1. The United States Government
Branches of Government:
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
Types of Government:
Federal
State
Local
Standard III.4 American Government and Politics

2. Branches Of Government
Legislative
Executive
Judicial

3. Legislative Branch
Congress
House of Representatives
Senate

4. House of Representatives
Requirements of representatives
At least 25 years old
U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
Live in the state you represent
What they do
Sort through bills that go to the senate for further approval
How many are there?
435 representatives in the United States
Each state gets a certain amount of representatives based on their population
Legislative Branch

5. Senate Requirements for senators At least 30 years old
U.S. citizen for at least 9 years
Live in the state they represent
What they do
Approve treaties the president makes
Approve supreme court justices
How many are there?
100 senators
2 senators per state
Legislative Branch

6. Executive Branch President : the leader of our nation
Vice President : the leader of our senate, and 2nd in command

7. Judicial Branch Supreme Court : the highest court in the United States
Other Federal Courts

8. The Supreme Court Established by Article III of the Constitution
Decides the final verdict on all cases appealed to this court
All the members are appointed by the President
Judicial Branch

9. Other Federal Courts Created and established by Congress Three types
U.S. Court of Appeals
U.S. District Courts
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Judicial Branch

10. State Governments
Two parts
Constitution
Powers

11. State Governments: Constitutions
Each state has their own constitution
It can’t contradict the national Constitution
Also has a legislative, judicial and executive separation of powers
Instead of a president there is a governor
State Government

12. State Governments: Powers
Ratify amendments
Manage public health and safety
Oversee trade within the state
Make and enforce laws
Tax
Borrow money
(the state government cannot override the federal government: comparison of powers with federal government)
State Government

13. Federal Versus State Government
Coin Money
Declare War
Conduct foreign relations
Oversee foreign and interstate trade
Ratify Amendments
Manage public health and safety
Oversee trade within the state
Make and enforce laws
Tax
Borrow Money
State
Federal Government
State Government

14. Federal Government
Constitution
Powers
Checks and Balances

15. Federal Government: Constitution
The federal constitution is “the supreme law of the land”
It was written in 1787
Ratified in 1790
Replaced the Articles of Confederation as the official governmental rulebook
Cannot be overruled by any state or local constitution
Federal Government

16. Federal Government: Powers
Coin money
Declare war
Conduct foreign relations
Oversee foreign and interstate trade
Make and enforce laws
Tax
Borrow Money
Works through a system of checks and balances between branches of government
(Comparison of powers with state governments)
Federal Government

17. Local Governments Most people live under multiple local governments
Each category has its own set of rules, but none of them can go beyond the powers of the state or federal governments
Five categories
County
Town and Township
Municipality
Special District
School District

18. Federal Checks and Balances
Each branch of the government can limit the powers of the others
Example: how a bill becomes a law:
Federal Government
State Government