Government and Westward ExpansionBy Miss O.

What is the Constitution?•Review: the

document that tells what the government can do and what the government cannot do.

•Who wrote the Constitution?

Preamble to the US Constitution

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sre7GuNEjpE&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

We The Kids•Read aloud

The Constitution is…

•the law of the land for all America.

•How many states are in the USA?

What are the 3 branches of government in the USA?

•1. Executive

•2. Legislative

•3. Judicial

Executive President•For all the 50 states

•Washington, D.C. ▫(White House)

•Makes sure the laws are carried out.

Sing the President’s Song

Legislative Congress•Congress = the House of Representatives +

Senate

Congress 2 PARTS•House of

Representatives based on how many people live in the state

•Senate every state gets 2 senators

Legislative Congress

•Makes the federal laws.

•Federal = the whole country

•Washington, D.C.

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxT7QjlvDqM&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Judicial Supreme Court•9 Supreme Court Justices

Judicial Interprets the Laws•Supreme Court = the country’s highest

court•Washington, D.C.

Why 3 branches?• Each branch of

government has just as much power as the other two branches.

• Keep each other in check, so one “branch” does not get out of hand.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5M50xBz1cU&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Checks and Balances

•What does it mean to check?

•What does it mean to balance?

•The 3 branches of government protect the people of the USA from bad government.

•Sing the 3 Branches of Government Song

Book to Read Aloud

Quiz TIME Federal Government•What is the branch of government that

makes the laws?•A. Judicial•B. Legislative•C. Executive

Quiz Time Federal Government•What is the branch of government that

interprets the laws?•A. Judicial•B. Legislative•C. Executive

Quiz TIME Federal Government•What is the branch of government that

carries out the laws?•A. Judicial•B. Legislative•C. Executive

Quiz TIME Federal Government•Which branch of government is the

President?•A. Judicial•B. Legislative•C. Executive

Quiz TIME Federal Government•Which branch of government is the House

of Representatives and the Senate?•A. Judicial•B. Legislative•C. Executive

Quiz TIME Federal Government•Which branch of government is the court

system with 9 Justices?•A. Judicial•B. Legislative•C. Executive

Quiz TIME Federal Government•What does federal mean?•A. state•B. local•C. national

Quiz TIME Federal Government•Where is the US federal government

located?•A. Richmond, Virginia•B. Washington, D.C.•C. London, England

Quiz TIME Federal Government•How many Senators does Virginia have in

the federal government’s Senate?•A. 9•B. 5•C. 2

Quiz TIME Federal Government•What is the law of the land?•A. Constitution•B. Bill of Rights •C. Declaration of Independence

Virginia State Government

•Richmond, Virginia = capital of our state

•Virginia has a state constitution too!

Virginia State Government•What are the three branches of

government in Virginia?

1. Executive2. Legislative3. Judicial

• In Virginia (state government), we call each “branch” a different name.

Executive Governor

•Heads the executive branch of government

•Makes sure the state laws are carried out.

Governor (executive)•The people of Virginia elect a new

governor every 4 years.•The governor is in charge of writing the

budget (the plan of how the tax money is spent) for the state.

Legislative General Assembly•General Assembly = new name for old

House of Burgesses

•Makes state laws

General Assembly (legislative)•(2 parts) = House of Delegates +

Senate

Capital building inDowntown Richmond

General Assembly (legislative) •The people of Virginia elect the members

of the General Assembly.

•Meets every January to make laws for the state of Virginia.

Judicial Virginia Court System•Decides cases about people accused of

breaking the law and whether or not a law agrees with Virginia’s constitution.

Judicial branch of government•Makes sure

that laws are fair.

•State courts and judges are part of this branch.

Judicial (Court System)•Some of the everyday

jobs of the judicial branch include listening to the court cases when people break the law.

•After listening to a court case, this branch decides if people are innocent or guilty.

Judicial Branch court system

•Another job of the judicial branch is to review the laws.

•Any law passed by the General Assembly must agree with Virginia’s Constitution.

What do we call Virginia’s legislative branch?•A. House of Burgesses•B. Congress•C. General Assembly

What do we call Virginia’s executive branch?•A. President•B. Senator•C. Governor

What do we call Virginia’s judicial branch?•A. judges•B. justices•C. Court advisor

Western Migration•After the American Revolution, Virginia’s

agricultural base began to change, and as a result large numbers of Virginians moved west and to the deep South to find better farmland and new opportunities.

Louisiana Purchase •President Thomas Jefferson bought a huge

chunk of land from France, which doubled the size of the USA!

Lewis and Clarke Expedition

•Thomas Jefferson wants his newly-bought land to be explored and mapped out, so he sends Meriwether Lewis and William Clarke on a 3 year long journey!

Daniel Boone•Found a trail through the

Cumberland Gap to Kentucky.

•Settlers crossed the Appalachian Mountains through the Cumberland Gap as they migrated to new lands in the west.

Tobacco farming•Was hard on the soil, causing many

farmers to look west and south for new land to farm instead of staying in Virginia.

Migration•Virginians migrated

into western territories looking for large areas of land and new opportunities.

Taking Culture With Them•As Virginians moved, they took their

traditions, ideas, and cultures with them.