1. United States Government Basics

2. Bicameral Legislature
Legislative Branch
Bicameral Legislature

3. Congress
Both houses must approve all legislation before the president can sign it
Can override a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote
Majority rule for most votes

4. Congress (cont.) Majority Party controls schedule in each house
Speaker of the House most powerful member of Congress

5. Senate 100 members – 2 per state At least 30 years old
9 years US citizen
Resident of state elected from

6. Senate Powers
Confirms presidential appointments like federal judges and Cabinet members
Holds impeachment trials
Approves all treaties with foreign governments

7. House of Representatives
435 members
Minimum of 1 per state
At least 25 years old
7 years US citizen
Resident of state and district elected from

8. House Powers Starts all bill that call for spending of money
Starts impeachment proceedings
Breaks ties in Electoral College

9. Executive Branch

10. President Must be at least 35 Natural born citizen
14 years residency in the US
Can serve only 2 terms (22nd Amendment)
These apply to VP also

11. President as Chief Executive
Develops federal policy
Enforces the law
Appoints federal officials
Prepares the national budget

12. President’s Role Commander-in-Chief of the military
Makes foreign policy
Chief of State
Symbolic representative
of the nation
Annual State of the Union address

13. President’s Powers Enforces federal laws Grants reprieves and pardon
Appoints federal judges, ambassadors, Cabinet members
Make treaties
Can veto legislation

14. Judicial Branch Supreme Court only court created by the Constitution
All other federal courts created by Congress
All federal judges appointed by president and approved by Senate

15. Supreme Court
No stated requirements for office, but usually experience as a lawyer or lower federal judge
Lifetime appointment
9 members

16. Supreme Court Powers Final say on cases involving federal law
Final say on cases involving 2 or more states
Cases involving foreign ambassadors

17. Supreme Court (cont) Decides issues of Constitutional law
Most cases come on appeal from a lower federal court
Cases can be appealed from a state court
Decisions by majority vote
Decisions are final

18. Supreme Court (cont.) Greatest Power is Judicial Review
Supreme Court has final say on what is and is not constitutional