1. Introduction to Government

2. Why do we need a government? What does a government do? What are citizens? What are the responsibilities of a citizen? What makes someone a good citizen?

3. Citizenship

4. Citizenship Continued

5. Popular Sovereignty All Power is held by the People The power to govern is given through the Constitution Amendments protecting sovereignty: – 15 th – African Americans – 17 th – Senators elected directly – 19 th – Women – 24 th – Outlawed poll tax – 26 th – Voting age lowered to 18

6. Federalism What is federalism? Some powers are delegated to the national gov’t and some are reserved for the states States have their own laws, courts, constitutions, and elected officials

7. What is separation of powers? Separation of powers is the assigning of the legislative (law-making) executive (law- enforcing) and judicial (law-interpreting) powers to three different branches of the government. The legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch enforces laws, and the judicial branch interprets laws

8. Separation of Powers

9. Checks and Balances Each Branch is checked by the other branches Ensures one branch does not have all the power

11. Legislative Branch The Legislative Branch (House and Senate) checks on the president; can override a presidential veto; can impeach and remove the president; ratifies presidential appointments; authorizes/appropriates funds for legislation; checks on the judiciary; can impeach and remove judges; confirms federal judges.

12. The Executive Branch The Executive Branch (President) checks on Congress; proposes legislation; vetoes legislation; makes treaties; checks on the judiciary; appoints federal judges; enforces court decisions.

13. The Judicial Branch The Judicial Branch (Supreme Court and lower courts) checks on the president; reviews executive acts; checks on Congress; reviews congressional laws. Marbury v. Madison – established judicial review Judicial Review – the power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a government