1. Mr. Ermer U.S. History Miami Beach Senior High

2.   Articles of Confederation  The Constitution of the United States of America  Three Branches=Legislative, Executive, Judicial  Checks & Balances  Electoral College  Federalism  Living Document: the amendment process  The Bill of Rights The American Republic

4.   Who: Congress  House of Representatives based on state population (435)  Senate made of two senators from every state (100)  Where: Capitol Building; Washington, D.C.  Responsibilities  Write and pass laws  Control taxes, budgets, debt  Declare war  Senate ratifies treaties and confirms cabinet members Legislative Branch

8.   Who: President, Vice-President, cabinet departments  Where: The White House; Washington, D.C.  Presidential Responsibilities:  Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces  Enforce laws passed by Congress  Appoint and supervise cabinet departments, agencies  Address Congress on the “state of the union” Executive Branch

10.   Who: Nine Justices of the Supreme Court  Where: Supreme Court Chambers; Washington, D.C.  Responsibilities:  Judicial Review  Judging if laws passed by Congress are constitutional Judicial Branch

12.   Powers not given to Congress or the President by the constitution are reserved for individual states  State laws must be constitutional  State laws are subject to judicial review by state courts and the U.S. Supreme Court Federalism

14.   The Constitution can be amended  Amendments must be approved by Congress and 2/3 of the states before taking effect  The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights  The Bill of Rights protects citizens from the government  Freedom of speech, assembly, religion, press, expression  Right to bare arms, trial by jury  Protection against search & seizure, self incrimination, false imprisonment, double jeopardy, unusual punishment The Constitution