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U.S. History
Chapter 9: Citizenship & the Constitution
Section 1: Understanding the Constitution
The Federal System
•Representative Democracy—a government led by officials who are chosen by the people
The Federal System
•Federalism
–Power divided between state & national governments
–A system of shared responsibility
The Federal System
•Delegated Powers—powers granted to the federal government
“The Congress shall have Power…To make all Laws which shall be necessary
and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers
vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States…”
--United States Constitution Article I, Section 8
The Federal System
•Elastic Clause—allows Congress to stretch its powers to address issues that the nation’s founders may not have foreseen
The Federal System
•Reserved Powers—powers retained by the state governments or by its citizens
The Federal System
•Concurrent Powers—powers that are held by both the federal & state governments
The Legislative Branch
•Separation of Powers—the division of government into distinct areas with different braches of government exercising different powers
Legislative
Executive Judicial
The Legislative Branch
• House of Representatives
– 435 members
– Representation based on population
– Apportionment—planned distribution
The Legislative Branch
•Apportionment determined by examining population changes shown in census count.
The Legislative Branch
•Membership Requirements
–25 years old–US citizen for 7 years–Resident of state/district
The Legislative Branch
•House of Representatives
–2 year term
–Presiding Officer: Speaker of the House
Nancy PelosiSpeaker of the House
110th Congress
The Legislative Branch
•Senate
–2 senators per state
–50 states = 100 senators
The Legislative Branch
•Membership Requirements
–30 years old–US citizen for 9 years–Resident of state
The Legislative Branch
•Presiding Officer: Vice President
–Casts tie breaking votes
–President pro tempore leads in absence
Dick CheneyVice President of the United States
Executive Branch
George W. Bush43rd President of the United States
Executive Branch
•Chief officer: President
•Job Requirements
–Native-born US citizen–35 years old–US resident for 14 years
Executive Branch
•Term
–4 year term
–22nd Amendment limits to two terms
–VP becomes president upon death/removal
Franklin D. Roosevelt32nd President of the United States
Elected to four terms as President
“The President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States, shall
be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of,
Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
--United States Constitution Article II, Section 4
Executive Branch
•Impeach—to bring charges against a president suspected of committing a crime or violating essential duties
Andrew Johnson17th President of the United States
Impeached 1868
Bill Clinton42nd President of the United States
Impeached 1998
House of RepresentativesImpeach—charge
Simple majority to impeach
SenateTrial
2/3 majority to convict
Removal from office
Working with Congress
•Veto—power of the president to cancel laws that Congress passes
•Congress can override veto with 2/3 majority of both houses
Congress passes a bill Bill sent to president
Sign bill into lawVeto bill
Bill returned to Congress
Bill passed by 2/3 majority of both housebill becomes law;
presidential veto overridden
Bill fails to attain 2/3 majority in both housesbill dead
Working with Congress
•Executive Order—a command that has the force of law
•Pardons—Power to grant freedom from punishment for a person convicted of a federal crime or facing criminal charges
Working with Congress
•Commander-in-chief
•Cabinet—heads of executive departments who advise the president
The Judicial Branch
•Federal Judiciary
–Consist of Federal Courts & Supreme Court
–Strike down unconstitutional laws
The Judicial Branch
•Judges
–Appointed by president
–Lifetime appointment
The Judicial Branch
•Multi-tiered Court system
–District Courts–Courts of Appeal–Supreme Court
The Supreme Court
•“Court of final appeal”
•Hears about 100 cases a year
•Most cases involve important constitutional issues
The Supreme Court
•Nine justices
•Presiding Officer: Chief Justice
•No specific requirements
The Three Branches of Government
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