3/5 Compromise

What compromise did the delegates come up with regarding how the president should be elected?

Electoral College

The Constitution could not go into effect until this took place...

Ratification

What are the principles of the U.S. Government?

Sovereignty: supreme power of government rests with the people electorate (voters) choose leaders to make laws and run the country US is not a “democracy” but a representative democracy or republic Constitutionalism: all representatives are bound by the rules of the Constitution lawmakers cannot just make up laws as they see fit Federalism: national government and state governments share power and authority

3 Branches of Government

The Legislative Branch of Government

The Members of Congress First article of the Constitution described the legislative branch Congress is at the head of this branch

Congress is “bicameral” or has two bodies (parts): Senate House of Representatives

The Senate 100 members – two from each state Qualifications: 30 years old citizen of US for nine years must be resident of state represented Senators elected by the people (17th Amendment) six year term one third of senators are up for re-election every two years Vice President of US is president of the Senate – presides over sessions President Pro Tempore, majority leader, minority leader are other senate leaders

House of Representatives 435 members – the number of representatives is based on a state’s population Reapportionment happens every 10 years Georgia has 13 representatives based on the 2000 census Qualifications: 25 years old citizen of US for seven years must be resident of state represented two year term Speaker of the House and majority leader are leaders in the House

The Powers of Congress expressed powers: written in the Constitution implied powers: derive from the expressed powers, but not written specifically elastic clause: Article 1, Section 8 stretches the power of Congress to include implied powers

How Congress Operates Committees are used to organize work of Congress deal with specific issues and can be formed at any time select committee: standing committee: monitor federal agencies joint committee: members from House and Senate to deal with a national issue conference committee: works out compromises between the House and Senate

The Executive Branch of Government

The Executive Branch of Government The president has enough power to do the job, but the Constitution keeps him from having too much power Founding fathers did not want another king In the beginning, the Electoral College had the job of choosing the president

The Electoral College electors: members of the Electoral College chosen from each state Electors vote for the president; citizens vote for electors, not directly for the president 538 electors: number matches the number of senators and representatives from each state The candidate with the most votes in a state gets all the electors Electors are not legally bound to vote for the candidate chosen by the state’s citizens Electors meet in their state’s capitol; votes sent to the president of the Senate Inauguration Day is January 20 following the election in November

Parts of the Executive Branch President & Vice President Qualifications 35 years old natural-born citizen resident of US for 14 years limited to two terms (22nd Amendment) Vice President takes over if the President dies, resigns, or is removed from office. Barack Obama Joe Biden

Speaker of the House and other leaders in line to take over if vice president cannot take over Executive bureaucracy: Office of the President, Cabinet, independent agencies, regulatory commissions, government corporations

The Cabinet Members advise the president Serve as heads of the executive departments Members appointed by the president and approved by the Senate Currently 15 members

Independent Agencies Serve public interest and keep government running smoothly EPA: Environmental Protection Agency – example of independent agency, supervises efforts to clean air and water GSA: General Services Administration – oversees spending by the government

Federal Regulatory Commissions Have power to make rules and punish violators Leaders appointed by the president Examples: FCC: Federal Communications Commission SEC: Securities & Exchange Commission FDA: Food & Drug Administration

Government Corporations Established to provide products or services for the American people Examples: FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – insures bank deposits and protects banking customers USPS: United States Postal Service Click to return to Table of Contents.

The Judicial Branch of Government

Judicial Branch of Government Supreme Court Lower federal courts a part of this branch Decide the meaning and interpretation of the Constitution and laws Protects citizens from mistreatment by other branches of government

The Supreme Court Highest court in USA Chief justice plus eight associate justices Decides cases involving foreign countries or between states Reviews decisions of lower courts judicial review: ability to set aside actions of the legislative or judicial branch Chief justice presides over impeachments

Other Federal Courts Congress established federal circuit court districts Georgia has three district court regions US Court of Appeals for 11th Circuit is in Atlanta Bankruptcy courts are a part of this system

Special Courts Courts for special purposes Examples: Tax Court US Court of Appeals for Armed Forces US Court of International Trade US Court of Federal Claims

The System of Checks and Balances Constitution keeps the branches of government equally important Sometimes the branches of government do not get along well – conflicts can arise if one branch tries to find a way around another

Checks on the Legislative Branch President has the power to veto laws passed by the Congress Proposes laws to Congress Submits the Federal Budget to the House of Representatives Appoints federal officials, who carry out and enforce laws Executive Branch Checks on the Legislative Branch

Checks on the Judicial Branch Nominates judges to the Supreme Court Nominates judges to the federal court system President has the power to pardon individuals convicted of crimes President can grant amnesty, forgiving a class of crime Executive Branch Checks on the Judicial Branch

Checks on the Executive Branch Congress can overturn a Presidential veto with a 2/3 vote of both houses Senate can reject proposed treaties (2/3 vote to approve) Senate can reject presidential nominations of federal officials or judges Congress can impeach and remove the President (House serves as prosecution, Senate serves as jury) Legislative Branch Checks on the Executive Branch

Checks on the Judicial Branch Congress can create lower courts Senate can reject nominees to the federal courts/Supreme Court Congress can amend the Constitution to overturn decisions of the Supreme Court Congress can impeach judges and remove from the bench Legislative Branch Checks on the Judicial Branch

Checks on the Executive Branch Supreme Court can use the power of judicial review to rule laws unconstitutional   Judicial Branch Checks on the Executive Branch

Checks on the Legislative Branch Supreme Court can use the power of judicial review to rule presidential actions unconstitutional Supreme Court can use the power of judicial review to rule treaties unconstitutional  Judicial Branch Checks on the Legislative Branch