Well….at least for 7th grade!

Article 1: - Legislative Branch Article 2: Executive Branch Article 3 : Judicial Branch Article 4: Relations between states Article 5: Amendment Process Article 6: Constitution is “Supreme Law of

the Land” Article 7: Ratification Process

Primary function: Make Federal Laws Other Powers include

Declare war Tax and borrow money Impeach the President Raise army Create post offices

House of Reps How many members? How many years in a term? Speaker of House chosen by majority party

Who is the current speaker of the House?

Senate How many senators? How many years in a term? Who presides over Senate?

Primary Function: Enforce Federal Law President, Vice President, Cabinet and

other departments Powers of President include

Form public policy Establish foreign policy Pass executive orders Veto bills from Congress

How long is the President’s term? How many terms can he/she serve? How old does he/she have to be? What role does he/she have in the

military?

Who do Americans vote for on Presidential Election day?

How is the # of electors determined for each state?

In most cases, who receives ALL of the electoral votes?

How can a candidate lose the popular vote, but win the election?

Primary Function: Review Federal Law This includes

Power to Strike down federal law if unconstitutional

Judicial System District courts = trial courts Courts of Appeals = intermediate courts Supreme Court = HIGHEST COURT IN US

Chief Justice + 8 justices How long do justices on the Supreme Court serve?

Legislative Branch checks Judicial Branch by

confirming judges, impeaching judges

Executive Branch by overriding a veto, impeaching President, confirming appointments, ratifying treaties

Executive Branch Checks The Legislative Branch by

Vetoing Bills passed by Congress

The Judicial Branch by Nominating federal judges Enforcing court orders

The Judicial Branch Checks The Legislative Branch by

Declaring Laws Unconstitutional

The Executive Branch by Declaring Presidential Acts Unconstitutional

Congress can “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” for carrying out specific duties.

Allows Congress to STRETCH its powers to deal with changing needs of nation

Example: Congress established a National Bank – not a specific power listed in Constitution – used Elastic Clause to justify

Citizen – person who owes loyalty to a particular nation and is entitled to all the rights and protection

US Citizenship Born in US or ONE of your parents is US citizen Naturalized – completed the legal process to

become a citizen You were 18 or younger when your parents

were naturalized

Immigrant – someone who enters country with intent to settle there

Resident Alien – a noncitizen living in a country

Naturalization Establish 5 year residency Apply for citizenship Go through interview process including test

and interview to establish “good moral character”

Take Oath of Allegiance

Civic Virtue – Willingness to work for good of country or community

Responsibility of Citizenship Voting Obey Laws Defend Nation Serve on Jury Serve Community Be Informed