1. Articles II & III of the constitution
The Structure, Function, and Powers of the Executive & Judicial Branches
Articles II & III of the constitution

2. The Primary Function of the Executive Branch
Article II of the Constitution
Executive Branch
Enforce Laws

3. The Structure of the Executive Branch Article II, Section 1
The President is the head of the Executive Branch
The President gets help from his Cabinet (a group of advisors picked by the president).
These advisors are called Secretaries.

4. The Structure of the Executive Branch Article II, Section 1
To be President of the United States, you must:
be a natural born citizen
be at least 35 years old
lived in the United States for at least 14 years

5. The Functions of the Executive Branch Article II, Section 2
Commander-in-Chief
The President commands the entire military
Chief Executive
The President is in charge of the Cabinet and entire Executive branch
Chief Diplomat
The president is in charge of our ambassadors and our foreign affairs (how we interact with the world)
The president is the one who meets other world leaders and ambassadors as well

6. The Powers of the Executive Branch Article II, Section 2
The President has the power to appoint:
Ambassadors
Ministers & consuls
Supreme Court judges
Federal court judges
Other offices of the Executive Branch

7. The Powers of the Executive Branch Article II, Section 2
The President has the power to pardon people
(except in impeachment cases)
The President has the power to make treaties
(though the Senate has to ratify, or approve, them)

8. The Functions of the Executive Branch Article II, Section 3
The job of the President is to make sure the laws passed by Congress are being followed (enforce them)
The President must tell Congress how the country is doing – this is called the State of the Union Address (speech)
The President can also call one or both Houses of Congress to a meeting because of special circumstances (national emergency, etc.)

9. The Functions of the Executive Branch Article II, Section 4
The President can only be removed by the House and Senate if they are charged (impeached) and convicted of:
Treason
Bribery
Other high crimes

10. The Primary Function of the Judicial Branch
Article III of the Constitution
Judicial Branch
Interpret Laws

11. The Structure of the Judicial Branch Article III, Section 1
The Supreme Court is the head of the Judicial Branch
Section 1 creates the U.S. Supreme Court AND “inferior” (less powerful) courts
Only Congress can create these lower courts, but they can’t tell them how to do their job

12. The Structure of the Judicial Branch Article III, Section 1
To be a judge of either the Supreme Court or any of the lower courts of the United States, you must:
be of good behavior
Seriously. That is the ONLY requirement to be a federal judge!

13. The Functions of the Judicial Branch Article III, Section 2
Types of arguments (cases) the Supreme Court hear:
How to interpret the Constitution
Cases about all laws passed by Congress
Cases about treaties (deals) made with other nations and ambassadors
Cases of “admiralty and maritime jurisdiction” – cases involving things happening on the oceans
Arguments between 2 or more states
Arguments between a citizen and a state(s)
Arguments between a state or a citizen and foreign countries

14. The Powers of the Judicial Branch Article III, Section 2
The Supreme Court has both types of Jurisdiction (Power):
Original Jurisdiction
Appellate Jurisdiction

15. The Powers of the Judicial Branch Article III, Section 2
Original Jurisdiction
the power of a court to be the first to hear a case on a specific topic
This means they can hear the case and make a decision on the case

16. The Powers of the Judicial Branch Article III, Section 2
Appellate Jurisdiction
the power to hear appeals of cases which have been tried in lower courts
This means they could overturn, or change, the decision of a lower court

17. The Functions of the Judicial Branch Article III, Section 3
All trials in the judicial branch will be Jury Trials
A jury trial is where a group of people selected by the courts listen to arguments and make a decision on a case
The only exceptions are Impeachment Trials
These are held in the U.S. Senate
Jury Trials MUST be held in the state where the crime was committed

18. The Functions of the Judicial Branch Article III, Section 3
Remember how the President can only be removed if convicted of “treason, bribery, and other high crimes”?
Section 3 defines treason as going to war against the United States or giving “aid or comfort” (help or assistance) to an enemy
THIS APPLIES TO ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS!!