Legislative, Executive, Judicial

United states government

• The Constitution created a government of three equal branches.

• The Constitution is the plan and set of rules for our government.

• legislative• EXECUTIVE• JUDICIAL

The legislative branch

• The Constitution created Congress.

• It is a group of people elected to make laws for the country.

• Congress has two parts:

1.Senate 2.House of

Representatives

Legislative Branch

The job of the legislative branch of state government is to make the laws. A bill is an

idea for a law.

This branch has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Together these two groups are called the General

Assembly.

Senate + House of Representatives=General Assembly

The Senate• There are 100

senators.• Each state has

two senators.• A Senator is in

office for 6 years. This is called a “term.”

• Senators meet in the U.S. Capitol building

The House of Representatives

• There are 435 representatives.

• The more people that live in a state, the more representatives it has.

• Representatives serve for a term of two years.

• They can be elected for more than one term.

The job of the legislative branch is to write bills which become laws.

Later today, you might be asked to create a bill!

IF THE GOVERNOR VETOES THE BILL, another vote can be taken. If 3/5 of the General Assembly votes to approve the bill this time, the

bill becomes a law.

How does a bill become a law?

First, citizens develop an idea for a bill. A bill is an idea for a law.

Next, members of the House or Senate propose the bill to other members.

Then, the General Assembly votes to approve the bill.

After that, the governor signs the bill OR the governor vetoes the bill.

A leader is a person who helps others get a job done.

Good leaders help citizens decide how they can reach a goal. A good leader

treats others with respect.

Choosing Leaders

In the United States, citizens choose good leaders to run the government.

Citizens choose leaders at events called elections. People should

choose leaders who they think will do the best job. In what month is

the Presidential Election?

President for a Day

• Imagine being president for a day!

• What would you do?

• What kind of decisions would you make?

• Remember the responsibilities of the president

• Write a persuasive essay about what you would do if YOU were president and persuade me that you would be a good president of the United States.

http://www.scholastic.com/kids/president/

The Executive Branch• The president, or

Chief Executive, is the head of the government.

• Americans vote every four years for their leader of their democratic society.

• After elected to serve his/her country, the president lives and works in the White House.

• The president is Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

• The president works with leaders of other countries.

The PresidentThe President

• A president is the leader of a group, company, or government.

• The president of the United States is an elected leader who has many responsibilities, including creating policies, leading the armed forces, and meeting with world leaders to discuss issues.

• The president also plays an important role in the law-making process.

http://www.brainpopjr.com/socialstudies/government/president/zoom.weml

•The Constitution of the United States was established to create a new

system of government and outlines the responsibilities of the

judicial, legislative, and executive branches.

•The president is the head of the

executive branch.

United States Executive Branch

A PRESIDENT WEARS MANY HATS.

HE IS THE LEADER OF THE UNITED STATES.

HE SIGNS BILLS TO CREATE LAWS. HE HOLDS MEETINGS.HE GIVES SPEECHES.

HE VISITS OTHER COUNTRIES.HE CHOOSES OTHER PEOPLE

TO HELP HIM.

A PRESIDENT WEARS MANY HATS.

•Proposes, approves, and carries out laws•Makes treaties (Peace agreement)

•Leads the military•Appoints Supreme Court Judges

•(Like Who?)

President for a Day

• Imagine being president for a day!

• What would you do?

• What kind of decisions would you make?

• Remember the responsibilities of the president

• Write a persuasive essay about what you would do if YOU were president and persuade me that you would be a good president of the United States.

Mayor Governor President

Leads a town or city Leads a state Leads our country

Makes sure community laws are

obeyed

Makes sure state laws are obeyed

Makes sure our country’s laws are

obeyed

Meets with world leaders

The Judicial branch

• The Supreme Court is the highest court is the U. S., and is the system of courts to settle questions about the laws.

• The nine justices can serve for as long as they live, or wish to retire.

• Each justice is chosen by the president.

United States Supreme Court

Justices

Government

• The Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) makes the laws.

• The president carries out the laws of the United States.

• The Supreme Court explains the laws.

U.S. citizens can participate in their government. This process insures that power will always remain where it belongs -

with the people.

The most important right citizens have is the right to vote. By voting, the people have a voice in

the government. The people decide who will represent them in the government.

If you don’t remember anything else….

• Legislative=makes laws CONGRESS

• Executive=President, governor, mayor• Judicial=courts, makes decisions

about laws• We have freedoms and rights-it is

important to VOTE!

Democracy Rules !

http://government.pppst.com/3branches.html

http://www.school-house-rock.com/Thre.html