CONSTITUTION CHAPTER SECTION 2 US History

Formatting the Feds The Legislative Branch  Congress – the legislative branch that makes laws, levees taxes, and declares wars  Constituents – people of the home districts of representatives  The House of Representatives – 435 delegates from 50 states  At least 25 years old  2-year terms  The Senate – 100 delegates from 50 states  At least 30 years old  6-year terms (1/3 of the Senate seats are elected every 2 years)  Two main Functions:  Set Laws  Appropriate – to set aside  Impeach – to bring formal charges against (any federal official) – House of Representatives  Senate – ratify treaties and confirm appointments

I’m Just a Bill Bills – proposed laws Types of Committees in the Congress  Standing Committees – permanent groups that specialize in a specific topic  Sub-Committees – groups that focus on an issue or problem  Select Committees – groups for special issues that arise  Joint Committees – groups that have members from both houses  Conference Committees – compromise about a specific bill “Pigeonholing” – setting aside a bill indefinitely Overrides – overriding a Presidential veto takes 2/3 vote of members of both houses of Congress

The Top Dawg… The Executive Branch – the CEO of the government  Chief Executive – responsible for carrying out nation’s laws  Chief Diplomat – director of foreign policy  Commander in Chief – leader of the nation’s military  Chief of State – representative of all Americans  Legislative Leader – proposes laws to Congress Executive Office of the President (EOP) – direct assistance to the President  14 Executive Departments – all with different roles  Cabinet – the heads (secretaries) of the different departments

Interpreting America The Judicial Branch – the deciders of lawfulness  Led by the Supreme Court  Judiciary Act – Congress set up a series of district courts Levels of Court:  District Courts – Criminal or Civil Cases that come under the jurisdiction of the federal (not state) courts  Appeals Courts – the reviewing court of the District Court’s opinions  14 Appeals Courts in the nation  Supreme Court – top law making group  9 Justices (Congress can change number – 5 to 10 in history)  Roles: deciding what cases to hear, deciding the cases, determining an explanation of the decision  Opinion – the written explanation of a court decision Public Policy – it is legal and political shaping Judicial Review  The Supreme Court may challenge the ruling of a state or local court  Marbury v Madison – first case invoking Judicial review  Ex parte Milligan - the Court can challenge a President too  Brown v Board of Education of Topeka - the Court’s decision that segregation is wrong and unconstitutional

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