THE CONSTITUTION “The Constitution of the United States was created by the people of the United States composing the respective states, who alone had the right.” - James Madison

PREAMBLE We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

POWERS Delegated Powers are powers specifically given to a branch of the government Reserved Powers are powers not specifically written down and therefore reserved for the States. Implied powers are powers not specifically mentioned but implied. This is known as the Elastic Clause.

THE ARTICLES Article I - The Legislature Branch Article II - The Executive Branch Article III - The Judiciary Branch

CONGRESS

The Senate Upper House 2 Senators per State The House Lower House Representation by Population Minimum 1 per State

CAPITOL HILL Where they make laws

REPRESENTATIVE QUALIFICATIONS 25 years old Citizen for 7 years Inhabitant of the State (Unwritten rule - live in district)

House of Representatives Term is 2 years 435 Representatives (Minimum of 1 per state) Census every 10 years Reapportions the Districts 53 from California

The Democrats The now-famous Democratic donkey was first associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign. His opponents called him a jackass (a donkey), and Jackson decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign posters. Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the Democratic donkey in newspaper cartoons and made the symbol famous.

The Republicans Nast invented another famous symbol, the Republican elephant. In a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a donkey clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was labeled The Republican Vote. That's all it took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party.

House Leadership Speaker of the House - Leader of House - Chosen by political party in control - Presently: Republicans - John Boehner, Ohio

SENATE QUALIFICATIONS 30 years old Citizen for 9 years Inhabitant of the State

SENATE Upper House Term is 6 years 1/3 up for election every 2 years Continuous Body

SENATE LEADERSHIP President of the Senate Vice President Joe Biden 2nd in Charge President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy - Vermont (D) Traditionally the longest serving in the majority party

SENATE LEADERSHIP Majority Leader Harry Reid, NEV. Majority Whip Richard Durban, Ill. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kent. Minority Whip John Comyn, TEXas

CALIFORNIA SENATORS Barbara Boxer Dianne Feinstein

CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES Congressmen and women serve on committees to make decision on bills and to investigate matters

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH President Vice President The Cabinet

THE PRESIDENCY

THE WHITE HOUSE The West Wing

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE PRESIDENCY Natural born citizen 35 years old 14 year resident of the US Marine 1Air force 1

Presidential Term of Office Term is 4 years Limit is 2 terms If President dies or steps down, VP takes over. Only counts as a term if it is more than 2 years. Potential for 10 years in Office Franklin D. Roosevelt elected 4 times Amendment XXII set term limit

Electoral College - elects the President - Professional electors -Equal to number of Senators and Reps

Presidential Line of Succession Vice President Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore Secretary of State

THE CABINET Sect. of State Sect. of the Treasury Sect. of Defense Attorney General

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta

STATE OF THE UNION “He shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." (Article II, Section 3)Article II

COMMANDER IN CHIEF

CAMP DAVID

THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

THE SUPREME COURT

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES There are 9 Justices The term is for life Led by the Chief Justice Judicial Review - decide if a law or action is constitutional

The Roberts Court, 2011 Back row (left to right): Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen G. Breyer, Samuel A. Alito, and Elena Kagan. Front row (left to right): Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Anthony Kennedy, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS There are 27 Amendments 1-10: The Bill of Rights 13, 14, 15th - Civil War Amendments 18th - Prohibition - 21st repeals it 19th - Women’s Suffrage 24th - Civil Rights Amendment