THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

United states government

• The Constitution created a government of three equal branches, or parts.

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

• The three branches are:

• LEGISLATIVE• EXECUTIVE• JUDICIAL

The Judicial branch• The Supreme

Court is the highest court is the U. S.

• Interpret the laws

• Decide if laws are “constitutional”

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

• Each justice is chosen by the 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 presidential republic.

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

• The president is in charge of the armed forces.

• The president works with leaders of other countries.

The Executive Branch• Required

qualifications for president;– At least 35 years old– At least 14 years living

in USA– Born in USA

• President- Barrack Obama

• Vice President- Joseph Biden

• Secretary of State- Hillary Clinton

Powers of the President• What the President

can do:– Suggest laws to

congress– Sign bills passed by

congress into laws– Make treaties with

other countries

– Send troops overseas– Appoint judges to the

Supreme Court– Veto a law passed by

congress 1 time– Enforce laws

Powers of the President• What the president

cannot do:– Make laws– Veto an act of

congress more than 1 time

– Declare War or keep troups overseas more than 30 days without congress approval

– He cannot break the laws of the country.

The legislative branch

• The Constitution created Congress.

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

• Congress has two parts: The Senate and The House of Representatives.

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 House of Representatives• Speak of the House-

3rd in line for the presidency in case of emergencies.– John Boehner

• Senators from Georgia:– Johnny Isakson– Saxby Chambliss

*Your current representative in the house- Hank Johnson

The legislative branch• Powers of the

legislative branch:– Make laws– Override Presidential

Veto– Approve all

appointments made by the president for supreme court

• Approves all treaties made by the president.

• Declare War• Control Taxes and the

country’s budget

Government• The president carries out the

laws of the United States.

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

• The Supreme Court explains the laws.

Democracy Rules !