1. The constitution

3. Major principles

4. Popular Sovereignty
“We the people” – reinforces the idea of popular sovereignty
Rule is by CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED!

5. Republicanism
The people elect representatives and give them the responsibility to make laws and conduct government.
Republic / Representative Democracy – A system of limited government where the people are the final source of authority.

6. Limited Government
Fear of the federal government becoming TOO powerful
By creating a limited government they restricted the government’s authority to specific powers granted by the people.

8. Federalism States still maintained some powers.
States could no longer:
Print their own money
Tax items imported from other states
States could:
Govern themselves as much as it did in the past (write a constitution)

9. Federalism Continued…
Each state deals with their needs in their own way.
Example: Highways/Roadways
Lets states work together to deal with matters that affect all Americans.
Example: Environment, Health Care

10. THE FEDERAL SYSTEM RESERVED ENUMERATED POWERS POWERS - Powersto
national
government
Example: Declaring
War
RESERVED
POWERS
reserved
for
state
governments
Example: Setting
Up Educational
System
CONCURRENT POWERS
-Powers concurrent to national and state governments.
Example: the power to tax

11. Enumerated Powers Belong ONLY to the federal government Power to:
Coin money
Regulate interstate commerce (trade)
Regulate foreign trade
Maintain the armed forces
Create federal courts

12. Reserved Powers Belong to the states Power to:
Establish schools
Pass marriage and divorce laws
Regulate trade within a state
Tenth amendment: All powers not listed in the Constitution are “Reserved to the States.”

13. The Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the Land”
Concurrent Powers
Powers the states and the federal government share.
Powers:
The right to raise taxes
Borrow money
Provide for public welfare
Administer criminal justice
Any disagreements between state law and federal law must be settled in a federal court.
The Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the Land”

14. Separation of Powers
Divided the Federal Government into three branches to prevent any ONE branch from gaining too much authority
Legislative Branch: Makes the Laws
Executive Branch: Carries out the Laws
Judicial Branch: Interprets the Laws

15. Membership in Each Branch
Judicial Branch
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
President nominates federal judges
Senate confirms the appointments.
People vote for members of Congress
Voters cast ballots for president (indirect)
On Election Day the votes in each state are counted.
Whatever candidate receives a majority receives the state’s electoral votes, which total the number of Senators and Representatives the state has in Congress.
Electors from all states meet in December to formally elect a President.
A candidate must receive at least 270 of 538 electoral votes to win.

16. Checks and Balances
Each branch of government can check, or limit, the power of the other branches.
Helps balance the power
Example: Congress passes a law, the president can reject the law by vetoing it. However, Congress can override the president’s veto with a vote if two-thirds of the members of BOTH the Senate and the House of Representatives vote to approve it.

17. Individual Rights
The Bill of Rights

18. The Legislative branch

19. MAIN TASKS
Make the nation’s laws
Control federal spending

20. The Role of Congress
Government cannot spend any money unless Congress appropriates (sets aside) funds.
All tax and spending bills must originate in the House
Get approval in both the House & Senate before moving onto President

21. The Role of Congress continued
Congress monitors the executive branch and investigates possible abuses of power.
The House of Representatives can impeach, or bring formal charges against any federal official accused of wrongdoing or misconduct.
If an official is Impeached, the Senate acts as a court and tries the official.
Guilty officials my be removed from office.

22. The Role of Congress continued
Senate holds special powers:
Only the Senate can ratify treaties made by the president
Confirm presidential appointments or federal officials
All members of Congress have the responsibility of representing their constituents (the people of their home states and districts).

23. Congress at Work
Thousands of bills are introduced in Congress every year. Both houses create committees to evaluate proposed bills. **UNWRITTEN CONSTITUTION**
Standing Committees – Permanent committees that specialize in certain topics (agriculture, commerce)
Select Committees – Temporary, to deal with issues requiring special attention.
Joint Committees – Members from both houses that consider specific issues (federal taxation)

25. The executive branch

26. Who is included? President Vice President Executive Offices
Departments
Agencies
Carries out the laws that Congress passes.

27. The President’s Role: Chief Executive and Chief Diplomat
Chief Executive – the president is responsible for carrying out the nation’s laws.
Chief Diplomat – the president directs foreign policy, appoints ambassadors, and negotiates treaties with other nations.

28. The President’s Role: Commander in Chief
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces – the president can use the military to intervene or offer assistance in crises at home and around the world.
The president CANNOT DECLARE WAR!!!
President can send troops to other parts of the world for up to 60 days but must notify Congress when doing so . If Congress approves, the troops can remain.

29. The President’s Role: Chief of State
Chief of State – the president serves as a symbolic role as the representative for all Americans.
Fulfills this role when: receiving foreign ambassadors or heads of state, visiting foreign nations, or honoring Americans.

30. The President’s Role: Legislative Leader
Legislative Leader – Proposing laws to Congress and working to see that they are passed
Annual State of the Union address – presents goals for legislation

31. The Executive Branch at Work
Executive Office of the President: made up of individuals and agencies that directly assist the president.
14 Executive Departments
Department of States: plans and carries out foreign policy
Department of the Interior: manages and protects the nation’s public lands and natural resources.
Heads of the Departments (titled Secretary) make up the president’s cabinet **UNWRITTEN CONSTITUTION**

32. THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

33. Article III of the Constitution
Creates the Supreme Court – and “such inferior courts as Congress may establish”
Three Main Categories of Courts: District, Appellate, Supreme Court

34. District Courts Lowest level of the federal court system
Consider criminal and civil cases that come under federal authority
91 District Courts with AT LEAST one in every state
New York has 4

35. Appellate Courts
Consider district court decisions in which the losing side has asked for a review of the verdict.
Can either overturn the verdict or order a retrial
14 appeals courts

36. Supreme Court The final authority in the federal court system
A chief justice and eight associate justices
Most cases come from appeals of lower court decisions
Only cases involving foreign ambassadors or disputes between states can begin in the Supreme Court

37. Supreme Court Independence
The president appoints the Supreme Court justices for life, the Senate confirms the appointments
The public has no input.

38. Judicial Review
In 1803, Chief Justice John Marshall expanded the powers of the Supreme Court by striking down an act of Congress in the case of Marbury v. Madison.
**UNWRITTEN CONSTITUTION**
Gives the court SUPREME authority to interpret the meaning of the Constitution in our modern nation.