Download American Revolution (Gov.)

The American Government
Articles of Confederation
Proposed – 1777
Ratified – 1781
Confederation – A political union of several parties or states
Creating The Constitution
Official Ratification - 1787
Final Ratification - 1789
George Washington
Ben Franklin
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
Notable
Signatures
What is the basis of the
Constitution &
American Government?
EXECUTIVE
LEGISLATIVE
JUDICIAL
SEPARATION OF POWERS
Montesquieu
WHAT IS SEPARATION
OF POWERS?
Legislative Branch
Function: 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 Democrats
The 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 Representatives
Membership Qualifications:
25 years old
U.S. citizen for at
least 7 years
Must live in the state
they represent
SENATE
100 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
Senate
Membership Qualifications:
30 years old
U.S. citizen for at
least 9 years
Must live in the state
they represent
United States Capitol Building
435 House Representative + 100 Senators = 535 Congressmen
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Function: Enforces the Laws
Head / Ruling Body: President
The Chief Executive
U.S. President
Barack Obama
U.S. President (2009 – Present)
Political Party – Democrats
United States President
Qualifications:
35 YEARS OLD
BE A NATURAL BORN
CITIZEN OF THE UNITED
STATES
LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
FOR AT LEAST 14 YEARS
George Washington
The President’s
Room
JUDICIAL BRANCH
Function: Interprets the Laws
Head / Ruling Body: Supreme Court
The Nine Supreme Court
Justices
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
John Roberts - Chief Justice (2005)
Antonin Scalia (1986)
Anthony Kennedy (1988)
Clarence Thomas (1991)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1993)
Stephen Breyer (1994)
Samuel Alito (2006)
Sonia Sotomayor (2009)
Elena Kagan (2010)
Supreme Court Building
Separation of Powers Within
The Constitution
Article I - Legislative Powers
Article II - Executive Powers
Article III - Judicial Powers
Executive
Judicial
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