1. Starter Define the following terms: 1. Popular sovereignty 2. Limited government 3. Separation of powers 4. Checks and balances 5. federalism

2. EXPLAIN HOW THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION DEFINES THE FRAMEWORK, ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE OF THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. Objective 2.02

3. The Legislative Branch Established by Article I of the Constitution House of Representatives  Based on population  Two year terms Senate  Two per state  Six year terms  At first were elected by state legislatures, but now by people- 17 th Amendment

4. Capitol Hill- Congress

5. US House of Representatives

6. US Senate

7. Kay Hagan Richard Burr North Carolina’s US Senators

8. Our US Congressman- House of Representatives- NC District 7 Born in Lumberton, NC

9. Powers and Responsibilities Both houses must approve a bill (proposed law) before it becomes a law Some powers are possessed by only one house  House: tax bills  Senate: block or confirm presidential nominees To guard against corruption  Members can be censured or expelled

10. Law-making Congress is broken down into committees  These committees hear and debate laws before the entire House or Senate votes on them  The may kill a bill before it has a chance  Both political parties serve on them, but the chairman usually has seniority Filibuster  Once a bill gets to the Senate floor anyone may delay its vote- if they don’t like it  Filibuster may be ended by cloture: 3/5 vote of all senators (60 out of 100) Members of Congress have immunity

11. Congressional leadership Speaker of the House- leader of House Vice president- leader of the Senate  President pro tempore (president of the Senate) serves if the VP is absent Majority and Minority leaders of the two parties (Republicans and Democrats)  Majority and minority whips- help with voting  Ensure everyone votes the way the party wants them to

12. Limits Congress can’t suspend Writ of Habeas Corpus- going before the judge before being locked up Can’t pass bills of attainder- convict people without a trial Can’t pass ex post facto laws- making something illegal if there was no law against it May not grant titles of nobility

13. President Barrack Obama VP Joe Biden President Barack Obama Executive Branch

14. Established by Article II Serves a four year term  There was no limit on terms until 1951 (22nd amendment)  Now can only serve two terms The President is:  Head of state- figure head of our nation  Commander in chief- keeps civilian control of the military  Chief diplomat- meets with leaders of other nations  Can negotiate treaties with other nations- must be approved by the Senate  Chief executive- appoints members to his Cabinet or federal judges  Must be approved by the Senate  Legislative leader- proposes law for Congressional consideration  Economic leader- makes the nation’s budget  Party leader- the head of their political party

15. Presidential Powers Executive agreements with other nations  These do not need Senate approval Veto- refusing to sign a bill into law Executive orders- carry the force of law  Tell government agencies to take certain actions Pardons- excuse people from punishment Commute sentences- shorten jail time Reprieve- delay a jail sentence

16. President Gives the State of the Union speech  every January to Congress Presidential succession  Who becomes President if he can’t serve?  The VP, then Speaker of the House, then President pro tempore- 26 th amendment Impeachment-  process by which the president is removed from office if he goes against the Constitution  House impeaches, Senate holds trial (2/3 must find him guilty)  Only two were impeached, none were convicted

17. Judicial Branch Established by Article III US Supreme Court- 9 justices (judges)  Chief Justice is the head judge  The other eight are associate judges  They serve for life Congress creates all other federal courts

18. Jurisdiction- ability to hear a case Original Jurisdiction- court’s authority to hear a case Appellate jurisdiction- court’s authority to review a decision from a lower court Concurrent jurisdiction- more than one court (state or federal) has jurisdiction Exclusive jurisdiction- only the federal court system has authority to rule

19. Court’s Main Power Judicial Review  Not granted specifically by the Constitution  Power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional  Founded by court case Marbury vs. Madison Precedence- past court decisions are used to make legal rulings