The American system of

government is established by

the United States

Constitution.

There are three separate but

equal branches of government.

Executive

Legislative

Judicial

Our government is a system of checks and balances.

Executive

Branch

Judicial

Branch

Legislative

Branch

• People Included– President, Vice-President and the president’s

cabinet.

Executive Branch

• President– Elections

• Elected every 4 years by the Electoral College.• Limited to 2 terms

– Duties / Powers• Commander–in–Chief of the military, nominates federal

judges, proposes budgets, signs bills into law, and proposes domestic & foreign policy for the nation.

• The president also appoints the cabinet that helps him make decisions. For example the Secretary of State helps with decisions about foreign countries.

– Succession• If the president dies in office, the vice-president takes over.

The President

35 years old

Citizen of the United States Resident of the United States for 14

years

“I do solemnly swear that I will

faithfully execute the office of

President of the United States, and will, to the best of

my ability, preserve, protect,

and defend the Constitution of the

United States.”

1. The president tosses the first ball of baseball season!2. If the president is unable to fulfill his or her duties, the vice president must take over.

3. When George Washington became president at the age of 57, he only had one tooth left!

4. George Washington started as president with a salary of $25,000 per term.

5. Woodrow Wilson didn’t have to go to school until he was 9 years old.

6. Jimmy Carter could read 2,000 words per minute!

• Elections– Vice President is elected with the president.– Serves a 4 year term with the president

• Duties– Assists the president– President of the Senate (votes in cases of a tie.)

• Succession– Takes over president duties if the president dies in

office.

The Vice-President

• With your play-doh create something that illustrates the president, vice-president or cabinet member performing a duty of the executive branch.

Play-Doh

• People– Congress…House of Representatives and the

Senate• House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate

The Legislative Branch

• U.S. Senate– Representation

• Each state (no matter the size) gets 2 senators

• 100 senators total

– Terms in Office / Elections• Elected for 6 year terms• All voters in the state vote for each senator

– Duty / Powers• Represent the interest of Louisiana while in Washington D.C.• Declare war, pass laws and taxes, impeach the president or

judges, serve on committees and ratify treaties with foreign nations.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj4aMGlf6bA&feature=channel

Congress / The Senate

• Representation– The number of representatives is based on the state’s

population (Census, taken every 10 years)– Louisiana has 7. – Total number in the U.S. is 435.

• Elections / Terms in Office– Elected every 2 years and serve 2 year terms– Vote for the representative for your district.

• Duties / Powers• Represent the interest of Louisiana while in Washington D.C.• Declare war, pass laws and taxes, impeach the president or

judges, serve on committees and ratify treaties with foreign nations.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6LWHFVzjKY

Congress / House of Representatives

• Create something with your play-doh that illustrates a duty, power, election of or anything to do with either house of Congress.

Play-Doh

• People– Supreme Court and all federal judges

Judicial Branch

• Representation– Federal judges are NOT voted for.

• Appointment / Terms in Office– Appointed by the president and approved by the

U.S. Senate.– Appointed for life. – Can only be removed by impeachment

• Duties / Powers– Pass judgments on matters of law, settle disputes

between other branches, and decide if laws passed by congress are constitutional.

Judicial Branch

• Create something that illustrates the power or duties of the judicial branch.

Play-doh

1. What are the 3 branches of government?

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial

2. Congress is made up of __________ and __________.

The Senate and House of Representatives

3. How many Senators are from each state?

2

4. Which branch of government includes the President?Executive Branch

5. What is the job of the Executive Branch?

Carry out laws

6. Who is the current President of the United States?

George W. Bush

7. What is the job of the Judicial Branch?

Decide what laws mean

8. How long do Supreme Court justices serve?

For the rest of their lives