3 Branches of 3 Branches of GovernmentGovernment

By Kim IversonBy Kim Iverson

The ConstitutionThe Constitution

*States gathered in 1787 to write the *States gathered in 1787 to write the ConstitutionConstitution

*Constitution – “set principles that told *Constitution – “set principles that told how the new nation would be how the new nation would be governed.”governed.”

What Was Wanted from the What Was Wanted from the Constitution?Constitution?

*The leaders wanted a strong and fair *The leaders wanted a strong and fair national government.national government.

*The leaders wanted to protect *The leaders wanted to protect individual freedom.individual freedom.

*The leaders wanted to prevent the *The leaders wanted to prevent the government from abusing its power.government from abusing its power.

How did the leaders get what How did the leaders get what they wanted?they wanted?

*The leaders came up with three *The leaders came up with three branches of government.branches of government.

*The Executive Branch*The Executive Branch

*The Legislative Branch*The Legislative Branch

*The Judicial Branch*The Judicial Branch

The Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch

*The legislative Branch makes laws.*The legislative Branch makes laws.*The laws are written, discussed, and *The laws are written, discussed, and voted on in Congress.voted on in Congress.

*Made up of 2 houses of Congress*Made up of 2 houses of Congress1. The Senate1. The Senate2. The House of Representatives2. The House of Representatives

*The legislative branch is also know as Congress*The legislative branch is also know as Congress

The SenateThe Senate

*100 Senators*100 Senators*2 from each state*2 from each state*serve a 6 year term*serve a 6 year term

*Vice President is the head of the Senate*Vice President is the head of the Senate*Senate approves nominations made by *Senate approves nominations made by

the President of the Cabinet, Supreme the President of the Cabinet, Supreme Court, federal courts and other posts.Court, federal courts and other posts.

*The Senate must ratify all treaties by a *The Senate must ratify all treaties by a 2/3 vote.2/3 vote.

The House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives

*435 representatives in the House*435 representatives in the House*The number each state gets is based on *The number each state gets is based on the population of the state.the population of the state.

*The higher the population, the more *The higher the population, the more representatives a state gets.representatives a state gets.

*Representatives are elected by their *Representatives are elected by their states.states.

*Serve a 2 year term*Serve a 2 year term*Speaker of the House (elected by the *Speaker of the House (elected by the

representatives) is the head of the House.representatives) is the head of the House.

PartiesParties

*Both parties in the Senate and the *Both parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives elect House of Representatives elect leaders.leaders.

*Majority leader – the leader of the *Majority leader – the leader of the party that controls the house.party that controls the house.

*Minority leader – other party leader.*Minority leader – other party leader.

The Executive BranchThe Executive Branch

*The Executive Branch makes laws *The Executive Branch makes laws official.official.

*The President is the head of the *The President is the head of the Executive Branch.Executive Branch.

*The Vice President and other officials *The Vice President and other officials are also a part of the Executive are also a part of the Executive Branch.Branch.

The PresidentThe President

*The President is elected by the entire *The President is elected by the entire country.country.

*The President serves a 4 year term.*The President serves a 4 year term.

*approves and carries out laws passed by *approves and carries out laws passed by the Legislative Branch.the Legislative Branch.

*appoints/removes cabinet members and *appoints/removes cabinet members and officials.officials.

*negotiates treaties*negotiates treaties

*acts as head of state and commander in *acts as head of state and commander in chief of armed forces.chief of armed forces.

Members of the CabinetMembers of the Cabinet

*Made up of 15 major departments of *Made up of 15 major departments of governmentgovernment

*The members give advice to the *The members give advice to the President about important matters.President about important matters.

The CabinetThe Cabinet The Secretary of StateThe Secretary of State The Secretary of the TreasuryThe Secretary of the Treasury The Secretary of DefenseThe Secretary of Defense The Attorney General (Justice Department)The Attorney General (Justice Department) The Secretary of the InteriorThe Secretary of the Interior The Secretary of AgricultureThe Secretary of Agriculture The Secretary of CommerceThe Secretary of Commerce The Secretary of LaborThe Secretary of Labor The Secretary of Health and Human ServicesThe Secretary of Health and Human Services The Secretary of Homeland SecurityThe Secretary of Homeland Security The Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentThe Secretary of Housing and Urban Development The Secretary of TransportationThe Secretary of Transportation The Secretary of EducationThe Secretary of Education The Secretary of EnergyThe Secretary of Energy The Secretary of Veterans' AffairsThe Secretary of Veterans' Affairs

The Judicial BranchThe Judicial Branch

*Oversees the court systems of the United *Oversees the court systems of the United States.States.

*They explain the meaning of the constitution *They explain the meaning of the constitution and laws passed by Congress through court and laws passed by Congress through court cases.cases.

*The Supreme Court is the head of the Judicial *The Supreme Court is the head of the Judicial BranchBranch

*They rule acts constitutional or *They rule acts constitutional or unconstitutionalunconstitutional

*Decide if something is or is not permitted *Decide if something is or is not permitted under the constitution.under the constitution.

The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court

*9 Justices (judges), 8 Associates Justices, and *9 Justices (judges), 8 Associates Justices, and 1 Chief Justice1 Chief Justice

*Judges nominated by the President and *Judges nominated by the President and approved by the Senate.approved by the Senate.

*no term limits*no term limits

*Highest court in the land – decisions are final*Highest court in the land – decisions are final

*no other court can overrule the decisions*no other court can overrule the decisions

*decisions set precedents (new ways of *decisions set precedents (new ways of interpreting the law).interpreting the law).

Checks and Balance SystemChecks and Balance System

*Each of the 3 branches can limit the *Each of the 3 branches can limit the powers of the other branches.powers of the other branches.

*This way no branch becomes too *This way no branch becomes too powerful.powerful.

*”Each branch ‘checks’ the power of *”Each branch ‘checks’ the power of the other branches to make sure that the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between the power is balanced between them.”them.”

Example of the Checks and Example of the Checks and Balance SystemBalance System

*HOW LAWS ARE MADE*HOW LAWS ARE MADE1. Legislative Branch introduces and votes on the 1. Legislative Branch introduces and votes on the bill.bill.2. The bill goes to the Executive Branch2. The bill goes to the Executive Branch3. The President decides if the bill is good for the 3. The President decides if the bill is good for the country.country.4. If so, he signs the bill and it becomes a law.4. If so, he signs the bill and it becomes a law.5. If not, he vetos the bill (does not sign it)5. If not, he vetos the bill (does not sign it)6. The Legislative Branch gets another chance.6. The Legislative Branch gets another chance.7. With enough votes, the legislative branch can 7. With enough votes, the legislative branch can override the Executive branch’s veto.override the Executive branch’s veto.8. The bill becomes a law.8. The bill becomes a law.

continuedcontinued

9. People test the law through the court system, 9. People test the law through the court system, which is under the control of the judicial branchwhich is under the control of the judicial branch10. If someone believes a law is unfair, a lawsuit 10. If someone believes a law is unfair, a lawsuit can be filed.can be filed.11. Lawyers make arguments for and against the 11. Lawyers make arguments for and against the case.case.12. Judges decide which side presented the most 12. Judges decide which side presented the most convincing arguments.convincing arguments.13. The side that loses can choose to appeal to 13. The side that loses can choose to appeal to higher court.higher court.14. If the Legislative Branch does not agree with 14. If the Legislative Branch does not agree with how the Judicial has interpreted the law, the can how the Judicial has interpreted the law, the can introduce a new piece of legislation.introduce a new piece of legislation.15. The process starts all over again.15. The process starts all over again.

Additional InformationAdditional Information

*The link below contains additional *The link below contains additional information on the Three Branches of information on the Three Branches of GovernmentGovernment

http://www.sparta.k12.il.us/SID/Government/branchhttp://www.sparta.k12.il.us/SID/Government/branches.htmes.htm

Three Branches of Three Branches of GovernmentGovernment

Word SearchWord Searchhttp://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255f04/cs255sthttp://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255f04/cs255students/kiverson/p12/cross.pdfudents/kiverson/p12/cross.pdf

Word Search AnswersWord Search Answershttp://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255f04/cs255sthttp://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255f04/cs255students/kiverson/p12/crossword.pdfudents/kiverson/p12/crossword.pdf

Three Branches of Three Branches of GovernmentGovernment

QuizQuizhttp://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255f04/cs255sthttp://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255f04/cs255students/kiverson/p12/quiz.pdfudents/kiverson/p12/quiz.pdf

Quiz AnswersQuiz Answershttp://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255f04/cs255sthttp://ellerbruch.nmu.edu/classes/cs255f04/cs255students/kiverson/p12/quizanswers.pdfudents/kiverson/p12/quizanswers.pdf

Fact MonsterFact Monster

This information was retained This information was retained fromfrom

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0774837.htmlA0774837.html