The United States The United States GovernmentGovernment

An Understanding An Understanding

of the of the

American ConstitutionAmerican Constitution

We the People of the United We the People of the United States, in order to form a more States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, perfect Union, establish justice,

insure domestic tranquility, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common provide for the common

defense, promote the general defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to Blessings of Liberty to

ourselves and our Posterity, do ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this ordain and establish this

Constitution for the United Constitution for the United

States of America.States of America.

The Preamble to the The Preamble to the Constitution of the United Constitution of the United

States of AmericaStates of America

Our GovernmentOur Government

The Constitution of the United The Constitution of the United StatesStates

The Bill of RightsConstitution JeopardyConstitution Jeopardy How a Bill becomes a LawHow a Bill becomes a Law

Bill of Rights VideoBill of Rights Video

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

The 3 Branches of Government

Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch

A Flexible PlanA Flexible Plan

Back to Main Government Page Balance of Power videoBalance of Power video

Balance of PowerBalance of Power

The job of the Legislative Branch is to make The job of the Legislative Branch is to make our countries laws.our countries laws.

It is made up of two houses.

Legislative Branch

House of

RepresentativesSenate

Back to 3 Branches Page Lonely Ol Bill videoLonely Ol Bill videoMaking a Law Making a Law VideoVideo

Making a LawMaking a Law

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives The leader is the Speaker of the HouseThe leader is the Speaker of the House There are 425 elected representativesThere are 425 elected representatives

Based on the size of the stateBased on the size of the state Qualifications:Qualifications:

1.1. Must be 35 years of age or olderMust be 35 years of age or older2.2. Must live in the state they representMust live in the state they represent3.3. Must be a citizen of the USA for at least 7 yearsMust be a citizen of the USA for at least 7 years

Duties:Duties:1.1. Impeachment (Gather evidence and accuse Impeachment (Gather evidence and accuse

official)official)2.2. Making lawsMaking laws Back to Legislative Branch

SenateSenate The leader is the Vice-PresidentThe leader is the Vice-President

If not present, it is the President Pro-TemporeIf not present, it is the President Pro-Tempore There are 100 member in the senateThere are 100 member in the senate

Two from each of our 50 statesTwo from each of our 50 states Qualifications:Qualifications:

1.1. Must be at least 30 years oldMust be at least 30 years old2.2. Must live in the state the representMust live in the state the represent3.3. Must be a citizen of the USA for at least 9 yearsMust be a citizen of the USA for at least 9 years

Duties:Duties:1.1. Impeachment (Act as the judge and jury)Impeachment (Act as the judge and jury)2.2. Create lawsCreate laws Back to Legislative Branch

The job of the Executive Branch is The job of the Executive Branch is to make our countries laws.to make our countries laws.

The leader:The leader:The PresidentThe President

QualificationsQualifications DutiesDuties AdvisorsAdvisors

22ndnd in in

Command:Command:Vice-PresidentVice-President

Back to 3 Branches Page Executive Branch VideoExecutive Branch Video

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

The President of the United StatesThe President of the United States

Current President: George W. BushCurrent President: George W. Bush Term of office is 4 yearsTerm of office is 4 years Current Salary: $390,000Current Salary: $390,000 Elected on 1Elected on 1stst Tuesday after the 1 Tuesday after the 1stst Monday in Monday in

NovemberNovember Inaugurated January 20Inaugurated January 20thth of the next year of the next year The oath of office to the President is The oath of office to the President is

administered by the Chief justice of the administered by the Chief justice of the Supreme CourtSupreme Court

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Qualifications of the PresidentQualifications of the President

1.1. Must be a resident of the United States for Must be a resident of the United States for at least 14 yearsat least 14 years

2.2. Must be a natural born citizen of the Must be a natural born citizen of the United StatesUnited States

3.3. A presidential candidate must be at least A presidential candidate must be at least 35 years of age35 years of age

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Duties of the PresidentDuties of the President1.1. Chief Executive: Chief Executive:

• Makes sure cabinet and other staff are doing Makes sure cabinet and other staff are doing their jobstheir jobs

2.2. Commander in Chief: Commander in Chief: • Head of the MilitaryHead of the Military

3.3. Chief of State: Chief of State: • Head of foreign relationsHead of foreign relations

4.4. Chief of Party: Chief of Party: • Head of his political partyHead of his political party

5.5. Chief Legislator: Chief Legislator: • Approves, suggests, or disapproves lawsApproves, suggests, or disapproves laws

Back to Executive Branch Role of President Role of President VideoVideo

Role of the PresidentRole of the President

Advisors to the President:Advisors to the President:The CabinetThe Cabinet

There are a total of 14 cabinet departmentsThere are a total of 14 cabinet departments Created by George Washington in 1789Created by George Washington in 1789

He knew he needed some helpHe knew he needed some help The head of each cabinet is called SecretaryThe head of each cabinet is called Secretary Examples of DepartmentsExamples of Departments

Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, Secretary of TreasurySecretary of Treasury

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The Vice-PresidentThe Vice-President

Current Vice-President: Dick CheneyCurrent Vice-President: Dick Cheney Chief advisor the PresidentChief advisor the President Leader of the SenateLeader of the Senate Will fulfill the job of the President if he or Will fulfill the job of the President if he or

she is unable to do soshe is unable to do so

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Organization of the Judicial BranchOrganization of the Judicial Branch The Judicial Branch is a system of courts.The Judicial Branch is a system of courts. The Supreme court is the major body of the The Supreme court is the major body of the

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch The Supreme Court is made up of nine Judges, The Supreme Court is made up of nine Judges,

or Justicesor Justices The judges are appointed by the President, The judges are appointed by the President,

and approved by the Senateand approved by the Senate They serve for lifeThey serve for life

There are 91 district courts, and 12 courts of There are 91 district courts, and 12 courts of appealappeal

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Judicial Review and TreasonJudicial Review and Treason The process of checking our countries laws is The process of checking our countries laws is

called called Judicial ReviewJudicial Review A law is A law is unconstitutionalunconstitutional when it goes against when it goes against

the constitution, therefore it is voidthe constitution, therefore it is void Treason is carrying on war against the USA and Treason is carrying on war against the USA and

giving help to our nation’s enemygiving help to our nation’s enemy An example of treason is switching sides to help the An example of treason is switching sides to help the

enemy, i.e. Benedict Arnold in the American enemy, i.e. Benedict Arnold in the American RevolutionRevolution

To be convicted of treason, a person must confess, or To be convicted of treason, a person must confess, or two people with the same story must be witness in two people with the same story must be witness in courtcourt

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The job of the Judicial Branch is to The job of the Judicial Branch is to explain or define our laws.explain or define our laws.

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch

OrganizationOrganizationJudicial ReviewJudicial Review

TreasonTreasonArticlesArticles

Back to 3 Branches Page Judicial Branch VideoJudicial Branch Video

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch

The The ArticlesArticles

IVIV VV VIVI VIIVII

Return to Judicial Branch PageReturn to Judicial Branch Page

Article IVArticle IV Addresses the States and how they relate to Addresses the States and how they relate to

one anotherone another Only Congress has the power to admit new Only Congress has the power to admit new

statesstates In a In a Republican GovernmentRepublican Government people elect their people elect their

own representativesown representatives Two states could become one if both states Two states could become one if both states

agree, and have Congressional approval.agree, and have Congressional approval. Under the Articles of Confederation the states Under the Articles of Confederation the states

had a mediocre, convenient friendship.had a mediocre, convenient friendship.Return to ArticlesReturn to Articles

Article VArticle V Addresses the issue of changing, or amending Addresses the issue of changing, or amending

the Constitutionthe Constitution Proposing an amendmentProposing an amendment

2/3 of both houses must agree or…2/3 of both houses must agree or… A constitutional convention called by 2/3 of A constitutional convention called by 2/3 of

statesstates Ratifying an amendmentRatifying an amendment

¾ of the states legislators must agree¾ of the states legislators must agree ¾ of states must have constitutional ¾ of states must have constitutional

conventionsconventions Return to ArticlesReturn to Articles

Article VIArticle VI Confirms the authority of the ConstitutionConfirms the authority of the Constitution Was added to ensure that people knew the Was added to ensure that people knew the

Constitution of the United States was the Constitution of the United States was the supreme law of the landsupreme law of the land

States cannot make decisions involving States cannot make decisions involving foreign affairsforeign affairs

Officials of the United States government Officials of the United States government must promise to support the Constitutionmust promise to support the Constitution

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Article VIIArticle VII

Article VII describes how the Constitution Article VII describes how the Constitution can and should be ratifiedcan and should be ratified

9/13 original states had to agree to ratify the 9/13 original states had to agree to ratify the ConstitutionConstitution

The Constitution was signed on September The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, twelve years after the Declaration 17, 1787, twelve years after the Declaration of independenceof independence

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