1. 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

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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