11/26/12 – BR- What does the following quote mean?“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external or internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”-James Madison
Today: Understanding Federalism and The Branches of Government
But wait.. Before we focus on our government lets check
in with the other forms of government.. Get out a piece of paper and take the forms of
government quiz
Vocabulary Journal #14 Federalism: government in which power is
divided between central authority, states, and localities.
Separation of powers: Constitutional principle that limits powers vested in any person or individual; division of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Why are these concepts so important to our form of government? Why do we have them?
Separation of Powers- 3 Branches of Government
Constitution
Legislative
Congress
SenateHouse of
Representatives
Executive
President
Vice President Cabinet
Judicial
U.S. Supreme Court
What is a presidential cabinet? Some sort of special
furniture? The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings
of the Presidency itself. Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office.
The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.
In order of succession to the Presidency:
Vice President of the United StatesJoseph R. Biden
Department of StateSecretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
Department of the TreasurySecretary Timothy F. Geithner
Department of DefenseSecretary Leon E. Panetta
Department of JusticeAttorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr
Department of the InteriorSecretary Kenneth L. Salazar
Department of AgricultureSecretary Thomas J. Vilsack
Department of CommerceActing Secretary Rebecca Blank
Department of LaborSecretary Hilda L. Solis
Department of Health and Human ServicesSecretary Kathleen Sebelius
Department of Housing and Urban
DevelopmentSecretary Shaun L.S. Donovan
Department of TransportationSecretary Ray LaHood
Department of EnergySecretary Steven Chu
Department of EducationSecretary Arne Duncan
Department of Veterans AffairsSecretary Eric K. Shinseki
Department of Homeland SecuritySecretary Janet A. Napolitano
Other PeopleThe following positions have the
status of Cabinet-rank: White House Chief of Staff (“the power behind the throne?”)Jack Lew
Environmental Protection AgencyAdministrator Lisa P. Jackson
Office of Management & BudgetJeffrey Zients, Acting Director
United States Trade
RepresentativeAmbassador Ronald Kirk
United States Ambassador to the United NationsAmbassador Susan Rice
Council of Economic AdvisersChairman Alan B. Krueger
Small Business AdministrationAdministrator Karen G. Mills
Levels Of Government: Who’s Responsible for What?
Look at the different levels of government (Federal, State, and Local)
Do you see how different levels are in charge of certain things?
Federal, State, Or Local?
Federal
StateLocal
Federal, State, Or Local?
Local
StateFederal
Using our Discussion and your notes
Complete the federal, state, and local venn diagram
Homework: For each level (state, local, and federal) state one
problem that that level could solve and explain why they would handle it.
For example:Federal - Poor mail delivery. The federal government would have to handle this because the post office is their responsibility.