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Our Nation The world is mostly made up of water and seven large land areas known as continents. Our country is called

the United States of America. It is located on the continent of North America.

Our Capital: Washington, D.C.Every country has a capital. This is where the government makes important decisions, such as laws. It is also where the President lives and Congress meets. The Supreme Court judges work here too.

The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. It is named after George Washington, who was the first President of the United States, and Christopher Columbus, a famous explorer.

Why do we need a government? Imagine what your school would be like if no one was in charge. Each class would make its own rules. Who gets to use the gym if two classes want to use it at the same time? Who would clean the classrooms? Who decides if you learn about Mars or play kickball? Sounds confusing, right?

This is why schools have people who are in charge, such as the principal, administrators, teachers, and staff. Our nation has people who are in charge and they make up the government.

Our Government

Three Branches of Government

                                                                                                                                                

Over 200 years ago, our Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution. The Constitution is a basic design

for how our government should work. The Constitution divides the government into three

branches. They are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

IntroductionIntroduction• U.S. Constitution divides

powers among three branches

• “Separation of Powers”

• Why was this done?Why was this done?

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers• Limits

government powers

• Prevents any one branch from having too much power

Three Branches of Government

Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch

• What does each branch do?

Three Branches of Government

Legislative Branch – makes the nation’s laws

Executive Branch – carries out the laws

Judicial Branch – interprets the laws

3 Branches of Government

ExecutiveBranch

LegislativeBranch

JudicialBranch

CongressPresident &

Vice PresidentSupreme Court

Advisors & Appointees

SenateHouse of

RepresentativesFederal Court

System

Executive Branch

• Article 2 of the Constitution

• Executes, or carries out, nation’s laws

• President, Vice President, appointees & advisors

Executive Branch

The executive branch of Government makes sure that the laws of the United States are obeyed. The President of the United States is the head of the

executive branch of government.

•President: Leader of the country and commands the military.

•Vice President: President of the Senate and becomes President if the President can no longer do the job.

•Cabinet: President’s 15 advisors who give him advice about important matters.

The President of the United States

The process of electing a U.S. President was set up in the United States

Constitution. The Constitution requires a candidate for the presidency to be:

• At least 35 years old

• A natural born citizen of the United States

• A resident of the United States for 14 years

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Legislative Branch

• Article 1 of the Constitution

• Congress – makes the laws

• Congress has two houses:

–Senate

–House of Representatives

Legislative Branch

• The most important duty of the legislative branch is to make laws.

• Laws are written, discussed, and voted on in Congress.

Legislative BranchThe legislative branch of government is made up of the Congress and government agencies.

Congress has two parts, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Legislative Branch

Senate• 100 senators (2 from

each state)• Senators are elected

by their states and serve six-year terms

House of Representatives

• 435 reps • The number of reps

that each state gets is based on the state’s population

• Reps are elected by their state and serve two-year terms

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Judicial Branch• Article 3 of the Constitution• U.S. Supreme Court & federal

court system1. Interprets laws2. Punishes law-breakers3. Determines if laws are

constitutional

Judicial Branch

• The judicial branch of government is made up of the court system.

• The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land.

• Courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws, how they are applied, and whether they break the rules of the Constitution.

Supreme Court

• There are 9 justices (judges) -8 associate justices, and 1

chief justice• The judges are

nominated by the President and approved by the Senate.

• They have no term limits!• The Supreme Court is the

highest court; its decisions are final, and no other court can overrule their decisions.

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Checks & Balances

• Each branch has its own powers

• Yet, no branch can become too powerful

• How does the Constitution balance the powers?

Checks & Balances

Each branch has powers to check, or limit, the powers of the other 2 branches

How does this work?

• Congress has power to make laws

• President has power to veto, or turn down, proposed laws

• President can check power of Congress

Can Congress check the President’s power?

• Congress can override, or pass a law over President’s veto

• 2/3 majority vote in both houses needed

Is the Supreme Court involved in law-making?

• Supreme Court can check the powers of Congress and the President

• Interprets laws• Determines if laws are constitutional

Do you want to know more?Do you want to know more?

Check out these sites:

• Ben’s Guide to Government: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/

• Congress for Kids: http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_threebranches.htm

ReviewReview1. What are the three branches of

government?2. What are the primary

responsibilities of each?3. Why does the U.S. Constitution

provide for a separation of powers?

4. How does the system of checks and balances work?

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