1. Seven Government Principles
Federalism – powers of government are divided (and shared) between the national (federal) and state governments.
Limited Government – government is not all-powerful; members of the government must follow the law.
Individual Rights – people have basic rights that the government cannot take away.
Popular Sovereignty: the people rule; the power of government comes from the people; people control their government through voting.
Republicanism – government is run by elected representatives (‘reps’ of the ‘public’).
Checks and Balances – each branch of the national (federal) government can limit or control the other two branches (to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful)
Separation of Powers –the power of the national (federal) government is separated into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
FLIPRCS= mnemonic “Flip rocks”

2. Principles in Founding Documents
Magna Carta – limited government, individual rights, & separation of powers
Virginia House of Burgesses – popular sovereignty & republicanism
Mayflower Compact – popular sovereignty
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut – popular sovereignty & limited government
English Bill of Rights – individual rights, limited government, & separation of powers

3. Three Branches: Legislative Executive Judicial
The Constitution
Three Branches:
Legislative
Executive
Judicial

4. Legislative Branch Article I
Congress
**BICAMERAL**
House of Representatives
Senate
Makes the laws
Representation based on population
Two representatives from each state

5. The House of Representatives
The Lower House
The House of Representatives
There are 435 representatives.
The more people that live in a state, the more representatives it has.
Representatives serve for a term of two years.
They can be elected for more than one term.

6. The Upper House The Senate There are 100 senators.
Each state has two senators.
A Senator is in office for 6 years. This is called a “term.”
They can be elected for more than one term
Senators meet in the U.S. Capitol building
The Senate

7. The Powers of Congress Enumerated Powers (Expressed): Impose taxes
Borrow funds
Regulate interstate commerce and international trade
Establish naturalization procedures
Establish bankruptcy laws
Coin and print money
Punish counterfeiters
Establish post offices
Regulate copyrights
Establish courts
Punish piracy
Declare war
Maintain an army and a navy (Power of Purse)

8. Executive Branch Article II
President Requirements
Must enforce the laws
Elected for a 4 year term
Elected by the Electoral College
Must be a natural born citizen
Must be at least 35 years old
Receives a salary which cannot be changed while s/he is in office
Swears (promises) to preserve, Protect, and defend the Constitution

9. Executive Branch continued
Powers
Commander-In-Chief of the military
Can require written opinions from advisors
Pardoning and reprieving for crimes other than treason
Make treaties (with consent of the Senate)
Nominate & appoint ambassadors & federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices (w/ consent for Senate)

10. Executive Branch cont Commission all officers of the U.S.
Powers cont.
Commission all officers of the U.S.
Convene either or both Houses of Congress.
Receive ambassadors from other countries

11. Executive Branch cont
Duties
Penalty
Give Congress information on the State of the Union (condition of the nation)
Recommend measures that s/he considers necessary for the benefit of the country
See that all laws are faithfully executed (carried out or enforced)
Can be removed from office for conviction of bribery, treason, or other high crimes or misdemeanors.
Commission all officers of the U.S.
Convene either or both Houses of Congress.
Receive ambassadors from other countries

12. Secretary of State: Hillary Clinton Secretary of the Treasury: Timothy Geithner Secretary of Defense: Robert M. Gates Department of Justice Attorney General: Eric Holder Secretary of the Interior: Ken Salazar Secretary of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Commerce: Gary Locke Secretary of Labor: Hilda Solis Secretary of Health and Human Services: Kathleen Sebelius Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Shaun Donovan Secretary of Transportation: Ray LaHood Secretary of Energy: Steven Chu Secretary of Education: Arne Duncan Secretary of Veterans' Affairs: Eric Shinseki Secretary of Homeland Security: Janet Napolitano

13. U.S. Supreme Court 2012
9 Important People

14. Judicial Branch Article III
Requirements
Job
Power
No age requirement
No residency requirement
Put in office by Presidential nomination: Senate confirmation
Term of office is LIFE!
Hear cases
Interpret the Constitution
Utilize “JUDICIAL REVIEW” {Marbury v Madison 1803}

15. Judicial Branch Supreme Court Appeals courts 1 Chief Justice
8 Associate Justices
Only hears cases it decides to hear
Cases may begin in federal or state courts
12 circuit courts of appeals
Hear cases from district courts
Hear cases from some federal agencies

16. District Courts
94 districts; each has at least one court
The “trial” courts of the federal system
Handles civil and criminal cases.

17. The Federal Court System
Dual court system (state and federal).
Basic Judicial Requirements:
Jurisdiction (authority of a court to hear a case)
Federal Question (Does it involve the Constitution?)
Diversity of Citizenship (citizens from different states?)

18. Types of Federal Courts
U.S. District Courts (Trial Courts)
Intermediate U.S. Courts of Appeals (Thirteen total, hear appeals from district courts)
United States Supreme Court (Has original jurisdiction, but most work is appellate)