United States Constitution 101 Separation of Powers The 3 branches of government United States Constitution 101

Article I: Legislative Branch Bicameral: Senate 2 Senators for each state House of Representatives Based on population Representatives serve 2 year terms Senators serve 6 year terms Important Powers: Make laws Set taxes Declare war Override Vetoes Borrow money Regulate international and national trade Print money Establish Post Offices Regulate Immigration Approve Treaties

Article II: Executive Branch President and Vice President are elected to 4 year terms Qualifications: At least 35 years old 14 year resident of the US Natural born citizen Elected by the Electoral College Important powers: Commander-in-Chief Grant pardons Make treaties Appoint justices of the Supreme Court Ensure laws are executed Appoint his Cabinet

Article III: Judicial Branch US Supreme Court Justices serve for LIFE. Declare laws and acts of the Legislature & Executive UNCONSTITUTIONAL! What cases do they hear? Anything dealing directly with the US Constitution US Law Treaties & Ambassadors Maritime Laws (seas) Two or more states Between a state and citizens of another state

Checks and Balances (where do they go?) Declares acts of Congress Unconstitutional Declares acts of President Unconstitutional Creates Lower federal courts Veto’s legislation Impeaches judges Impeaches the President Overrides a President’s veto Grants Pardons Appoints Supreme Court Justices Proposes laws Approves Judges Ratifies Treaties Runs the military once war has been declared Controls Appropriations

NC Branches

Legislative Branch Powers: Passes statutes (laws for the state) General Assembly: House & Senate Powers: Passes statutes (laws for the state) Sets up local governments through charters. determines the powers of executive/state agencies debates/approves the state’s budget override veto (3/5 vote)

Initiative V. Referendum Initiative: when the people start an action in an effort to propose a new law Referendum: when the people vote on the initiative

Legislative Problem: Gerrymandering when officials make voting districts that have all their supporters so they never lose office.

Gerrymandering Redrawing district lines in a state to favor a particular political party A way politicians cheat in order to be elected! 12th District of Mel Watt

If you were an North Carolina Senator and you “gerrymandered” your district, how would this benefit you?

Incorporation: all state laws, city town ordinances must follow the 14th Amendment and the Bill of Rights What court case?

Executive Branch Governor & Lieutenant Governor Represents NC Powers: Represents NC Appoints cabinet members proposes state budget veto legislation (line item veto) Lieutenant Governor: takes over if Gov. dies, also is the “president of the senate” and has the tiebreaking vote in the NC Senate. Elected separately

Spotlight on the NC governor’s Veto power: The NC governor was given the veto power in 1996, this strengthened the executive branch and gave the governor more say over the legislative process.

Line-Item Veto V. Presidential Veto Powers of Pres. V. Governor Line-Item Veto: The Governor may veto parts of a bill he disagrees with and keep the parts he agrees with Presidential Veto: an “all or nothing” decision. The president must approve or reject the entire bill.

Commissioner of Agriculture Commissioner of Insurance Council of State: 8 ELECTED heads of state agencies advise the governor Secretary of State Attorney General Commissioner of Agriculture Commissioner of Insurance Commissioner of Labor Superintendent of Public Instruction State Treasurer State Auditor

Cabinet- 10 Heads of state agencies appointed by the Governor Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Crime Control & Public Safety Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary of Transportation

Judicial Branch (NC Article IV): State Supreme Court (7 elected justices, serve 8 yr terms): power of judicial review. Court of Appeals (15 Judges) Superior Court (46 districts) District Court (39 county) Every case must work its way up the court system EXCEPT: Death Penalty “Capital Punishment” cases go directly from Superior to Supreme Court.

Create 3 Ven-Diagrams outlining the similarities between the Federal branches and their state counterparts (one for each branch)