Agenda 09/09/10 Stamp Principles of Const. flip book Lecture notes – the 3 branches Independent work Reading and study questions Rights of American Citizens Go over study questions at end of period

The Three Branches Legislative Branch The Legislative Branch includes two houses in Congress The House of Representatives the Senate Congress has two primary roles Make the national laws Control federal spending The federal government cannot spend any money unless Congress appropriates it Appropriates = sets aside funds

Legislative Branch All tax/spending bills originate in the House Bills are approved by both houses Bill goes to President for a signature

Legislative Branch Congress also monitors the Executive branch and investigates possible abuses of power Representatives can impeach any federal officer (including President) Impeach = bring charges against If impeached – Senate acts as the court If found guilty = removal from office

Legislative Branch Special Powers of the Senate Congress at work Ratify treaties & confirm Presidential appointments (Supreme Court judges…etc.) Congress at work Congress works in committees to write and pass bills through each house. Once a committee approves a bill it is sent to the floor of the House or Senate for a vote

Executive Branch The Executive branch includes the President, VP and various executive offices, department and agencies The Executive Branch carries out the laws passed by Congress The President plays many roles in government and each comes with different powers and responsibilities.

Executive Branch Roles of the President Chief Executive Carry out the nation’s laws Chief Diplomat Directs foreign relations, deals with other nations Commander in Chief Head of armed forces Use military troops to intervene or offer assistance

Executive Branch Roles of the President Chief of State Symbolic role as the representative of all Americans Visiting other nations, honoring Americans Legislative Leader Proposing laws to Congress (can’t write bill) In the State of the Union Address President sets legislative goals

Executive Branch 15 Executive Departments, each responsible for a different area of government Heads of these departments make up the President’s cabinet Cabinet = Panel of Presidential advisors

Judicial Branch The Constitution calls for the creation of a Supreme Court and any necessary inferior courts Today the judicial branch consists of three main categories of courts District Courts Lowest level of federal court Criminal cases like tax evasion, kidnapping

Judicial Branch Appellate Courts Supreme Court Appeals courts that review cases from lower courts, at the request of the losing side Can choose to agree with lower court (uphold) Can decide to disagree with lower court (over turn) Supreme Court Final authority in the federal court system Takes cases of appeals from lower courts

Judicial Branch The Supreme Court is the least public of the three branches Judges are free to make decisions without worrying about voters The Supreme Court exercises judicial review Judicial review = SC declares laws constitutional or unconstitutional

Assignment Read pages 145-147 Complete 10 Reading Review Questions (separate handout) We will go over the answers the last 15 minutes of class

Amendment Chart 1 Speech Press Religion Assembly Petition Amendment Rights Guaranteed/ Changes Made Illustration 1 Speech Press Religion Assembly Petition