1. Three Branches
SOL CE 6a

2. The Constitution of the United States defines the structure and powers of the national government.

3. The powers held by government are divided between the national government in Washington, D.C., and the governments of the 50 states.

4. Legislative, executive, and judicial powers of the national government are distributed among three distinct and independent branches of government.

5. The legislative branch
Consists of the Congress, a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives (435 members, based upon populations of the states) and the Senate (100 members—two per state)

6. The legislative branch
Makes the laws of the nation

7. The legislative branch
Approves the annual budget

8. The legislative branch
Confirms presidential appointments

9. The legislative branch
Raises revenue through taxes and other levies

10. The legislative branch
Regulates interstate and foreign trade

11. The legislative branch
Declares war

12. The Executive branch
Headed by the president of the United States, the chief executive officer of the nation

13. The executive branch
Executes the laws of the land

14. The executive branch
Prepares the annual budget for congressional action

15. The executive branch
Appoints cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges

16. The executive branch
Administers the federal bureaucracy

17. The judicial branch
Consists of the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land

18. The judicial branch
The Supreme Court exercises the power of judicial review.

19. The judicial branch
The federal courts try cases involving federal law and questions involving interpretation of the Constitution of the United States.

20. Review Quiz

21. Where do find the structure of American government?
The US Constitution

22. Where is the national government located?
Washington D.C.

23. What are the three branches of government?
Legislative
Executive
Judicial

24. What is the legislative body?
Congress

25. What are the two houses of Congress?
The House of Representatives
Senate

26. What does bicameral mean?
Having two houses

27. Congress makes what for the nation?
Laws

28. What is Congress’s role in the budget?
Approval

29. What does Congress approve?
Presidential appointments

30. Name two ways Congress raises revenue.
Taxes
Other levies

31. What does Congress regulate?
Interstate and foreign trade

32. What does Congress declare?
War

33. Who is the head of the executive branch?
The President

34. What is the role of the President?
Execute the law of the land

35. What is the role of the president in the annual budget?
Prepares the budget

36. Who does the president appoint?
Cabinet officers
Ambassadors
Federal judges

37. What does the president administer?
The federal bureaucracy

38. What is the judicial branch made up of?
Federal courts
Supreme Court

39. What power does the Supreme Court exercise?
Judicial Review

40. What kinds of cases do the federal courts try?
Federal law
Interpretation of the US Constitution