1. THE US GOVERNMENT with help from http://bensguide.gpo.gov/ http://bensguide.gpo.gov/ I’m Benjamin Franklin! Call me Ben.

2. Constitution and Amendments Constitution 1787 “We the people….”We the people….” The 27 amendments 1791 1-10 Bill of Rights 1794-1992 11-27 Others Amendment rap

3. TWO GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF US GOVERNMENT 1. SEPARATION OF POWERS 2. CHECKS AND BALANCES

4. SEPARATION OF POWERS

5. CHECKS AND BALANCES http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_13_Notes.htm

6. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CONGRESS –HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES –SENATE –Agencies: –Library of congress, –Congressional budget office –etc

7. SENATESENATE (100 members) TWO SENATORS ARE ELECTED FROM EACH STATE FOR 6 years Must be –30 or older –Citizen for 9 years –Resident of state Vice president is the leader

8. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (435 members) A NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE ELECTED FOR 2 YEARS Must be 25 or older Citizen for 7 years Resident of state HOUSE SPEAKER IS THE LEADER

9. EXECUTIVE BRANCH PRESIDENT and his cabinet PRESIDENT –VICE PRESIDENT –15 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General.

10. THE PRESIDENT And vice president are elected by the people (via the Electoral College) for 4 years Must be at least 35 years old Must be a natural born citizen Must have lived in the US for 14 years May only serve 2 terms (8 years)

11. Order of Succession If something happens to the president, who is next? –Vice President –Speaker of the House –President of the Senate –Secretary of State –Secretary of the Treasury –Secretary of Defense –Attorney General –Secretary of the Interior etc.

12. JUDICIAL BRANCH SUPREME COURT –9 SUPREME COURT JUSTICES One of these is the Chief Justice Appointed by president Serve until retirement –Only has about 100 cases a year from STATE and FEDERAL COURTS

13. VOTING Every 4 years (00, 04, 08, 12, 16, 20 … ) BIPARTITE SYSTEM (TWO (big) PARTIES) –REPUBLICAN (GOP) --- e.g. George W. Bush –DEMOCRATIC --- e.g. John Kerry –Other small parties Socialist Green Etc. –Independent candidates

14. The Electoral College Source: http://blog.4president.org/2008/2009/01/2008- electoral-college-map.html

15. That’s all for today!! For some fun, try these: –Presidents ’ card gamePresidents ’ card game –Name that PresidentName that President –Or work on your government terms paper –Or catch up on some lessons (11, 6, 7, 8, 9) –Or take your test again….