1. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

2. THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
* Legislative
* Executive
* Judicial

3. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Also called Congress
Meet in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

4. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Bicameral - 2 Houses House of Representatives
Senate
Responsibility is to make (create) laws.

5. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
435 Seats
Number of seats determined by state population.
Re-election every two years
Referred to as the “lower” house.
Leader is called Speaker of the House.

6. SENATE 100 seats -2 seats per state - separate vote
Re-election every six years
Vice President is President of Senate but NO vote unless a tie.
Leader = President pro tempore

7. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Powers of Congress: Oversee elections
Set rules within the legislative branch
To tax, to borrow money, to coin money
Declare War
Regulate commerce
Make All laws which are necessary and proper

8. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

9. EXECUTIVE BRANCH Responsible for enforcing the laws.
President is the head of the Executive Branch.
President provides leadership by setting goals and developing policy.

10. EXECUTIVE BRANCH Must be a natural born citizen
Must be at least 35 years old
Must be 14 years a resident within the United States
Term is for 4 years - only 2 in a row
Must give State of the Union to Congress each year

11. EXECUTIVE BRANCH Powers of the President….
Commander and Chief of the Army and Navy
Can grant pardons and Can veto laws.
Can call Congress into session.
Make treaties, appoint Supreme Court Justices and Ambassadors with the Senate’s approval

12. EXECUTIVE BRANCH President creates cabinet - advisors
Department of State, Treasury, Interior, Agriculture, Justice, Labor, Commerce, Veterans’ Affairs, Defense, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education and NOW Homeland Security

13. THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

14. JUDICIAL BRANCH
Responsible for interpreting the law in regards to the Constitution
Final court of appeals for state and federal cases.
Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President, approved by the Senate, and they hold their office for life or retirement.

15. JUDICIAL BRANCH
Currently - 9 Justices - only can be changed by Constitutional Amendment
Justices hear 150 cases per year - over 5000 requests
Can only be removed by impeachment (House of Rep.) or conviction (Senate)

16. JUDICIAL BRANCH Judicial Act of 1789
Created three part court system (Supreme, Appeals and District courts)
Established the Office of Attorney General
Job of Attorney General is to represent the USA in the Supreme Court and to be a legal advisor to the Executive Branch

17. Separation of Powers Checks and Balances
How do these principles of democracy protect the people?

18. Separation of Powers
Dividing different powers among three branches of government
Prevents one branch from gaining too much power
Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches have their own unique powers

20. Checks and Balances
Powers each branch has that allows them to check up on the other branches
Prevents branches from abusing their powers
Preserves the separation of powers
Requires cooperation between the branches of government

21. Legislative Branch checks (House and Senate)
Can override a presidential veto
Can impeach and remove the president
Ratifies presidential appointments
Authorizes/appropriates funds for legislation (controls money)
Checks on the judiciary
Can impeach and remove judges
Confirms federal judges

22. Executive Branch checks (President and Cabinet)
Proposes legislation (laws)
Vetoes legislation (laws)
Makes treaties w/ foreign countries
Checks on the judiciary
Appoints federal judges

23. Judicial Branch checks (Supreme Court and Lower Courts)
Reviews executive decisions
Checks on Congress
Reviews congressional laws
Judicial Review (executive and legislative)
Supreme Court Justices appointed for life