Our Nation’s Government

 Congress makes new laws for our nation.  Congress has 2 parts: SENATE and HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  The PRESIDENT leads the nation.  Duties of the President are: * speak to the nation * lead the armed forces * work with leaders of other nations * MAKE SURE LAWS ARE FAITHFULLY EXECUTED

 Our national government is also made up of courts that judge laws.  The SUPREME COURT is the highest, most important, court in the United States.  The 9 Supreme Court justices are APPOINTED by the PRESIDENT, but must be APPROVED by the SENATE.

 Rights are freedoms that all citizens have.  Our Constitution includes the Bill of Rights that name many of the rights that belong to all Americans.  One right that we have is to speak in public about our beliefs and ideas, including religion.  RELIGION is a belief in a god or a set of gods.  Voting is another right that we have. It is also a responsibility!

 Citizens are allowed to make choices.  We go to special voting places during election time to have our vote counted.  Voters mark their choice on a ballot and puts it in a machine that records it.  A BALLOT lists all the possible choices in an election.  Votes are kept secret so people can vote without worrying about what other people think of their choices.  When more than half of the voters vote the same way, they are the majority. In MAJORITY RULE, these people get what they want. THEY RULE!

 Good citizens follow the laws, pay taxes, and vote. They also believe that freedom and justice (fairness) are important.  Here are a couple of citizens who became leaders and brought big changes to the lives of people. Harriet Tubman – risked her life again and again to help more than 300 people escape from slavery! Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – spoke out against laws that were unfair. He made a lot of people angry because he spoke out, but he always encouraged his followers to remain peaceful! These, along with many others, are all considered to be heroes. ***A HERO is someone whose courage sets an example for others.

 A PATRIOTIC SYMBOL, like our flag, stands for the ideas the people believe in.  Our flag has 13 STRIPES that stand for the FIRST 13 STATES and 50 STARS, ONE STAR FOR EACH STATE.  We show respect for our flag when we say the Pledge of Allegiance. This is a promise to be true to all it stands for.  We also sing our national anthem, “The Star- Spangled Banner”.  The national anthem was written by FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.