Bell Ringer: 1. What is the preamble? 2. What are the 3 “unalienable rights” listed in the
Declaration of Independence? 3. What does the amendment process allow us do to the
constitution? 4. Who proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution? 5. Checks and Balances are an example of what principle?
Structure of the US Government
U.S. Government
● The structure of the United States government comes from the Constitution.
● The powers held by government are divided between the national government and the states.
3 Branches:
Legislative● Makes laws● Lead by Congress ● Congress is made up of
two houses- Senate and the House of Representatives
3 Branches
Executive Branch● Enforces or carries out the
laws. ● Lead by the President and
the Vice President
3 Branches:
Judicial Branch● Interprets/review the laws● Lead by the Supreme Court● 9 Justices
Bell Ringer: January 21st
1. What are the 3 branches of Government? 2. Who is in charge of the Legislative Branch? 3. What does the Executive branch do? 4. Who is in charge of the Judicial Branch? 5. What document explains the structure of our government?
National Government.
Legislative, executive, and judicial powers of the national government are distributed among three distinct and independent branches of government.
Legislative Branch:
● Congress● a bicameral legislature ● Bicameral means 2 houses● House of Representatives- 435
members, based upon populations of the states
● Senate 100 members—two per state
Legislative Jobs:
● Makes the laws of the nation ● Approves the annual budget ● Confirms presidential appointments ● Raises revenue through taxes and
other levies ● Regulates interstate and foreign trade ● Declares war
Executive Branch:
● Headed by the president of the United States, the chief executive officer of the nation
● Executes the laws of the land
Executive Jobs:
● Prepares the annual budget for congressional action
● Appoints cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges
● Oversees executive agencies and departments
Judicial Branch:
● Federal courts, including the Supreme Court
● The Supreme Court exercises the power of judicial review.
● The federal courts try cases involving federal law and questions involving interpretation of the Constitution of the United States.
Bell Ringer: 1/23/2020
1. How many years is a Senator’s term? 2. Which branch prepares the annual budget? 3. Who confirms presidential appointments? 4. What does bicameral mean? 5. How many members make up Congress?
How do you play Rock, Paper, Scissors.
Turn to someone sitting next to you explain the rules.
Separation of Powers:
● The Constitution of the United States in Articles I, II, and III defines the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the national government.
Checks and Balances:
Each of the three branches of the national government limits the exercise of power by the other two branches.
Legislative Checks: President– override presidential vetoes– impeach and convict a president– approve the budget– approve presidential appointments.Judicial – confirm or refuse to confirm federal judges/justices – impeach and convict judges/justices.
Executive Checks: Congress – proposes legislation – prepares an annual budget for Congress to approve – call special sessions of Congress – vetoes legislation Congress has passed.Judicial– appoints judges/justices– grants pardons and reprieves
Judicial Checks:
• The courts check Congress when judges/justices declare acts of Congress to be unconstitutional.
• The courts check the president when judges/justices declare executive actions to be unconstitutional.
Bell Ringer: 1-27-2020
1. Which branch has the power to impeach the others? 2. Which branch has the power to declare actions
unconstitutional? 3. Which branch can call a special session of Congress? 4. Which branch can pardon a criminal? 5. Checks and balances were created to……?
National laws are made by Congress:
● Citizens learn the lawmaking process and influence public policy through direct participation.
● The lawmaking process requires collaboration and compromise.
Legislative Powers:
● Expressed: Specifically listed in the Constitution of the United States
● Implied: Used to carry out expressed powers
The LawMaking Process: 1. Introducing a bill in either house2. Working in committees3. Debating the bill on the floor4. Voting on the bill5. Sending the bill to the other house 6. Repeating the process in the other house 7. Sending the bill to the president
Elected officials in Congress write laws and take action in response to problems or issues.
Individuals and interest groups help shape legislation.
The formal powers of Congress are limited (denied powers) by the Constitution of the United States.
Bell Ringer: 1-28-2020
1. Who is responsible for making National laws? 2. Who can introduce a bill? 3. Who can influence public policy? 4. What are expressed and implied powers? 5. List the seven steps of the lawmaking process in order.
Presidential Power:
The president’s power has grown since the Constitution was written, however there are limits to what they can do.
Influences Public Policy:
● Delivering an annual speech to Congress (State of the Union Address)
● Proposing legislation● Approving or vetoing
legislation
Influence Public Policy:
● Appointing officials who help carry out the laws (cabinet members)
● Issuing executive acts/orders● Appealing directly through
the media and communications with citizens
Roles of the President:
1. chief of state: ceremonial head of the government
2. chief executive: head of the executive branch of government
President’s Roles Cont.:
3. chief legislator: proposer of the legislative agenda
4. commander-in-chief: head of the nation’s armed forces
President’s Roles Cont.:
5. chief diplomat: American foreign policy leader6. chief of party: leader of the political party that controls the executive branch7. chief citizen: representative of all of the people.
