ARTICLE 2: THE Executive Branch President & Vice President are in this branch Job is to carry out the laws Executive officers are voted on by electoral college, NOT the people ELECTORAL COLLEGE = people in each state who promise to vote for a certain candidate REQUIREMENTSEXECUTIVE OFFICERS AGEAt least 35 years old CITIZENSHIPMust be natural born citizen of USA RESIDENCYMust have lived in USA for 14 years TERM OF OFFICE4 years NUMBER OF TERMS ALLOWED 2 maximum CURRENT PRESIDENT & VP Pres. George W. Bush V.P. Dick Cheney

Interesting Facts about the Executive Office… What if the president dies, resigns, or is too sick to work? Then the Vice President takes over the job and he names a new VP. If the VP can’t take the job over, then the Speaker of the House will take it over. If the Speaker can’t take over, then the President Pro Tempore will take it over. What are the President’s powers? Commander in Chief of all military forces Can make treaties with other countries that must be approved by 2/3 of the Senate Can appoint (choose) his CABINET officers, ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices and other positions with approval from Senate CABINET =the president’s advisory committee Give “State of the Union” speech every year Sees that laws are carried out Accepts officials of other countries and carries out foreign policy

What Exactly is IMPEACHMENT? IMPEACH = accuse a public official of an important crime Only the House of Reps can impeach a government official, including the President. The Senate acts as the jury, & if President is charged with a crime, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is the judge. A person can only be found guilty if 2/3 of the Senate vote that way. President/VP & any other official can be removed from office if impeached and then convicted of treason, bribery, or other high crimes & misdemeanors TREASON = doing anything to help the country’s enemies (ex. Spy) or making war against the USA BRIBERY = offering money to someone in exchange for a favor (ex. Giving money to a teacher for a good grade) How many American presidents have been impeached?

Article 3: The Judicial Branch The main purpose of the judicial system is to decide whether a law has been broken by someone. The Supreme Court also can decide whether a law is appropriate or not if it comes up in a trial. Federal judges can keep their jobs for their lifetime during good behavior. Federal judges get paid a salary that can’t be lowered. What cases go in front of the Supreme Court? Cases involving: the Constitution Federal laws (laws of the USA) treaties events happening at sea ambassadors/embassy officials 2 or more states any cases involving US citizens & foreign countries the USA government itself

What else does the Supreme Court do? ORIGINAL JUSIDICTION = any case involving other countries or states APPELLATE JURISDICTION= Any other cases will be tried in lower courts first, and can be appealed to the S.C. FYI… Treason can only be proven by the word of 2 witnesses or by confession Congress decides what the punishment for treason will be

ARTICLE 4: RELATIONS OF STATES TO EACH OTHER All states must honor the official acts, records, or judgments of other states. EX. Birth certificates, wedding documents If a person commits a crime in one state and runs to another state, they must work together to return that person for trial. EXTRADITION = to have to return a suspect to another state Congress can admit new states to the Union as long as the land is new territory and not from a current state. Every state will get automatic protection from the USA military if needed & will be treated equally by the federal government.

ARTICLE 5: HOW TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION An amendment is the only way that the meaning of the Constitution can be changed or added to. ¾ of Congress or ¾ of the states must approve a bill for an amendment to be added to the Constitution. An amendment cannot be added to take away any states’ rights.

ARTICLE 6: SOME FEDERAL RULES The Constitution is the law of all of the USA. State laws & constitutions are overruled by the federal constitution. All government officials must support the Constitution, but no one can be required to be a certain religion to work for the government. National Bird of USA The Bald Eagle

ARTICLE 7: RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION RATIFICATION = approval The Constitution can only become the law of the land after 9 of the 13 states ratified (approved) it. FYI… The Constitution was ratified by 9 states on June 21, It became the law for the nation on March 4, All states approved it by George Washington took office as the first President of the United States of America in April 1789.