united states government basics. legislative branch bicameral legislature congress senate house of...
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United States United States Government Government
BasicsBasics
Legislative BranchLegislative BranchBicameral LegislatureBicameral Legislature
Congress
Senate House of Representatives
CongressCongress Both houses Both houses
must approve all must approve all legislation legislation before the before the president can president can sign itsign it
Can override a Can override a presidential veto presidential veto with a 2/3 votewith a 2/3 vote
Majority rule for Majority rule for most votesmost votes
Congress (cont.)Congress (cont.) Majority Party Majority Party
controls schedule controls schedule in each housein each house
Speaker of the Speaker of the House most House most powerful member powerful member of Congressof Congress
SenateSenate 100 members – 100 members –
2 per state2 per state
At least 30 At least 30 years oldyears old
9 years US 9 years US citizencitizen
Resident of Resident of state elected state elected fromfrom
Senate PowersSenate Powers Confirms Confirms
presidential presidential appointments appointments like federal like federal judges and judges and Cabinet Cabinet membersmembers
Holds Holds impeachment impeachment trialstrials
Approves all Approves all treaties with treaties with foreign foreign governmentsgovernments
House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives 435 members435 members
Minimum of 1 Minimum of 1 per stateper state
At least 25 years At least 25 years oldold
7 years US 7 years US citizencitizen
Resident of Resident of state and state and district elected district elected fromfrom
House PowersHouse Powers Starts all bill Starts all bill
that call for that call for spending of spending of moneymoney
Starts Starts impeachment impeachment proceedingsproceedings
Breaks ties in Breaks ties in Electoral Electoral CollegeCollege
Executive BranchExecutive Branch
President
CabinetDepartments
ExecutiveOffice
Agencies,Boards,
Commissions
PresidentPresident Must be at least 35Must be at least 35
Natural born Natural born citizencitizen
14 years residency 14 years residency in the USin the US
Can serve only 2 Can serve only 2 terms (22terms (22ndnd Amendment)Amendment)
These apply to VP These apply to VP alsoalso
President as Chief President as Chief ExecutiveExecutive Develops federal Develops federal
policypolicy
Enforces the lawEnforces the law
Appoints federal Appoints federal officialsofficials
Prepares the Prepares the national budgetnational budget
President’s RolePresident’s Role Commander-in-Chief of Commander-in-Chief of
the militarythe military
Makes foreign policyMakes foreign policy
Chief of State Chief of State Symbolic representativeSymbolic representative
of the nationof the nation
Annual State of the Annual State of the Union addressUnion address
President’s PowersPresident’s Powers Enforces federal lawsEnforces federal laws
Grants reprieves and Grants reprieves and pardonpardon
Appoints federal Appoints federal judges, judges, ambassadors, ambassadors, Cabinet membersCabinet members
Make treatiesMake treaties Can veto legislationCan veto legislation
Judicial BranchJudicial Branch Supreme Court Supreme Court
only court only court created by the created by the ConstitutionConstitution
All other federal All other federal courts created by courts created by CongressCongress
All federal judges All federal judges appointed by appointed by president and president and approved by approved by SenateSenate
Supreme CourtSupreme Court No stated No stated
requirements requirements for office, but for office, but usually usually experience as a experience as a lawyer or lower lawyer or lower federal judgefederal judge
Lifetime Lifetime appointmentappointment
9 members9 members
Supreme Court PowersSupreme Court Powers Final say on Final say on
cases involving cases involving federal lawfederal law
Final say on Final say on cases involving cases involving 2 or more states2 or more states
Cases involving Cases involving foreign foreign ambassadorsambassadors
Supreme Court (cont)Supreme Court (cont) Decides issues of Decides issues of
Constitutional lawConstitutional law
Most cases come on Most cases come on appeal from a lower appeal from a lower federal courtfederal court
Cases can be Cases can be appealed from a appealed from a state courtstate court
Decisions by Decisions by majority votemajority vote
Decisions are finalDecisions are final
Supreme Court (cont.)Supreme Court (cont.)
Greatest Power Greatest Power is is Judicial Judicial ReviewReview
Supreme Court Supreme Court has final say on has final say on what is and is what is and is not not constitutionalconstitutional