Federal GovernmentMr. Webster’s Class

Vocabulary

• bill – an idea suggested to become a law• President pro tempore of the Senate – the person who

presides over the Senate when the Vice President is not present• Speaker of the House – the leader of the House of

Representatives, usually the highest ranking member of the majority party• majority party – the political party to which more than half of

the elected members belong• minority party – the political party to which fewer than half

of the elected members belong

The Legislative Branch

• The Framers of the Constitution wanted the legislative branch to have more power than the other two branches.• They created a bicameral, or

two-part, Congress.• In the Senate, each state has two representatives.• In the House of Representatives, the number of members for each state is based on population.

The House of Representatives

• The House of Representatives has 435 voting members. Representatives serve two-year terms.• Every ten years, Congress changes the

number of representatives given to each state based on the census results. In Florida, we have 27 representatives.• Members of the majority party choose

a Speaker of the House to preside over the House.• The Speaker of the House is second to the vice president in the presidential line of succession.

The Senate

• The Senate has 100 members - two coming from each state.• Senators serve six-year terms.• Elections are staggered so

that no more than 1/3 of senators are running for reelection at any one time.• The vice president presides over the Senate.

Expressed and Implied Powers

• Expressed, or enumerated powers, are the congressional powers that are specifically listed in the Constitution.• Implied powers are congressional powers that are not stated explicitly in the Constitution.• The elastic clause of the Constitution gives Congress the right to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its expressed powers.

Powers of Congress

Enumerated Powers• Lay and collect taxes• Borrow money• Coin, print, and regulate money• Regulate trade• Declare war• Raise, support, and regulate an

army and navy• Establish naturalization laws• Govern Washington, D.C.

Implied Powers• Support public schools, welfare

programs, public housing, etc.• Maintain the Federal Reserve

Board• Prohibit discrimination in

restaurants, hotels, and other public venues• Drafting people into the armed

services• Limiting the number of

immigrants to the United States

How a Bill Becomes a Law• 1. A bill is introduced• 2. The bill is sent to a committee• 3. *The bill is sent to a subcommittee*• 4. The committee marks up and votes on the

bill• 5. The committee reports the bill to the

House• 6. The House debates/votes on the bill• 7. The bill is referred to the other chamber• 8. The bill is sent to a Conference Committee• 9. The president either signs or vetoes the

bill• 10. *A veto can be overridden by a 2/3

majority in both houses*• School House Rock Clip

How a Bill Becomes a Law Assignment• On a sheet of paper, you are to create your own version of a

board game that demonstrates how a bill becomes a law. The board game needs to include each step involved in the lawmaking process, and in the correct order. You can design the board to look however you would like, and you should try to make it look as colorful and creative as possible.• I will be grading as follows:• Lists Each Step Involved in the Lawmaking Process – 10 points• Accuracy of Content – 5 points• Followed Instructions – 5 points• Color / Creativity – 5 points

Executive Branch

• The President of the United States is the head of the Executive Branch.• Every four years, citizens elects a

president indirectly by means of the Electoral College.• The number of electoral votes is equal to

the total number of senators and representatives a state has.• The President’s main job is to

execute, or carry out, the laws passed by Congress.• The Constitution requires the president to

tell Congress about the “state of the union.”

To Become President of the United States…•One must…•be at least 35 years old•be a native-born American citizen•have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.

Presidential Powers

• Beyond the responsibility to carry out laws, the Constitution gives the president several specific powers. • The President…

• can veto bills passed in Congress• can call Congress into special session• serves as commander-in-chief of the

armed forces• can make treaties with other countries• can pardon or reduce the penalties against

people convicted of federal crimes• receives leaders and other officials of foreign

countries• names ambassadors and other top government

officials

Presidential Line of Succession

• The presidential line of succession defines who may become president upon the incapacity, death, resignation, or removal from office of a sitting president.• The first three offices listed in the presidential line of succession are as follows: Vice President, Speaker of the House, and President pro tempore of the Senate.

Judicial Branch

• Article III of the Constitution creates the judicial branch.• The Supreme Court’s main job is to decide arguments over how to interpret the U.S. Constitution.• Federal courts also hear

disputes that may arise between states, between citizens of different states, and between states and the federal government.

Extra Credit Opportunity (due 12/19)

• For this assignment, you need to pick a branch of the government and create a visual interpretation that depicts it. • Your visual interpretation should include the following:

• The name of the branch of government• A definition of that branch of government• An image (or images) that depicts the central players of that particular

branch of government, including the powers that they hold

• Some things you may want to illustrate are:• Qualifications to hold office in that particular branch• How the branch is structured• Which Article of the Constitution talks about that branch• How that branch relates to the other branches of government

Extra Credit Opportunity (due 12/19)

• This assignment is worth 20 points. • Late submissions will not be accepted.• I will be grading as follows:• Name / Definition of Branch of Government – 5 points• A depiction that is accurate in content – 5 points• Creativity / Effort – 5 points• Color – 5 points

Reflective Blog Writing Activity

• For this assignment, you must reflect on the three branches of government by creating a 1-paragraph “blog” that evaluates the ways in which the three branches relate to each other and check each other’s power. • Some things you should think about include:

• In what ways do the three branches relate to each other?• In what ways can the three branches check each other’s power?• What have you recently learned about the three branches of government?• Do you feel like you now have a greater appreciation or understanding of

how our government works?

• Once you have created your 1-paragraph blog, you must respond to two of your classmate’s blogs and build off of their responses.

Reflective Blog Writing Activity (worth 20 points)• Grading Rubric• Original Blog (10 points)

• Effectively compares the three branches of government – 5 points• Grammar / Punctuation – 5 points

• Response Entries (10 points)• Each effective response to one of your peer’s blog is worth 5 points