1. Three Branches of Government
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2. The Executive Branch
The President of the United States is the leader of the executive branch.
The President’s duties are to:
Enforce federal laws and recommend new ones
Serve as commander in chief of the Armed Forces – Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines
Meet with leaders of other countries
commander in chief (not capitalized, no hyphens);
Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines
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3. The Judicial Branch
The judicial branch of government is made up of the court system. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. It was established by the Constitution. Other federal courts were established by Congress.
Courts decide arguments about:
The meaning of laws
How laws are applied
Whether laws break the rules
of the Constitution
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4. The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court hears cases that have made their way through the lower court system.
First Supreme Court Case to deem a law unconstitutional MARBURY vs MADISON
There are nine Supreme Court Justices, one of the nine being the Chief Justice.
The Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President, approved by the Senate, and can serve for life.
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5. The Legislative Branch
House of
Representatives
Senate
The U.S. Congress is made up of two parts, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress meets at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Its primary duty is to write, debate, and pass bills, which are then passed on to the President for approval to become laws.
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6. The House of Representatives
In the House, representation is based on the number of people living in each state. Therefore, states with larger populations have more representation than states with smaller populations. Each state has at least one representative in the House. Pennsylvania 19 Delaware 1
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7. House of Representatives
Each representative serves a term of 2 years. When the term is over, people from that state may choose to elect a new representative or keep the same one.
Thinking of running for Representative from your state? You must:
Be at least 25 years old
Be a U.S. citizen for the past 7 years
Live in the state you represent
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8. The Senate
Each of the 50 states sends 2 people to the Senate, so there are a total of 100 senators. This means that each state has equal representation in the Senate. Pennsylvania 2 Delaware 2
Fixed spacing issue with “2” after Delaware
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9. The Senate
Each senator serves a term of 6 years. When their 6-year term is over, the people from that state may choose to elect a new senator or keep the same one.
Thinking about running for Senate? You must:
Be at least 30 years old
Be a U.S. citizen for the past 9 years
Live in the state you represent
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11. 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

13. Concept Development:
Dual Sovereignty2 is the idea that both the federal3 and state governments have authority and they have powers they share and powers they don’t share.
Federalism is the system that divides and shares the powers and responsibilities between the federal and the state governments.
3: federal: national government in Washington, D.C.
2 sovereignty: power and authority of government
Pair Share: Listening to both your parents and teachers is an example of dual sovereignty. How do you know?
(Federal)
Pair-Share: If we are sending our troops to Syria, which government (Federal, State or Federal and State) would be responsible? How do you know?

14. Example Federal / National Shared States Federal / National Shared
Skill Development/Guided Practice:
Federal / National
1. The framers of the Constitution (the document that sets rules for how our government works) wanted a strong national government, but they also wanted the states to keep significant powers. 2. They accomplished both goals by creating a federal system of government in which power is shared between the national and state governments.
Why do some powers belong only to the national government?
3. The Constitution gives some powers only to the national government. 4. In general, these are powers best exercised by one central authority, such as declaring war and making treaties. 5. Also, the national government is responsible for issues where two or more states are involved. 6. For example, the Constitution also says that only the national government can print and coin money. 7. The framers had learned from experience that separate state currencies made no sense.
8. Similarly, the national government has the power “to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.” Known as the commerce1 clause2, this provision gives the national government the power to regulate interstate commerce. 9. For example, a state cannot try to protect its own businesses and industries by taxing goods imported from other states.
1 business 2 part of a contract 3 different 4 set rules for
Shared
Why are some powers shared?
33. Federal and state governments also share some powers because there are powers both groups need to function. 34. Combined, the federal and state governments share power because it is easier to do things like raise taxes for public projects. 35. Also, both levels of government can build roads, borrow money, and regulate education.
States
Why do some powers belong only to the states?
19. The Constitution was written to limit the power of the federal government The Constitution does not spell out specific power of the states because the writers of the Constitution wanted the states to keep some sovereignty So, it says that the states retain, or keep, any powers that are not given to the national government For instance, the Constitution says nothing about schools, marriage, establishing local governments, owning property,licensing doctors and lawyers, or most crimes. 23. The states make the laws in these areas of life.
24. The Constitution does, however, outline the responsibilities of states to each other. Article IV says that each state must give “full Faith and Credit”1 to the laws and court decisions of other states. 25. This means accepting other states’ laws and court decisions as legal. 26. For example, a driver’s license issued in one state is legal in every state. 27. Similarly, states must obey legal contracts that people have made in other states. 28. Like the commerce clause, the full faith and credit provision brings stability to business dealings.29. States are also required to help each other track down fleeing criminals.30.Criminals cannot escape justice by fleeing to another state.
31. Finally, the Constitution does not allow one state to discriminate2 unreasonably against a citizen of
another state. 32. A state may not, for example, refuse to let a child who was born in another state
attend its public schools.
1 must recognize it 2 to treat differently
Federal / National
Shared
States
Purpose
Why is the power divided or shared?
Example
Show/Underline/Hide Text
Show/Underline/Hide Text
Show/Underline/Hide Text
This is a federal power because it is best exercised by one _______________. And it is responsible for issues where _________ _____ are involved.
The constitution was written to ____ the ______ of the ______ government, because _____________
_____________________
_____________________.
They share some powers because there are powers that __________ need to _______.
limit
power
central authority
federal
both groups
2 or more
function
states
The states keep some powers for themselves, such as _____________ ___________________.
Also the full Faith and Credit clause means that _________ must ______ other states' laws and court decisions as legal.
The Interstate Commerce clause: The federal government can regulate business between states.
The states and federal government both _____
____________________
___________________.
Shared
Why are some powers shared?
33. Federal and state governments also share some powers because there are powers both groups need to function. 34. Combined, the federal and state governments share power because it is easier to do things like raise taxes for public projects. 35. Also, both levels of government can build roads, borrow money, and regulate education.
36. If you think the sharing of power, sounds complicated, you are right. 37. Consider presidential elections. Congress sets the date for national elections, while the states register voters and run the elections. 38. States count the ballots, while the national government organizes the Electoral College vote, which determines who will be president.
39. Federalism is also complicated because the Constitution provides only a general framework for the
sharing of powers. 40. There was no way for the framers to spell out rules for every possible situation.
41. The federal system continues to evolve through new laws, court decisions, and constitutional
amendments.
each state
accept
States
Why do some powers belong only to the states?
19. The Constitution was written to limit the power of the federal government The Constitution does not spell out specific power of the states because the writers of the Constitution wanted the states to keep some sovereignty So, it says that the states retain, or keep, any powers that are not given to the national government For instance, the Constitution says nothing about schools, marriage, establishing local governments, owning property, licensing doctors and lawyers, or most crimes. 23. The states make the laws in these areas of life.
24. The Constitution does, however, outline the responsibilities of states to each other. Article IV says that each state must give “full Faith and Credit”1 to the laws and court decisions of other states. 25. This means accepting other states’ laws and court decisions as legal. 26. For example, a driver’s license issued in one state is legal in every state. 27. Similarly, states must obey legal contracts that people have made in other states. 28. Like the commerce clause, the full faith and credit provision brings stability to business dealings States are also required to help each other track down fleeing criminals. 30. Criminals cannot escape justice by fleeing to another state.
31. Finally, the Constitution does not allow one state to discriminate2 unreasonably against a citizen of another state. 32. A state may not, for example, refuse to let a child who was born in another state attend its public schools.
1 must recognize it 2 to treat differently

15. Skill Development/Guided Practice:
Use your notes to complete the following.
1. Explain in your own words what federalism really is.
__Federalism_is…__________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2. Give an example of how power is divided or shared between the federal and state governments.
________________________________________________________________