The Three Branches of Government and Government Powers

The Federal Government has 3 main branches 1-8 1-8 Legislative Executive Judicial The Law-making group Makes sure laws are enforced 9 people who judge whether laws follow the Constitution Headed by Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) Headed by the President Headed by the Supreme Court C

Legislative Branch (Two branches of Congress) 1-8 1-8 1-8 The Senate The House of Representatives Each state has 2 Senators (2 each times 50 states = 100 total) (Senators serve 6 year terms) Each state has a different amount (based on the population of each state: states with more people have more representatives) (Representatives serve 2 year terms) 435 in the whole country 19 from Illinois 1-8 1-8 C

The 2 Senators from Illinois: Duties of the Legislative Branch (The Senate and the House of Representatives) Get, think up, and organize ideas for laws. Discuss how to make these ideas into useful bills (potential laws) – or – decide they weren’t good ideas. The Senate approves or disapproves treaties (agreements) with other countries – the president does this, but the Senate has to agree that his treaties are okay. The Senate approves or disapproves Presidential appointments (for: new Supreme Court justices, ambassadors, cabinet members, federal judges, etc…). Suggest amendments to the Constitution. Hold other special “hearings” – like: baseball and steroids, impeachments, etc…) The 2 Senators from Illinois: Dick Durbin Mark Kirk 9-13 C

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Illinois Congressional Districts Around this area: There are people from the 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 14th, and 16th Districts. C

Duties of the Executive Branch (President, Vice-President, the President’s cabinet) Approves or disapproves of Congressional bills (law ideas). Sees that laws are enforced. Makes treaties (approved by the Senate) Appoints people to government positions (approved by the Senate). Work with Congress on new ideas for laws And… other things that come up. 14-18 C

Duties of the Judicial Branch (The Supreme Court and the court system) Headed by the Supreme Court, with 9 “justices” including a “chief justice.” Applies the laws to cases that come before it to see if they follow the Constitution. Decide if actions taken by the president and/or Congress are constitutional or not. Also, the Courts of Appeals, District Courts, Bankruptcy Courts, Court of International Trade, Court of Federal Claims, etc… To see a history of Supreme Court Justices, click below http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0101281.html 19-20 C

C Sonia Sotomayor (Summer, 2009) Seated left to right: Anthony M. Kennedy, John Paul Stevens, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Antonin Scalia, David H. Souter (Retired: Summer, 2009) Standing left to right: Stephen G. Breyer, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel Anthony Alito, Jr. C

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Governmental Powers C

The national government has the greatest power Our system of dividing powers between the federal government and state governments is called: The national government has the greatest power The states have some powers the national government does not want / need Federalism C

The 6 different powers: C 3 Delegated Powers: given to the national government by the Constitution. Expressed Powers: Powers written in the Constitution. Implied Powers: Not written, but implied in the Constitution. Inherent Powers: Powers a government has just because they’re the government. Reserved Powers: powers only the states can use. Concurrent Powers: shared by both the states and the federal government. C

Delegated Powers 21-26 C Given to the Federal Government by the Constitution How to remember: Delegated means put in charge of something Examples: make treaties and deal with foreign policies, take control in emergency situations 21-26 C

Written out in the Constitution Expressed Powers Written out in the Constitution How to remember: If you express yourself, you say / write exactly what you want Examples: the power to declare war, build and arm an army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard 21-26 C

Implied Powers 21-26 C Not written, but implied in the Constitution How to remember: Implied means suggested Examples: the ability to make money, establish post offices, regulate interstate trade (between states), protection of savings, use of energy resources 21-26 C

Powers a government has, just because they’re the government. Inherent Powers Powers a government has, just because they’re the government. How to remember: Inherent is like inherit and if you inherit something, you get it just because of who you are Examples: getting new territories, deciding who can come into the country 21-26 C

Reserved Powers 21-26 C Powers only the states can have How to remember: Reserved means saved for someone else Examples: driving age, marriage age, conduct local and state elections, take care of public health and safety, regulate intrastate business (within the state), elections of local officials C

Concurrent Powers 21-26 C Shared by both the states and the federal government How to remember: current is like swimming along with the current Examples: paying and collecting taxes, building roads, borrowing money, establishing court systems, making and enforcing laws, spend money for the general welfare of people, use private property for public use (with just compensation) 21-26 C

The federal and state governments should work together: State laws can’t go against federal laws The federal government protects the states in time of war. The federal government helps out states and local governments if they need it (natural disasters, unrest, road systems, etc…) C

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