THE US GOVERNMENT with help from I’m Benjamin Franklin! Call me Ben

THE US GOVERNMENTwith help from http://bensguide.gpo.gov/　

I’m Benjamin Franklin! Call me Ben.

Constitution and Amendments

Constitution1787 “

We the people….”

The 27 amendments1791 1-10 Bill of Rights1794-1992 11-27 OthersAmendment rap

TWO GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF US GOVERNMENT

1. SEPARATION OF POWERS

2. CHECKS AND BALANCES

SEPARATION OF POWERS

CHECKS AND BALANCES

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_13_Notes.htm

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

CONGRESS– HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

– SENATE

– Agencies: – Library of congress, – Congressional budget office– etc

SENATE (100 members)TWO SENATORS ARE ELECTED FROM

EACH STATE FOR 6 years

Must be– 30 or older– Citizen for 9 years– Resident of state

Vice president is the leader

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (435

members)• A NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE

ELECTED FOR 2 YEARS

Must be • 25 or older• Citizen for 7 years• Resident of state

• HOUSE SPEAKER IS THE LEADER

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

PRESIDENT and his cabinet– VICE PRESIDENT– 15 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS

• Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General.

THE PRESIDENT

And vice president are elected by the people (via the Electoral College) for 4 years

Must be at least 35 years old Must be a natural born citizen Must have lived in the US for 14 years May only serve 2 terms (8 years)

Order of Succession If something happens to the president, who is next?

– Vice President – Speaker of the House – President of the Senate – Secretary of State – Secretary of the Treasury – Secretary of Defense – Attorney General – Secretary of the Interior

etc.

JUDICIAL BRANCH

SUPREME COURT

– 9 SUPREME COURT JUSTICES• One of these is the Chief Justice• Appointed by president• Serve until retirement

– Only has about 100 cases a year from STATE and FEDERAL COURTS

VOTING Every 4 years (00, 04, 08, 12, 16, 20…)

BIPARTITE SYSTEM (TWO (big) PARTIES)– REPUBLICAN (GOP) --- e.g. George W. Bush– DEMOCRATIC --- e.g. John Kerry– Other small parties

• Socialist• Green• Etc.

– Independent candidates

The Electoral College

Source: http://blog.4president.org/2008/2009/01/2008-electoral-college-map.html

That’s all for today!!

For some fun, try these:

– Presidents’ card game

– Name that President

– Or work on your government terms paper– Or catch up on some lessons (11, 6, 7, 8, 9)– Or take your test again….