GovernmentGovernmentWhat is a government & how does it work?

• A government is a group that is given authority to rule a country

• Authority to rule comes from popular sovereignty

• Democracies separate power by using branches, no one branch has more power than the other “checks & balances”

Federal Republic (ex: US)

Congress: House ofRepresentatives& Senate

Parliamentary System (ex: France)

(

Parliament: Two Houses Prime Minister

President

Constitutional Monarchy (ex: Britain)

Parliament: House of Lords& House of Commons

Prime Minister

Monarch Crown Court

• Members elected by citizens 2 or 6 years (US)

• Write “bills” usually based on what people they rep. want

• Approve appointments made by executive branch, power to impeach

US Congress

British Parliament

• Each house has a leader(s)

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

•Leader can be elected by people directly/indirectly or born into

•Signs bills from legislature, making it law. Enforces the laws

•Power to veto a bill from legislature (2/3 vote overturns veto)

•Leader(s) appoint a cabinet to help run the country

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch

• Evaluates laws to make sure they don’t violate the constitution• Jud. Branch is made up of judges and juries, w/ different levels• US Supreme Court & Federal judges are appointed by the

executive branch and approved by the legislative branch

• Local judges are usually voted in by the citizens

• Juries are made up of citizens