THE THREE BRANCHES OF

GOVERNMENT
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

• CALLED CONGRESS AT THE

FEDERAL (NATIONAL) LEVEL
• MEET IN THE CAPITOL BUILDING
IN WASHINGTON, DC.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
• BICAMERAL → 2 CHAMBER LEGISLATURE
• HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
• SENATE
• RESPONSIBILITY IS TO CREATE LAWS.
• DUAL ROLE - CONSTITUENTS NEEDS & WANTS AND CONSIDERING WHAT IS
GOOD FOR NATION AS A WHOLE.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
• 435 SEATS
• NUMBER OF SEATS DETERMINED BY STATE POPULATION.
• 19 COMMITTEES - 84 SUB-COMMITTEES
• REFERRED TO AS THE “LOWER” HOUSE
• LEADER IS CALLED SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
HOUSE POWERS
• HAS SOLE POWER TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT
• ALL BILLS TO RAISE MONEY MUST ORIGINATE IN THE HOUSE OF REPS
• ALL BILLS (LAWS) MUST PASS IN THE HOUSE BEFORE GOING TO THE
PRESIDENT
SENATE
• 100 SEATS -2 SEATS PER STATE - SEPARATE VOTE
• 16 COMMITTEES AND 69 SUB- COMMITTEES
• REFERRED TO AS THE “UPPER” HOUSE
• VICE PRESIDENT IS PRESIDENT OF SENATE BUT NO VOTE UNLESS A TIE.
• LEADER = PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
• UN-AFFECTIONATELY NICKNAMED “MILLIONAIRES CLUB”
SENATE POWERS
• POWER TO TRY IMPEACHMENT - 2/3RD VOTE
• SENATE APPROVAL NEEDED ON BILLS TO RAISE MONEY.
• ALL LAWS MUST PASS IN THE SENATE BEFORE GOING TO THE PRESIDENT.
HOW DOES A BILL BECOME A LAW?
MAIN POWERS OF CONGRESS
• GRANTED BY ARTICLE I OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION:
• OVERSEE ELECTIONS
• SET RULES WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
• TO TAX, TO BORROW MONEY, TO COIN MONEY
• SET RULES OF NATURALIZATION
• REGULATE COMMERCE
• ESTABLISH POST OFFICES
• DECLARE WAR
• RAISE AND SUPPORT ARMIES
• TO MAKE ALL LAWS THAT ARE “NECESSARY AND PROPER”
POWERS DENIED TO CONGRESS
• STATE IN ARTICLE I SECTION 9 OF THE CONSTITUTION
• CANNOT SUSPEND HABEAS CORPUS
• CANNOT TAX GOODS “EXPORTED” STATE-TO-STATE
• CANNOT TAKE MONEY FROM TREASURY WITHOUT PASSING LEGISLATION
• CANNOT GIVE A TITLE OF NOBILITY (BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT’S THE
1700S…)
“BETTER KNOW YO REP”
• CREATE A BROCHURE ON YOUR ASSIGNED CONGRESSMAN OR SENATOR
• INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING BASIC INFO
• POLITICAL PARTY
• NOTABLE POLITICAL EXPERIENCE (PREVIOUS POSITIONS HELD)
• CONSTITUENCY
• COMMITTEES/SUBCOMMITTEES
• EXPLAIN THE JOB OF AT LEAST 1
• MAJOR ISSUES OR STANCES
• IDEA: VOTING RECORDS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
• RESPONSIBLE FOR CARRYING OUT &
ENFORCING THE LAWS
• PRESIDENT IS THE HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
• ALSO INCLUDED V.P., THE CABINET, EXEC. DEPTS.,
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES (ex: CIA)

• THE PRESIDENT PROVIDES LEADERSHIP BY:

• SETTING ADMINISTRATIVE GOALS
• DEVELOPING POLICY
• BUILDING LEGISLATIVE COALITIONS
PRESIDENTIAL
REQUIREMENTS
• REQUIREMENTS TO BE POTUS
• MUST BE A NATURAL BORN CITIZEN
• MUST BE AT LEAST 35 YEARS OLD
• MUST BE A RESIDENT WITHIN THE UNITED STATES FOR 14 YEARS

• PRESIDENTIAL OATH:
• “I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY,
PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES”
EXECUTIVE POWERS
• POWERS GRANTED BY ARTICLE II OF THE CONSTITUTION
• PRESIDENTIAL ROLES:
• COMMANDER IN CHIEF, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR,
FOREIGN POLICY LEADER, CHIEF AGENDA-SETTER, CHIEF OF STATE
• CAN GRANT PARDONS, SIGN/ VETO LAWS, CALL CONGRESS INTO
SESSION, MAKE TREATIES
• APPOINT SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, FEDERAL JUDGES, AND
AMBASSADORS (WITH SENATE APPROVAL)
• EACH YEAR, POTUS DELIVERS A “STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS”
• SERVES A 4 YEAR TERM; MAX OF 2 TERMS (22ND AMENDMENT)
PRESIDENTIAL
IMPEACHMENT
• IMPEACHMENT REVIEW:
• HOUSE OF REPS HAS POWER IMPEACH (A. JOHNSON AND W. CLINTON)
• SENATE HAS POWER TO KICK OUT OF OFFICE (NEVER HAPPENED)
• CAN BE IMPEACHED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
• TREASON, BRIBERY, OTHER HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
• JOHNSON: ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE I OF CONSTITUTION
• NIXON: PERJURY, ABUSE OF AUTHORITY, BRIBERY, AND MORE!
• CLINTON: ALLEGED PERJURY
• EXTREMELY RARE IN REALITY; VERY COMMON IN RHETORIC
EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS
CABINET MEMBERS ARE HEADS OF THE:
• STATE DEPARTMENT • DEPT. OF HEALTH AND
• TREASURY DEPT. HUMAN SERVICES
• DEPT. OF DEFENSE • DEPT. OF HOUSING AND
• DEPT. OF JUSTICE URBAN DEVELOPMENT
• DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR • DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION
• DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE • DEPT. OF ENERGY
• DEPT. OF LABOR • DEPT. OF EDUCATION
• DEPT. OF COMMERCE • DEPT. OF HOMELAND
• DEPT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS SECURITY
• DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SO YOU THINK YOU HAVE THESE
MEMORIZED? IT’S NOT THAT EASY

• HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=-YDS7HGO_IK
• IT WAS THE DEPT. OF ENERGY HE WAS THINKING OF
CABINET DEPT. PROJECT

• STEP 1: EXECUTIVE DEPT. DRAFT

• STEP 2: RESEARCH YOUR DEPT.
• STEP 3: DEVELOP A 2-3 MINUTE PRESENTATION ON YOUR EXECUTIVE DEPT.
• RESEARCH TOPICS TO GET YOU STARTED:
• PURPOSE, SECRETARY, MAJOR AGENCIES/DIVISIONS/BUREAUS
• BECOME THE EXPERT
JUDICIAL BRANCH
• RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERPRETING THE LAW
(IN REGARDS TO THE CONSTITUTION)
• FINAL COURT OF APPEALS FOR STATE AND FEDERAL CASES.
• SUPREME COURT JUSTICES ARE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT, APPROVED
BY THE SENATE, AND THEY HOLD THEIR OFFICE FOR LIFE OR RETIREMENT.
• POWERS OUTLINED IN ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION
SUPREME COURT OF THE U.S.
• CURRENTLY 9 JUSTICES
- CAN ONLY BE CHANGED BY A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT
• JUSTICES HEAR 150 CASES PER YEAR; OVER 5000 REQUESTS
- THE SCOTUS SETS PRECEDENT
• 4 JUSTICES NEED TO AGREE TO HEAR A CASE
• SESSION RUNS FROM OCTOBER THROUGH JUNE
• CAN BE REMOVED BY IMPEACHMENT OR A CONVICTION
JUDICIAL BRANCH
• INFLUENCES ON THE COURT’S DECISIONS
• PRECEDENTS - PAST DECISIONS
• PERSONAL LEGAL VIEWS - STRICT INTERPRETATION MEANS TO LOOK AT
INTENT OF FOUNDING FATHERS - BROAD INTERPRETATION MEANS YOU
NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES IN SOCIETY
• JUSTICES INTERACTION
• PUBLIC OPINION, CONGRESS, AND THE PRESIDENT
SCOTUS JUSTICES

• QUALIFICATIONS – NONE… NOT LISTED IN THE CONSTITUTION

• UNOFFICIAL QUALIFICATIONS ARE:
• POLITICALLY ACTIVE
• LAWYER OR LOWER COURT JUDGE
• SAME POLITICAL PARTY AS THE PRESIDENT
THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM

• 1ST ACTION OF 1ST CONGRESS: JUDICIARY ACT OF 1789

• CREATED THREE-PART COURT SYSTEM (DISTRICT, CIRCUIT, SUPREME)
• ESTABLISHED THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REPRESENT THE
GOVERNMENT IN THE SUPREME COURT AND SERVE AS THE LEGAL
ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT (HEAD OF THE D.O.J.)
TERMS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH:

• CIVIL CASES - SUE, DIVORCE, CONTRACTS, ANY CASE THAT DOES NOT
INVOLVE A CRIME
• CRIMINAL CASES - RARE AT SCOTS; CRIME MUST HAVE BEEN COMMITTED
• PLAINTIFF - PERSON WHO BROUGHT CASE TO COURT
• PROSECUTOR - REPRESENTS CITY, STATE, PEOPLE IN A CRIMINAL CASE
• DEFENDANT - THE PERSON ON TRIAL
JUDICIAL BRANCH PROJECT

• YOU WILL BE SELECTING AND RESEARCHING A SUPREME COURT CASE

- YOU AND YOUR PARTNER(S) WILL CREATE A POSTER ON
YOUR CASE
• GO TO: WWW.OYEZ.COM TO FIND SIGNIFICANT COURT CASES/DECISIONS