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