1. LESSON 1.3 Structure of American Government

2. http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-is-power-divided-in-the-united-states- government-belinda-stutzman http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-is-power-divided-in-the-united-states- government-belinda-stutzman

3. STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT KEY CONCEPT: THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE SERVICES TO PEOPLE BUT THEY HAVE UNIQUE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

4. VOCABULARY Bicameral House of Representatives Senate Referendum Veto Determine

5. THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT The men who created the Constitution of the United States did not trust governments with unlimited powers. Therefore, they created three branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial) and carefully divided the power between them

6. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH Created to enforce the laws passed by congress President, Vice-President, the president’s cabinet, and officials in the executive departments. Headed by the president. Presidential roles include: being the chief official of the executive branch, the head of the nation and the commander in chief of the armed forces.

7. EXECUTIVE OFFICE Consists of the president, vice president, 15 executive departments, more than 50 independent federal commissions and numerous agencies.

8. THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Assist the president with day-t- day decisions. Staff advise the president on foreign policy, national security and other issues. The departments of the executive branch include staff in the areas of agriculture, education, health, energy, commerce and others. Heads of these departments make up the Cabinet. Federal commissions and agencies include the Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Protection agency, the United States Postal Service, and the Peace Corp as well as others.

9. PRESIDENTIAL DUTIES IN ADDITION TO RUNNING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE Commander in chief of the the armed forces: allows the president to use the military to support foreign policy goals Executive branch has the power to conduct war, sign treaties, nominate people for federal office; appoint department heads, ambassadors and federal judges and issue pardons..

10. PRESIDENTIAL POWER LIMITATIONS The president does not have unrestricted power. The checks and balances limit the president’s powers The president can appoint federal judges – this is checked by the Senate. The Senate has the power to approve or reject the president’s appointments. The President can also veto (refuse to approve)- a law drafted by Congress. It limits this power by allowing Congress to override a veto. A vetoed bill can become law if passed in both the houses by two-thirds vote. This allows the two branches to check and balance each other.

11. THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Congress is the lawmaking, or legislative body of the national government. Bicameral (has two houses) The Upper house is the Senate – 100 members: 2 from each state House of Representatives – in 1913 the number of members was set at 435 – number from each state or district is determined by population. Congress meets for terms, usually January until November or December.

12. CONGRESSIONAL DUTIES Pass laws Represent what they think is best for their constituents (people in that member’s home state or district) Oversee the workings of the federal government Help their constituents solve problem with the federal government

13. CONGRESSIONAL POWERS Power to tax and appropriate (authorize the spending of income from taxes) Regulate commerce (buying and selling of goods and services) between states and with other nations Congress and the president share military power – president is commander in chief of the armed forces but must ask Congress to declare war Power to impeach (accuse a public official of misconduct in office) the president or federal judges

14. ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION DESCRIBES THE ROLE OF CONGRESS Makes nations laws – not just rules of behavior. Congress passes laws that impose taxes, authorize the spending of money and create government programs. Both houses of Congress must agree on a bill (proposed law). Once both houses do this, it goes to the president. If he signs the bill it becomes a law.

15. THE JUDICIAL BRANCH Decides conflicts between states and between individuals in different states. Supreme Court and any other federal courts that Congress considers necessary

16. SUPREME COURT Has 9 justices (judges) Hears cases for only part of the year Accepts only a few of the many cases it receives for review. Decisions of the US Supreme Court greatly affect national policy.

17. ACTIONS Neither the executive nor the legislative branch may throw out a ruling of the Supreme Court Actions they can take: rewrite the law that the Court found unconstitutional Turn the rejected law into an amendment to the Constitution – Congress then passes the amendment and sends it to the states of ratification

18. SUPREME COURT Plays a major role in checks and balances. It can overturn acts of Congress and actions of the president if it finds that they violated the Constitution. The Constitution give t the chief justice power to preside over a trial to impeach the president

19. THE POWER OF STATE GOVERNMENTS The federal government is not all powerful Some powers are shared with the states, others belong only to the states. The constitution does not necessarily determine which specific powers belong to the federal government and which belong to the state.. Powers not Specifically granted to the congress or implied under the necessary and proper clause are reserved to the state. THIS IS STATED CLEARLY in the Tenth Amendment

20. STATE POWERS Only state governments can set up city, or county governments. State legislatures have the power to set up business corporations and regulate trade within the state. Only states can create a police force, establish schools, and pass marriage laws. The Constitution places limits on the powers of the state and places federal law above state law.

21. BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS CAN MAKE AND ENFORCE SIMILAR LAWS States make laws regulating state elections, while federal government controls congressional and presidential elections Both state legislatures and Congress can levy taxes, charter banks, and borrow money. States have court systems to administer justice, including a supreme court. So does the national government. Powers that exit at both levels of government are called concurrent powers

22. THE STRUCTURE OF STATE GOVERNMENT there are many similarities between federal and state governments both: have constitutions Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches The state branches also act as checks on each other’s power

23. STATE LEGISLATURE Make laws, has the power to tax, borrow money and spend money. Purpose is to promote the general well-being of the state’s citizens. Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral (one house) legislature. The other 49 states have two houses (bicameral) legislatures.

24. GOVERNOR The chief executive and chief administrator of state governments. Do not have the same amount of power as the president Share their power with other officers of the executive department Some duties include proposing legislation, vetoing legislation, and calling special or extra sessions of the legislature. Limited judicial powers, Governors may pardon or release a person from the legal consequences of a crime

25. EACH STATE HAS ITS OWN JUDICIAL BRANCH AND SYSTEM OF LAWS The purpose of the state court systems is to interpret and apply stae and locals laws State courts include courts of appeals, trial courts, juvenile courts, municipal (city) courts, police courts and justice courts.

26. CITIZENS PLAY IMPORTANT ROLES IN STATE GOVERNMENTS Citizens can write laws for the legislature to consider (known as direct initiative) Power of referendum allows citizens to overturn legislation that was passed by legislature or by voters Some states also allow citizens to vote an official out of office (this is known as recall)