1. With Liberty and Justice, the Federal Government

2. Let’s Review

3. What was the nation’s first Constitution called?

4. Articles of Confederation

5. Name the meeting in which delegates from 12 states met to revise the Articles of Confederation.

6. Constitutional Convention

7. What kind of government did James Madison propose?

8. Republic - a form of government in which power resides with the citizens who elect representatives to make laws

9. What 2 plans for representation in government did the delegates debate?

10. Virginia Plan & New Jersey Plan

11. How did they compromise?

12. The Great Compromise

13. What compromise did the delegates come up with regarding how slaves’ votes should be counted?

14. 3/5 Compromise

15. What compromise did the delegates come up with regarding how the president should be elected?

16. Electoral College

17. The Constitution could not go into effect until this took place...

18. Ratification

19. What are the principles of the U.S. Government?

20. Sovereignty: supreme power of government rests with the people
electorate (voters) choose leaders to make laws and run the country
US is not a “democracy” but a representative democracy or republic
Constitutionalism: all representatives are bound by the rules of the Constitution
lawmakers cannot just make up laws as they see fit
Federalism: national government and state governments share power and authority

23. 3 Branches of Government

24. The Legislative Branch of Government

25. The Members of Congress
First article of the Constitution described the legislative branch
Congress is at the head of this branch

26. Congress is “bicameral” or has two bodies (parts):
Senate
House of
Representatives

27. The Senate 100 members – two from each state Qualifications:
30 years old
citizen of US for nine years
must be resident of state represented
Senators elected by the people (17th Amendment)
six year term
one third of senators are up for re-election every two years
Vice President of US is president of the Senate – presides over sessions
President Pro Tempore, majority leader, minority leader are other senate leaders

29. House of Representatives
435 members – the number of representatives is based on a state’s population
Reapportionment happens every 10 years
Georgia has 13 representatives based on the 2000 census
Qualifications:
25 years old
citizen of US for seven years
must be resident of state represented
two year term
Speaker of the House and majority leader are leaders in the House

31. The Powers of Congress expressed powers: written in the Constitution
implied powers: derive from the expressed powers, but not written specifically
elastic clause: Article 1, Section 8 stretches the power of Congress to include implied powers

32. How Congress Operates Committees are used to organize work of Congress
deal with specific issues and can be formed at any time
select committee:
standing committee: monitor federal agencies
joint committee: members from House and Senate to deal with a national issue
conference committee: works out compromises between the House and Senate

48. The Executive Branch of Government

49. The Executive Branch of Government
The president has enough power to do the job, but the Constitution keeps him from having too much power
Founding fathers did not want another king
In the beginning, the Electoral College had the job of choosing the president

50. The Electoral College
electors: members of the Electoral College chosen from each state
Electors vote for the president; citizens vote for electors, not directly for the president
538 electors: number matches the number of senators and representatives from each state
The candidate with the most votes in a state gets all the electors
Electors are not legally bound to vote for the candidate chosen by the state’s citizens
Electors meet in their state’s capitol; votes sent to the president of the Senate
Inauguration Day is January 20 following the election in November

51. Parts of the Executive Branch
President & Vice President Qualifications
35 years old
natural-born citizen
resident of US for 14 years
limited to two terms
(22nd Amendment)
Vice President takes over if the President dies, resigns, or is removed from office.
Barack Obama
Joe Biden

53. Speaker of the House and other leaders in line to take over if vice president cannot take over
Executive bureaucracy:
Office of the President, Cabinet, independent agencies, regulatory commissions, government corporations

54. The Cabinet Members advise the president
Serve as heads of the executive departments
Members appointed by the president and approved by the Senate
Currently 15 members

55. Independent Agencies
Serve public interest and keep government running smoothly
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency – example of independent agency, supervises efforts to clean air and water
GSA: General Services Administration – oversees spending by the government

56. Federal Regulatory Commissions
Have power to make rules and punish violators
Leaders appointed by the president
Examples:
FCC: Federal Communications Commission
SEC: Securities & Exchange Commission
FDA: Food & Drug Administration

57. Government Corporations
Established to provide products or services for the American people
Examples:
FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – insures bank deposits and protects banking customers
USPS: United States Postal Service
Click to return to Table of Contents.

58. The Judicial Branch of Government

60. Judicial Branch of Government
Supreme Court
Lower federal courts a part of this branch
Decide the meaning and interpretation of the Constitution and laws
Protects citizens from mistreatment by other branches of government

61. The Supreme Court Highest court in USA
Chief justice plus eight associate justices
Decides cases involving foreign countries or between states
Reviews decisions
of lower courts
judicial review: ability
to set aside actions of
the legislative or judicial
branch
Chief justice presides over impeachments

63. Other Federal Courts
Congress established federal circuit court districts
Georgia has three district court regions
US Court of Appeals for 11th Circuit is in Atlanta
Bankruptcy courts are a part of this system

64. Special Courts Courts for special purposes Examples: Tax Court
US Court of Appeals for Armed Forces
US Court of International Trade
US Court of Federal Claims

65. The System of Checks and Balances
Constitution keeps the branches of government equally important
Sometimes the branches of government do not get along well – conflicts can arise if one branch tries to find a way around another

67. Checks on the Legislative Branch
President has the power to veto laws passed by the Congress
Proposes laws to Congress
Submits the Federal Budget to the House of Representatives
Appoints federal officials, who carry out and enforce laws
Executive Branch
Checks on the Legislative Branch

68. Checks on the Judicial Branch
Nominates judges to the Supreme Court
Nominates judges to the federal court system
President has the power to pardon individuals convicted of crimes
President can grant amnesty, forgiving a class of crime
Executive Branch
Checks on the Judicial Branch

69. Checks on the Executive Branch
Congress can overturn a Presidential veto with a 2/3 vote of both houses
Senate can reject proposed treaties (2/3 vote to approve)
Senate can reject presidential nominations of federal officials or judges
Congress can impeach and remove the President (House serves as prosecution, Senate serves as jury)
Legislative Branch
Checks on the Executive Branch

70. Checks on the Judicial Branch
Congress can create lower courts
Senate can reject nominees to the federal courts/Supreme Court
Congress can amend the Constitution to overturn decisions of the Supreme Court
Congress can impeach judges and remove from the bench
Legislative Branch
Checks on the Judicial Branch

71. Checks on the Executive Branch
Supreme Court can use the power of judicial review to rule laws unconstitutional  
Judicial Branch
Checks on the Executive Branch

72. Checks on the Legislative Branch
Supreme Court can use the power of judicial review to rule presidential actions unconstitutional
Supreme Court can use the power of judicial review to rule treaties unconstitutional 
Judicial Branch
Checks on the Legislative Branch