1. The Constitution

2. The Preamble (Introduction) We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

3. Article I Legislative Branch 1.Creates and votes for the laws. 2.Divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives. Together they are called Congress. a.Each state gets 2 members in the Senate and they are elected to a 6 year term. There are NO term limits. b.House of Representatives members are elected to a 2 year term. Number of members each state gets is determined by population. There are NO term limits.

4. The Capitol Building (Washington, D.C.)

5. House of Representatives Chamber in the Capitol Building

6. Senate Chamber in the Capitol Building

7. Sen. Harry Reid (Nev.)Sen. Dean Heller (Nev.)

8. District 1 Rep. Dina Titus (Nev.) District 3 Rep. Joe Heck (Nev.) District 2 Rep. Mark Amodei (Nev.) District 4 Rep. Steven Horsford (Nev.)

9. Rep. John Boehner (Ohio) Speaker of the House of Representatives Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vermont) President pro tempore of the US Senate

10. Executive Branch 1.Carries out the laws and runs the government. 2.Includes the President, Vice President, and the Cabinet (President’s advisors). 3.President and Vice-President serve a 4 year term. 4.Limit of 2 terms (8 years)

11. The north side, or front, of the White House (Washington, D.C.)

12. President Barack Obama Vice President Joe Biden

13. The south side, or back, of the White House (Washington, D.C.)

14. Overhead view of the White House

15. The Oval Office at the White House

16. Marine One, the President’s helicopter, leaving the South Lawn of the White House.

17. Air Force One, the President’s airplane, flying over Mount Rushmore.

18. Judicial Branch 1.Decides (interprets) what the laws mean. 2.Includes the Supreme Court and many lower courts. 3.Supreme Court has 9 Justices (judges) led by the Chief Justice. 4.John Roberts is current Chief Justice

19. Supreme Court Justices Appointed by the President Approved by the Senate Life tenure term

20. The Supreme Court Building (Washington, D.C.)

21. Current Supreme Court

22. Current Supreme Court Justices 1.John G. Roberts, Chief Justice (George W. Bush) 2.Antonin Scalia (Ronald Reagan) 3.Elena Kagan (Barack Obama) 4.Anthony Kennedy (Ronald Reagan) 5.Ruth Bader Ginsberg (Bill Clinton) 6.Clarence Thomas (George H.W. Bush) 7.Stephen Breyer (Bill Clinton) 8.Samuel Alito (George W. Bush) 9.Sonia Sotomayor (Barack Obama)

23. Separation of Powers 1.1 branch cannot become too powerful! 2.Legislative a.Can impeach the President. b.Approves the President’s appointments, or choices. 3.Executive a.Appoints Supreme Court Justices. b.Can veto a law. 4.Judicial a.Can decide a law is illegal.

24. Separation of Powers

25. Checks and Balances 1.The government is divided into 3 branches. a.The branches are equal in power. b.Each branch has powers over the other branches. This protects the country from having one group gain too much power and our government becoming a tyranny.

26. Checks and Balances

27. Bill of Rights The first 10 amendments (changes) to the Constitution. They guaranteed basic rights and freedoms for the people. It gave rights to those accused of a crime. Gives citizens the right to keep and bear arms.