Government, Citizenship & the Constitution

Part 2: The 3 Branches

Congress

Members/Terms

Leader/Local Rep(s) Speaker of the House: John Boehner (R)

Special Powers
power of the purse - power to control all govt spending and collecting (taxes) Impeachment - power to bring up charges of wrongdoing or criminal act against any high ranking official

435 members (based on pop.)

House of each state has at Representatives District 16 rep: least 1 rep. Elliot Engel (D) 2 year terms (no term limits)

100 members (2 per state)

Senate 6 year terms (no term limits)

Vice President & approves of all treaties and job appointments set up by pro tempore the President (when VP absent) NY Senators: Chuck Schumer Kirsten Gillibrand
Impeachment trial - serves as the jury in an impeachment trial - 2/3 must vote guilty to convict

Article 2: Executive Branch

Key Point

The executive branch is headed by the President. His main responsibility is to enforce the laws of the nation. It is the only branch headed by a single person but has many people to help him.

The President

Vice President (Joe Biden)

Other Federal Agencies: - FEMA - Social Security - FDIC - USPS - NASA - National Archives

The Cabinet (Heads of the Executive departments)

The Executive Role

Elected every 4 years, the President has to many guidelines set by the Constitution: He must: be a natural-born citizen be at least 35 yrs. Old have lived in the US for the last 14 yrs. serve no more than 2 terms (8 yrs.) The 25th amendment states that if he cannot fulfill his duties as President, the Vice President must take over.

He can be IMPEACHED, stand trial and be removed from office if found guilty

Article 3: Judicial Branch

Key Point

The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court. Their main responsibility is to interpret (explain) the laws of the nation. The Supreme Court is the highest count in the nation that uses the Constitution and previous cases to make their decisions.

9 justices, led by Chief Justice John Roberts all appointed by the President and approved by the Senate take on cases dealing with the Constitution of individual liberties (about 100 per year) serve for life

Getting to the Supreme Court

Supreme Court
Few cases make it here and their decision is final the court of last resort

Appellate Courts (13)

Decisions from lower courts may be reviewed here [called an appeal] and reversed

District Courts (94)

Where most cases begin and are decided

The Judicial Role

Having a federal court system is important to settle many disputes that arise between the states or between individual citizens and the states or the nation. The Supreme Court carefully listens to the cases it takes on and makes their decisions by a majority vote.

Key Point

Through this process, the Court may determine that a law that has been created, violates the liberties or rights of a citizen. In that case, the Court may then declare the law unconstitutional and have the law repealed (cancelled) a very important power known as

LAW

JUDICIAL REVIEW