United States Government Basics

Legislative Branch Bicameral Legislature Congress Senate House of Representatives

Congress Both houses must approve all legislation before the president can sign it Both houses must approve all legislation before the president can sign it Can override a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote Can override a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote Majority rule for most votes Majority rule for most votes

Congress (cont.) Majority Party controls schedule in each house Majority Party controls schedule in each house Speaker of the House most powerful member of Congress Speaker of the House most powerful member of Congress

Senate 100 members – 2 per state 100 members – 2 per state At least 30 years old At least 30 years old 9 years US citizen 9 years US citizen Resident of state elected from Resident of state elected from

Senate Powers Confirms presidential appointments like federal judges and Cabinet members Confirms presidential appointments like federal judges and Cabinet members Holds impeachment trials Holds impeachment trials Approves all treaties with foreign governments Approves all treaties with foreign governments

House of Representatives 435 members 435 members Minimum of 1 per state Minimum of 1 per state At least 25 years old At least 25 years old 7 years US citizen 7 years US citizen Resident of state and district elected from Resident of state and district elected from

House Powers Starts all bill that call for spending of money Starts all bill that call for spending of money Starts impeachment proceedings Starts impeachment proceedings Breaks ties in Electoral College Breaks ties in Electoral College

Executive Branch President Cabinet Departments Executive Office Agencies, Boards, Commissions

President  Must be at least 35  Natural born citizen  14 years residency in the US  Can serve only 2 terms (22 nd Amendment)  These apply to VP also

President as Chief Executive  Develops federal policy  Enforces the law  Appoints federal officials  Prepares the national budget

President’s Role  Commander-in-Chief of the military  Makes foreign policy  Chief of State  Symbolic representative of the nation of the nation  Annual State of the Union address

President’s Powers  Enforces federal laws  Grants reprieves and pardon  Appoints federal judges, ambassadors, Cabinet members  Make treaties  Can veto legislation

Judicial Branch Supreme Court only court created by the Constitution Supreme Court only court created by the Constitution All other federal courts created by Congress All other federal courts created by Congress All federal judges appointed by president and approved by Senate All federal judges appointed by president and approved by Senate

Supreme Court No stated requirements for office, but usually experience as a lawyer or lower federal judge No stated requirements for office, but usually experience as a lawyer or lower federal judge Lifetime appointment Lifetime appointment 9 members 9 members

Supreme Court Powers Final say on cases involving federal law Final say on cases involving federal law Final say on cases involving 2 or more states Final say on cases involving 2 or more states Cases involving foreign ambassadors Cases involving foreign ambassadors

Supreme Court (cont) Decides issues of Constitutional law Decides issues of Constitutional law Most cases come on appeal from a lower federal court Most cases come on appeal from a lower federal court Cases can be appealed from a state court Cases can be appealed from a state court Decisions by majority vote Decisions by majority vote Decisions are final Decisions are final

Supreme Court (cont.) Greatest Power is Judicial Review Greatest Power is Judicial Review Supreme Court has final say on what is and is not constitutional Supreme Court has final say on what is and is not constitutional