Three Branches Of Government

Balancing it all out Federal government has 3 parts Executive, Legislative, Judicial Each balance the other so one has all the power Founding fathers wrote this into the Constitution

Executive Branch President Vice President Enforces the Laws Elected by citizens

The roles in Executive Represents our country in talks with other nations Leads nation in times of war Makes suggestions to Congress about laws Writes budgets, but needs Congress approval Works with Congress to get laws passed/rejected

Others in the Executive Branch Personal Staff of President: Press secretary Speech writers Policy aides Cabinet Heads of White House Offices/Agencies

What can a President do? Make treaties w/approval of Senate Veto/signs bills Lead political party Entertain foreign guests Grant pardons Appoint ambassadors Nominate Cabinet members, Supreme Court Justices and other high officials Commander-in-Chief during a war

What can’t the President do? Make laws Declare war Decide how federal money will be spent Interpret laws Choose Cabinet members or Supreme Court Justices without Senate approval

Who is in charge at the State Level? Governor Lieutenant (or Assistant) Governor

Who is in charge at the Local Level? Mayor Town Supervisor

Legislative Branch Federal Level: House of Representatives & Senate Bicameral : Two Houses Two sessions per term/called “Congress” (starts in January) Every 2 years all House members and 1/3 Senate members are elected

House of Representatives 2 year Term 435 Members Initiates (starts/heads up) all Taxation and Spending Bills Initiates (starts/heads up) Impeachment Proceedings

Senate 6 year Term 100 Members: Equal Representation In charge of “Advice and Consent” to all Job appointments and on treaties Tries (as in questions like a court judge) all impeached officials

Differences in the Houses House of RepresentativesSenate Strong Leadership/Impersonal RuleFriendly, Personal Interaction Members more specializedMembers more general Committee decisions influentialCommittee decisions not as influential Debates not as importantFloor debates more important Selects President when no candidate gets enough electoral votes Selects VP when no candidate has enough votes

Major Functions of Congress Lawmaking Representation Confirmation powers (in the Senate)

Congressional Committees System Standing Committees House 19 with 89 subcommittees Senate 17 with 69 subcommittees Joint Committees Special or select committees Conference committees

Congressional Leadership Positions Speaker of the House - John Boehner (R) Majority Leaders (House and Senate) House: Eric Cantor (R) Senate: Harry Reid (D) Minority Leaders (House and Senate) House- Nancy Pelosi (D) Senate- Mitch McConnell ( R) Whips (House and Senate) Kevin McCarthy (majority) (R ) Steny Hoyer (minority) (D) President Pro Tempore (Senate) Daniel Inouye Vice-President (President of Senate) Joe Biden

Congressional Staff Personal Staff Committee Staff Support Organizations Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Congressional Research Service (CRS) Government Accountability Office

What influences their votes? Own Political Views Constituents Interests Colleagues Influence Interest Groups Presidential Pressures Party Leadership

State and Local Level State: State Legislature/General Assembly/General Court All have bicameral except Nebraska Local: City Council

Judicial Branch Federal Level: US Supreme Court State Level: State Supreme Court Local Level: Same as state, minus Supreme Court, on smaller level

What it does Supreme Court has final say in all matters dealing with the US Constitution Determine if laws/regulations are unconstitutional Interprets the meaning of laws, helping the police and other courts apply them.

US Supreme Court US Court of Appeals 13 Circuits US Court of Appeals In the federal circuit US Court of Appeals For the armed forces 94 US District Courts Including 3 territories: Guam, Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands United States Court of International Trade United States Claim Court United States Court of Veterans Appeals Courts of Criminal Appeals in military services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard United States Tax Court

Chief Justice John G Roberts Jr. Born in 1955 Nominated by George W Bush 2005

Associate Justice Antonin Scalia Born in 1936 Nominated by Ronald Reagan 1986

Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy Born in 1936 Nominated by Ronald Reagan 1988

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas Born in 1948 Nominated by George H. W. Bush 1991

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Born in 1933 Nominated by Bill Clinton 1993

Associate Justice Stephen G Breyer Born in 1938 Nominated by Bill Clinton 1994

Associate Justice Samuel Anthony Alito Jr Born in 1950 Nominated by George W Bush 2006

Associate Judge Sonia Sotomayor Born in 1954 Nominated by Barack Obama 2009

Associate Justice Elena Kagan Born in 1960 Nominated by Barack Obama 2010

Judicial Review 1. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land 2. If a law conflicts with the Constitution, the Constitution rules 3. The judicial branch has a duty to uphold the Constitution. It must be able to determine when a law conflicts with the Constitution and nullify the law