The American Government

3 Branches ExecutiveJudicialLegislative

The Legislative Branch Makes Laws Congress Senate – Vice President House of Representatives – Speaker of the House May Overturn Presidential Veto by 2/3 Vote May Declare War Appoints Federal Judges Passes the National Budget

The Executive Branch The President The Presidential Cabinet Can Veto Bills From Legislative Branch Can Raise Armies Carries Out Laws

Judicial Branch Supreme Court Decide if Laws are Constitutional Large Scale Trials Impeachments of Government Officials Judges not elected by People Judges Serve Life Term

Online Quiz online.com/objects/viewobject.aspx?id=soc5904

Checks and Balances Each Branch has a Power that Keeps Another Branch From Gaining too Much Power – Legislative – Overturn Presidential Veto with 2/3 Vote – Executive – Presidential Veto – Judicial – Can Declare any Law Constitutional, Impeachments

Constitutional Amendments First 10 = Bill of Rights 27 Amendments Currently 2/3 Vote in House and Senate or 2/3 State Vote for Convention (Never Done) Must be Ratified by 3/4 of States

Electoral Collage Uses voters votes in a state to vote for president Representation = Number of Seats in the Senate and House – Larger States = More Votes House Decides President in the Result of a Tie

Senate House of Reps. Congress

Senate Standard Number of Representatives Per State Vice President – 2 nd in line for Presidency Approves Presidential Appointments – Judges, Ambassadors, Cabinet Approve Treaties with Foreign Nations 100 Members – 2 Per State 6-Year Terms At Least 30 years Old and Lived in US 9 Years

House of Representatives Number or Representatives Based on Population Speaker of the House – 3 rd in line for Presidency 435 Representatives 2-Year Terms At Least 25 Years Old, Lived in US 7 Years Power to Impeach – Senate must approve with 2/3 Vote

President Native Born US Resident – Or Both Parents are US Citizens At Least 35 Years Old Live in the US at Least 14 Consecutive Years Elected by Electoral Collage Appoints Cabinet, Judges, and Ambassadors

Supreme Court Judge No Constitutional Requirements Follow American Bar Association (ABA) Standards – Good Standing with ABA for 5 Years – 12 Years Practicing Law – Upstanding Citizen – Awards and Accomplishments Maintain Position for Life

Citizenship Requirements Must Have Entered the US Legally (Green Card) or Have Served in Armed Forces Continuous Residency for 5 Years Physical Residence at Least 3 Months Prior to Application Physical Presence in the US for at least half of the Continuous Residency Basic Understanding of English and US Government (Citizenship Test)

Citizenship Test Complete the Sample Test to Determine if You Could Become a Citizen of the United States Cheating will Lead to Permanent Deportation from the United States