U.S Constitution: Creates Sovereign Power U.S. Citizens: Empowered by Popular Sovereignty U.S Constitution: Creates Sovereign Power U.S. Government Federal Government Federalism 50 State Constitutions State Government Legislative Branch Legislative Branch Executive Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch Local Government

House of Representatives Congressional Services Legislative Branch: Article 1- Create and maintain statutory laws Types of Committees Bicameral: A legislative body that is separated into two different houses 1. Standing Committee: Permanent 2. Select Committee: Specific purpose with time limit 3. Joint Committee: Combines Members of the House and Senate 4. Subcommittee: a subdivision of another committee with a specific purpose House of Representatives The Senate Congressional Services - 435 Representatives - 100 Representatives - Library of Congress: To have access to all published materials - Representation is decided by population - Representation is equal per state. 2 per state. - Congressional Research Service (CRS)- A nonpartisan think tank which works specifically members of Congress. - Two year terms - Six year terms - 25 years of age - 30 years of age - Live in state (not district) - Must live in state - General Accountability Office- a nonpartisan arm of Congress to investigate, audit, and evaluate government activity to keep the government accountable to the people - Represent a district determined by population - Represent the whole state HOME

Executive Branch: Article 2- Enforce Laws (Responsible for the daily administration/management of the state ) Foreign Policy Tools - Treaties and Executive Agreements - Appoint Ambassadors - Foreign Aid - Trade Sanctions and Embargoes - Military Force Powers - Veto Bills (check on legislative branch) - Commander of the armed services - Make treaties (needs senate approval) - Appoint heads of agencies and departments President - 35 years of age - Natural Born citizen of the United States - Permanent resident of the U.S. for 14 years Independent Agencies - Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The Vice President The Cabinet - President of the Senate: Break tie - The heads of the 15 Executive Departments - State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Resources, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP) - White House Staff - National Security Council (NSC) - Office of Management and Budget: oversee the preparation of the Federal Budget and assess the spending of executive departments Department of the Interior - Secretary of the Interior Department of Justice - Enforcement of the Law - Administer Justice Attorney General: - appointed by president Deputy Secretary Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Assistant Secretary Land and Minerals Management Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) - Investigative body - internal intelligence service -1 Director of the FBI - 14,000 special agent Bureau of Land Management Home

Home Judicial Branch: Possible Crime Article 3: Interpret and Apply laws The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. Specifics - 9 Justices - 1 Chief Justice - retain limited original jurisdiction - overturn stare decisis - review both federal and state cases Qualifications for Justices: NONE Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) Appointed by President and approved by Senate Appeal Appeal U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals - 12 Courts (including Washington D.C.) - Appellate Jurisdiction: authority to hear and review a case from a lower court. - No Original Jurisdiction - Decisions: 1. Uphold lower court’s decision 2. Reverse lower court’s decision 3. Remand case back to lower court State Supreme Court Appeal State Intermediate Court of Appeals Home Appeal Appeal U.S. District Courts - 94 District Courts - Original Jurisdiction: the authority to hear a case for the first time - Trial Court Municipal / County Courts Federal Courts ~ 1 million cases per year State Courts ~ 30 million cases per year Possible Crime