1. There are three separate but equal branches of government.
The American system of government is established by the United States Constitution.
There are three separate but equal branches of government.
The Founding Fathers, the framers of the Constitution, wanted to form a government that did not allow one person to have too much authority or control.
With this in mind the framers wrote the Constitution to provide for a separation of powers, or three separate branches of government.

2. 3 Branches of Government:
Executive
Together, these branches make, execute, and interpret the laws that govern our country. Because each branch has both individual and shared powers, each is accountable to the others.
Each has its own responsibilities and at the same time they work together to make the country run smoothly and to assure that the rights of citizens are not ignored.
Legislative
Judicial

3. Our government is a system of checks and balances.WHY?
Executive
Branch
This "checks and balances" system means that the balance of power in our government remains steady.
A branch may use its powers to check the powers of the other two in order to maintain a balance of power among the three branches of government.
Judicial
Branch
Legislative
Branch

4. Separation of Powers
Dividing different powers among three branches of government
Prevents one branch from gaining too much power
Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches have their own unique powers

6. Analysis
Why is it important to separate the powers of the government? Think about the other principles of democracy…

7. Legislative Branch Includes Congress Senate House of Representatives
Main job: make laws
U. S. Capitol Building

8. The Legislative Branch
House of
Representatives
Senate
The U.S. Congress is made up of two parts, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress meets at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Its primary duty is to write, debate, and pass bills, which are then passed on to the President for approval to become laws.
Lesson 2 8

9. The House of Representatives
In the House, representation is based on the number of people living in each state. Therefore, states with larger populations have more representation than states with smaller populations. Each state has at least one representative in the House. LOOK UP..STATE WITH MOST REPS. HOW ABOUT TX Pennsylvania 19 Delaware 1
Lesson 2 9

10. Special Duties of the Legislature
In addition to making laws, the House and the Senate each have some special duties:
Senate can:
Vote on any treaties the President makes
Review and approve Presidential appointees, such as Cabinet Secretaries and Supreme Court justices
Hold a trial for a government official who does something wrong
House of Representatives can:
Recommend tax bills to become law
Decide if a government official should be put on trial before the Senate if s/he commits a crime against the country
Fixed punctuation and capitalization
Lesson 2 10

11. House of Representatives
Each representative serves a term of 2 years. When the term is over, people from that state may choose to elect a new representative or keep the same one.
Thinking of running for Representative from your state? You must:
Be at least 25 years old
Be a U.S. citizen for the past 7 years
Live in the state you represent
Lesson 2 11

12. The Senate
Each of the 50 states sends 2 people to the Senate, so there are a total of 100 senators. This means that each state has equal representation in the Senate. Pennsylvania 2 Delaware 2
Fixed spacing issue with “2” after Delaware
Lesson 2 12

13. The Senate
Each senator serves a term of 6 years. When their 6-year term is over, the people from that state may choose to elect a new senator or keep the same one.
Thinking about running for Senate? You must:
Be at least 30 years old
Be a U.S. citizen for the past 9 years
Live in the state you represent
Lesson 2 13

14. The Judicial Branch
The judicial branch of government is made up of the court system. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. It was established by the Constitution. Other federal courts were established by Congress.
Courts decide arguments about:
The meaning of laws
How laws are applied
Whether laws break the rules
of the Constitution
Lesson 2 14

15. The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court hears cases that have made their way through the lower court system.
There are more than 7,500 cases sent to the Supreme Court each year.
Only about 80 to 100 cases are actually accepted.
There are nine Supreme Court Justices, one of the nine being the Chief Justice.
The Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President, approved by the Senate, and can serve for life.
Lesson 2 15

16. Judicial Tenure The Role of Politics in Selecting Judges
There are no Constitutional requirements
The process of judicial selection is a highly partisan and political process
Because of the power wielded by the Supreme Court, presidents take a personal interest in selecting appointees
Judge Samuel A. Alito prior to the start of his second day of questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Judicial Tenure
Interpreted to mean a life term
The Constitution stipulates that federal judges “shall hold their Offices during good Behavior”
Judges cannot be removed for any reason by a President
Congress cannot impeach judges because they don’t like their decisions

17. The Federal Judicial System
District Courts
District courts hear more than 258,000 civil cases and 68,000 criminal cases annually
Use both grand juries and petit juries
District judges are appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and hold office for life
Legislative
Courts
Federal Regulatory
And Administrative
Agencies

18. Types of Legal Disputes
Criminal Law
Crimes against the public order
Liberty is at stake
Right to government-provided attorneys
Right to trial by jury
Civil law
Relations between individuals, and their legal rights
Typically monetary punishment
The Great Debate over the Proper Role of the Courts
The contemporary debate over the Supreme Court's role is really a debate about the proper balance between government authority versus individual rights.

19. The Executive Branch
The President of the United States is the leader of the executive branch.
The President’s duties are to:
Enforce federal laws and recommend new ones
Serve as commander in chief of the Armed Forces – Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines
Meet with leaders of other countries
commander in chief (not capitalized, no hyphens);
Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines
Lesson 2 19

20. The President’s Cabinet
Carrying out the laws of the United States is a big job! To help, the President has a Vice President and department heads who advise the President on issues and help carry out policies. The Vice President serves as President of the Senate and becomes President if the President can no longer do the job. Leaders in each department are called Secretaries. These Secretaries make up the President’s Cabinet.
Lesson 2 20

21. Cabinet Departments
The Department of Education provides money for public schools and loans to help people attend college . It makes sure there is equal access to education and promotes educational excellence throughout the nation.
The Department of Transportation is in charge of highway planning and construction; car, truck, air, and railroad safety; and the safety of waterways, ports, highways, and oil and gas pipelines.
The Department of Agriculture works to support farmers and to develop and expand markets abroad for agricultural products. It protects quality in the daily food supply.
I fixed some minor punctuation, capitalization, and spacing issues.
The Department of the Treasury collects taxes, recommends ways to help the economy, and manufactures coins and money.
Lesson 2 21

22. Cabinet Departments
The Department of Defense is responsible for providing the military forces needed to protect the security of our country.
The Department of Health and Human Services looks after people's health and provides services that include conducting medical research, preventing diseases, and assuring the safety of food and drugs.
The Department of Energy researches and develops energy systems that are friendly to the environment, but are not too expensive.
Other Departments in the President’s Cabinet are: Commerce, Justice, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Veteran Affairs, Homeland Security, and State.
Lesson 2 22

23. Did You Know???
When Philadelphia was the capital of the United States, the House and Senate met in Independence Hall. The Senate met on the upper floor and the House met on the lower floor. Even today, the Senate is referred to as the “Upper House” and the House of Representatives is called the” Lower House.”
capital not capitol
Lesson 2 23

24. Dig a Little Deeper Who is YOUR Representative?
How long have they been in office?
What are some of their ideas on the issues you are interested in?
Do you have some ideas of your own?
Why not write them a letter or send an ?
You will find contact information at:
Lesson 2 24