1. Federal Government
Mr. Webster’s Class

2. Vocabulary bill – an idea suggested to become a law
President pro tempore of the Senate – the person who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is not present
Speaker of the House – the leader of the House of Representatives, usually the highest ranking member of the majority party
majority party – the political party to which more than half of the elected members belong
minority party – the political party to which fewer than half of the elected members belong

3. The Legislative Branch
The Framers of the Constitution wanted the legislative branch to have more power than the other two branches.
They created a bicameral, or two- part, Congress.
In the Senate, each state has two representatives.
In the House of Representatives, the number of members for each state is based on population.

4. The House of Representatives
The House of Representatives has 435 voting members. Representatives serve two-year terms.
Every ten years, Congress changes the number of representatives given to each state based on the census results. In Florida, we have 27 representatives.
Members of the majority party choose a Speaker of the House to preside over the House.
The Speaker of the House is second to the vice president in the presidential line of succession.

5. The Senate The Senate has 100 members - two coming from each state.
Senators serve six-year terms.
Elections are staggered so that no more than 1/3 of senators are running for reelection at any one time.
The vice president presides over the Senate.

6. Expressed and Implied Powers
Expressed, or enumerated powers, are the congressional powers that are specifically listed in the Constitution.
Implied powers are congressional powers that are not stated explicitly in the Constitution.
The elastic clause of the Constitution gives Congress the right to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its expressed powers.

7. Powers of Congress Lay and collect taxes Borrow money
Enumerated Powers
Implied Powers
Lay and collect taxes
Borrow money
Coin, print, and regulate money
Regulate trade
Declare war
Raise, support, and regulate an army and navy
Establish naturalization laws
Govern Washington, D.C.
Support public schools, welfare programs, public housing, etc.
Maintain the Federal Reserve Board
Prohibit discrimination in restaurants, hotels, and other public venues
Drafting people into the armed services
Limiting the number of immigrants to the United States

8. How a Bill Becomes a Law 1. A bill is introduced
2. The bill is sent to a committee
3. *The bill is sent to a subcommittee*
4. The committee marks up and votes on the bill
5. The committee reports the bill to the House
6. The House debates/votes on the bill
7. The bill is referred to the other chamber
8. The bill is sent to a Conference Committee
9. The president either signs or vetoes the bill
10. *A veto can be overridden by a 2/3 majority in both houses*
School House Rock Clip

9. How a Bill Becomes a Law Assignment
On a sheet of paper, you are to create your own version of a board game that demonstrates how a bill becomes a law. The board game needs to include each step involved in the lawmaking process, and in the correct order. You can design the board to look however you would like, and you should try to make it look as colorful and creative as possible.
I will be grading as follows:
Lists Each Step Involved in the Lawmaking Process – 10 points
Accuracy of Content – 5 points
Followed Instructions – 5 points
Color / Creativity – 5 points

10. Executive Branch
The President of the United States is the head of the Executive Branch.
Every four years, citizens elects a president indirectly by means of the Electoral College.
The number of electoral votes is equal to the total number of senators and representatives a state has.
The President’s main job is to execute, or carry out, the laws passed by Congress.
The Constitution requires the president to tell Congress about the “state of the union.”

11. To Become President of the United States…
One must…
be at least 35 years old
be a native-born American citizen
have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.

12. Presidential Powers
Beyond the responsibility to carry out laws, the Constitution gives the president several specific powers.
The President…
can veto bills passed in Congress
can call Congress into special session
serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces
can make treaties with other countries
can pardon or reduce the penalties against people convicted of federal crimes
receives leaders and other officials of foreign countries
names ambassadors and other top government officials

13. Presidential Line of Succession
The presidential line of succession defines who may become president upon the incapacity, death, resignation, or removal from office of a sitting president.
The first three offices listed in the presidential line of succession are as follows: Vice President, Speaker of the House, and President pro tempore of the Senate.

14. Judicial Branch
Article III of the Constitution creates the judicial branch.
The Supreme Court’s main job is to decide arguments over how to interpret the U.S. Constitution.
Federal courts also hear disputes that may arise between states, between citizens of different states, and between states and the federal government.

15. Extra Credit Opportunity (due 12/19)
For this assignment, you need to pick a branch of the government and create a visual interpretation that depicts it.
Your visual interpretation should include the following:
The name of the branch of government
A definition of that branch of government
An image (or images) that depicts the central players of that particular branch of government, including the powers that they hold
Some things you may want to illustrate are:
Qualifications to hold office in that particular branch
How the branch is structured
Which Article of the Constitution talks about that branch
How that branch relates to the other branches of government

16. Extra Credit Opportunity (due 12/19)
This assignment is worth 20 points.
Late submissions will not be accepted.
I will be grading as follows:
Name / Definition of Branch of Government – 5 points
A depiction that is accurate in content – 5 points
Creativity / Effort – 5 points
Color – 5 points

17. Reflective Blog Writing Activity
For this assignment, you must reflect on the three branches of government by creating a 1-paragraph “blog” that evaluates the ways in which the three branches relate to each other and check each other’s power.
Some things you should think about include:
In what ways do the three branches relate to each other?
In what ways can the three branches check each other’s power?
What have you recently learned about the three branches of government?
Do you feel like you now have a greater appreciation or understanding of how our government works?
Once you have created your 1-paragraph blog, you must respond to two of your classmate’s blogs and build off of their responses.

18. Reflective Blog Writing Activity (worth 20 points)
Grading Rubric
Original Blog (10 points)
Effectively compares the three branches of government – 5 points
Grammar / Punctuation – 5 points
Response Entries (10 points)
Each effective response to one of your peer’s blog is worth 5 points