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The American Government
Articles of Confederation
Proposed – 1777
Ratified – 1781
Confederation – A political union of several parties or states
Creating The Constitution
Official Ratification - 1787Final Ratification - 1789
George Washington
Ben Franklin
James Madison
Notable Signatures
Alexander Hamilton
What is the basis of the Constitution &
American Government?
EXECUTIVE
JUDICIALLEGISLATIVE
SEPARATION OF POWERS
Montesquieu
WHAT IS SEPARATION OF POWERS?
Legislative BranchFunction: Makes the Laws
Head / Ruling Body: Congress
Bicameral Legislative System
Legislative Branch“Fancy Terms”
Legislation = Laws
Legislature = A group that makes laws
What group is considered to be the U.S. Legislature?
Congress
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
435 Members (serve for 2 years)
State membership is based on the size of the population of the state.
Population is determined by a CENSUS
A CENSUS is done every 10 years
Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi (CA) Speaker of the House (2007 – Present)
Political Party – Democrats
The DemocratsThe Donkey
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson U.S. President (1829 – 1837) Political Party – Democrats
New Speaker of the House
John Boehner (OH)Speaker of the House (Set to begin in 2011)
Political Party – Republicans
The Republicans The G.O.P. (Grand Old Party)
The Elephant
House of RepresentativesMembership
Qualifications:
25 years old
U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
Must live in the statethey represent
SENATE100 Members (serve 6 years)
Two from each state
50 States x 2 = 100
President of the Senate
Vice President
Joe Biden Vice President (2009 – Present)
Political Party – Democrats
SenateMembership Qualifications:
30 years old
U.S. citizen for atleast 9 years
Must live in the statethey represent
United States Capitol Building
435 House Representative + 100 Senators = 535 Congressmen
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Head / Ruling Body: President
Function: Enforces the Laws
The Chief Executive U.S. President
Barack ObamaU.S. President (2009 – Present)
Political Party – Democrats
United States President Qualifications:
35 YEARS OLD
BE A NATURAL BORN CITIZEN OF THE UNITEDSTATES
LIVE IN THE UNITED STATESFOR AT LEAST 14 YEARS
George Washington
The President’s Room
JUDICIAL BRANCHFunction: Interprets the Laws
Head / Ruling Body: Supreme Court
The Nine Supreme Court Justices
1. John Roberts - Chief Justice (2005)2. Antonin Scalia (1986)3. Anthony Kennedy (1988)4. Clarence Thomas (1991)5. Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1993)6. Stephen Breyer (1994) 7. Samuel Alito (2006)8. Sonia Sotomayor (2009) 9. Elena Kagan (2010)
Supreme Court Building
Separation of Powers Within The Constitution
Article I - Legislative Powers
Article II - Executive Powers
Article III - Judicial Powers
JudicialExecutive
Legislative
Checks of Legislative Branch Checks over Executive Branch:
• Override Presidential veto• Impeach and remove President• Senate can Reject Presidential appointments • Refuse ratification of treaties • Conduct investigation of President’s actions• Refuse Presidential funding requests
Checks over Judicial Branch:
• Change number of Supreme Court Justices • Propose Constitutional amendments • Rejection of Supreme Court nominees• Impeach and remove federal judges
Checks of Executive Branch Checks over Judicial Branch:
• Nominates Supreme Court Justices • Nominates Federal Judges • Power of pardon • Refusal to enforce court decisions
Checks over Legislative Branch:
• Power of veto • Call Congressional special session • Carries out laws passed by Congress• Vice President cast tie breaking vote in the Senate
Checks of Judicial Branch Checks over Executive Branch:
• Declare executive actions unconstitutional • Power to issue warrants • Chief justice presides over presidential impeachment trial
Checks over Legislative Branch:
• Declare laws unconstitutional • Chief Justice Presides over senate during presidential impeachment trial
The Electoral College “Winner Take All”
The “Magic” Number – 270
The Electoral College 2008 Election
Obama – 365 McCain – 173
THE END