Unit 4: Structure of the US Government in the Constitution

Transcription

1 Unit 4: Structure of the US Government in the Constitution SOL 6a, 6c Question: What is the structure of the national government as set out in the United States Constitution? The legislative branch Consists of the Congress, a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives (435 members, based upon populations of the states) and the Senate (100 members two per state) Makes the laws of the nation Approves the annual budget Confirms presidential appointments Raises revenue through taxes and other levies Regulates interstate and foreign trade Declares war Which branch of the national government has the power to pass laws? Legislative powers Expressed: Specifically listed in the Constitution of the United States Implied: Used to carry out expressed powers The lawmaking process in Congress Introducing a bill by a Senator or Representative Working in committees Debating the bill on the floor of each house Voting on the bill in each house Sending the bill to the president to sign into law Elected officials in Congress write laws and take action in response to problems or issues. Individuals and interest groups help shape legislation. The formal powers of Congress are limited by the Constitution of the United States. SOL 6a, 6d Question: What is the structure of the national government as set out in the United States Constitution? The executive branch Headed by the president of the United States, the chief executive officer of the nation Executes the laws of the land Prepares the annual budget for congressional action Appoints cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges Administers the federal bureaucracy What are the roles and powers of the executive branch of the national government? What are the roles and powers of the president? Ways the executive branch influences policymaking Proposing legislation in an annual speech to Congress (State of the Union Address) Appealing directly to the people Approving or vetoing legislation Appointing officials who carry out the laws Cabinet departments, agencies, and regulatory groups interpret and execute the laws. The president exercises power as chief of state: Ceremonial head of the government chief executive: Head of the executive branch of government

2 chief legislator: Proposer of the legislative agenda commander-in-chief: Head of the nation s armed forces chief diplomat: Architect of American foreign policy chief of party: Leader of the political party that controls the executive branch chief citizen: Representative of all of the people. Presidential power has grown in the years since the Constitution was ratified. SOL 6a, 10b Question: What is the structure of the national government as set out in the United States Constitution? The judicial branch Consists of the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land The Supreme Court exercises the power of judicial review. The federal courts try cases involving federal law and questions involving interpretation of the Constitution of the United States. What is judicial review? The supreme courts of the United States and Virginia determine the constitutionality of laws and acts of the executive branch of government. This power is called judicial review. Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review at the national level. The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the land. State laws must conform to the Virginia and United States constitutions. SOL 6b Question: How do the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances protect against an abuse of power by any one branch of the national government? Answer: Separation of powers The Constitution of the United States in Articles I, II, and III defines the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the national government. Checks and balances Each of the three branches of the national government limits the exercise of power by the other two branches. The legislative branch The Congress checks the president when legislators override presidential vetoes impeach and convict a president. The Congress checks the courts when legislators confirm or refuse to confirm federal judges/justices impeach and convict judges/justices. The executive branch The president checks Congress when the president proposes legislation prepares an annual budget for Congress to approve call special sessions of Congress vetoes legislation Congress has passed. The president checks the courts when the president appoints judges/justices. The judicial branch The courts check Congress when judges/justices declare acts of Congress to be unconstitutional. The courts check the president when judges/justices declare executive actions to be unconstitutional.

3 Unit 4: Structure of the US Government in the Constitution Unit Study Guide: Answer these questions on your own. This will help you prepare for quizzes/tests! SOL 6a: Structure of the National Government Sort of the facts in the bank into the branch where they belong. Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch Sorting Bank Congress Judicial review Approves the annual budget interprets the law Chief executive President Raises revenue through taxes and other levies Supreme Court Makes the laws of the nation Executes the laws of the land Prepares the annual budget Appoints cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges SOL 6c: Powers of the National Legislative Branch - Illustrate (pictures or symbols) the five steps in the lawmaking process below: STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4 STEP 5 in Congress write and take action in response to or. and help shape legislation. The formal powers of are limited by the.

4 SOL 6d: Powers of the National Executive Branch Match the article with the role of the Executive Branch A - Obama Proposing Legislation B - Individuals Expressing their opinions C - Interest Groups making political contributions D - Executive Branch Appealing to the people E - Mass Media creating a forum for opposing viewpoints President Obama going on TV to get support for the Healthcare Bill Fox News showing a debate President Obama asking for new Immigration Laws People protesting The Sierra Club donating to Obama s Campaign Complete the statements below: The President s job as chief of state is to The President s job as commander in chief is to The President s job as chief legislator is to The President s job as chief diplomat is to SOL 10b: Powers of the National Judicial Branch/Judicial Review What is judicial review? Who has the power to use judicial review? What Supreme Court case established this power? SOL 6b: Checks and Balances in the National Government What is one way that the President can limit the power of the Supreme Court? What is one way that Congress can limit the power of the Supreme Court? What is one way that the President can limit the Power of Congress? What is one way that Congress can limit the power of the President? What is one way that the Supreme Court can limit the power of Congress? What is one way that the Supreme Court can limit the power of the President?

5 federal Unit 4: Structure of Government Key Terms Term Definition Picture legislate bicameral bill expressed powers implied powers execute public policy bureaucracy reform impeach veto override appoint

6 federal Unit 4: Structure of Government Key Terms Term Notes page Write in a sentence correctly. legislate bicameral bill expressed powers implied powers execute public policy bureaucracy reform impeach veto override appoint

7 Directions: Match each news article to the branch of government that will be covered in the article. Answer choices (you will use some more than once) Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch 1. The President visits with Russian President to discuss military strength 2. Citizens feel that the powers given in Article I of the Constitution need to be revised. 3. Annual budget gets approval 4. William Gates gets appointed as Secretary of Defense 5. Marbury v. Madison moves to the Supreme Court 6. Congress to discuss bill about banning cell phone use in cars 7. Controversial law to be reviewed to determine if it is unconstitutional 8. Healthcare bill moves to the Senate for approval Job of the Government (highlighted action that can be performed by the government) What Article and Section of the Constitution was this found in? What branch of is responsible for this job?

8 THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THE JUDICIAL BRANCH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

9 Expressed or Implied???? The following quotes are from the US Constitution. Identify whether they are examples of expressed powers or implied powers. 1. To raise and support Armies 2. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes 3. To coin Money 4. The Congress shall have Power To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers What Would Happen? For the scenario below, explain what would happen to the number of Senators and Representatives each state would have. # of Senators Up/Down/Stays the Same??? # of Representatives Up/Down/Stays the Same??? Scenario 1. California s population drops by 25%. 2. Montana s population grows by 50% 3. Pennsylvania s population grows by 30%.

10 The National Legislative Branch: Congress is a BICAMERAL legislature, which means it has. House of Representatives: Senate: THE LEGISLATIVE POWERS Congress s powers are found in. The Congress has two types of powers: Some of these listed powers are: listed powers powers that are 4. not listed 5. 6.

11 The National Legislative Branch: Congress is a BICAMERAL legislature, which means it has. House of Representatives: National Legislative Word Bank Sort the facts below into either the House or Senate 435 Members 2 Members Members based on population Members equal for all states Senate: Lawmaking Process Sort the steps into the boxes below Work on bill in committee Send the bill to the President to sign into law Debate the bill on the floor Introduce bill Vote on the bill Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Example Example Example Example Example Lawmaking Process Sort the examples into the boxes above "Congress Begins Floor Debate on Stimulus Bill" "Congress Committee Advances Stimulus Bill" "Congress Introduces Stimulus Bill" "Obama Signs Stimulus Bill Into Law" "Congress OKs Stimulus Bill"

12 The Legislative Branch How a Bill Becomes a Law House of Representatives House STEP 1: Senate STEP 1: Senate House STEP 2: House STEP 3: House STEP 4: A bill is a written idea or proposal for a law. If it goes through all steps in each house of Congress and gets approved by the president, it becomes an official law! Senate STEP 2: Senate STEP 3: Senate STEP 4: STEP 5: The wants and needs of help shape legislation. EX: Congress will work to make a law that gives increased benefits to people who lose their jobs. Laws are passed that attempt to. Ex: Unemployment is rising.

13 Executive Branch and Public Policy - Practice Match the role of the Executive Branch with the example. Word Bank: *Proposing Legislation *Appointing Officials *Appealing to the people *Approve or Veto Laws 1. President Obama going on TV to get support for the Healthcare Bill 2. President Obama choosing Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State. 3. President Obama asking for new Immigration Laws. 4. President Obama signed the new Healthcare Law. Executive Branch in Action VIDEO ONE: 1. Describe what is happening in the clip (people, setting, actions): 2. How is the President influencing public policy? VIDEO TWO: 3. Describe what is happening in the clip (people, setting, actions): 4. How is the President influencing public policy? VIDEO THREE: 5. Describe what is happening in the clip (people, setting, actions): 6. How is the President influencing public policy? VIDEO FOUR: 7. Describe what is happening in the clip (people, setting, actions): 8. How is the President influencing public policy?

14 The Executive Branch The Executive at the National Level is the. The National Executive in our current government is name. Where are the powers of the National Executive defined?. Presidential power has grown in the years since the Constitution was ratified. Looking at how the President influences public policy, why do you think that happened? or Laws that are sent to the President by the Congress Illustration: How does the executive branch influence (The Government s Actions and Plans) Officials that carry out the laws such as the Secretary of Education that sets up schools and the Secretary of Defense that runs the military. Illustration: legislation (laws) in an annual speech to the legislature called the. Illustration: directly to the... by going on television to ask them to support a plan for a law or for the country. For example, President Bush went on television to ask people to support the War in Iraq. Illustration:

15 Roles of the National Executive: Practice Questions Word Bank: chief of state chief executive chief legislator commander-in-chief chief diplomat chief of party chief citizen For each question below, match the correct role of the national executive. 1. The President represents all Americans. 2. The President presided over the ceremonial swearing-in of the Chief Justice. 3. The President made speeches to help Democratic candidates get elected. 4. The President ran the meeting with the Secretary of Agriculture and other members of the cabinet. 5. The President asked for a law that lowered taxes for small businesses. 6. The President made the decision for more troops to be sent to Afghanistan. 7. The President led peace talks with the leaders of Israel and Palestine. The Many Hats of the President The President has different ways of influencing public policy and affecting the laws and decisions the government makes. In the box below, design a hat that shows the many roles of the National Executive. Then, explain your design and how it shows each role of the President. All seven roles must be included. Use color and be neat! On a piece of notebook paper, write a one paragraph explanation of your design.

16 Roles of the National Executive The National Executive is the and has many roles and jobs within the government. Even though the national executive can t make laws, the President is the chief executive (leader) of different parts of the government and country. The President exercises power (acts) as Role in the Government What does that mean? Examples Chief of State Logo Design a logo for this role Chief Executive Chief Legislator Commander-in- Chief Chief Diplomat Chief of Party Chief Citizen

17 Create a visual for each of the following statements: The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land Federal Courts interpret the Constitution Federal Courts try cases at the national level Judicial Review determines if a law is Constitutional M&M: Judicial Review in Action Directions: Marbury v. Madison (M&M) gave Congress the power of judicial review, or the right to overturn unconstitutional laws and unconstitutional executive acts. Use the power of Judicial Review to declare each action constitutional or unconstitutional. Case before the Court 1. The US Congress made a law that stated that the President has no power to approve or veto laws passed by Congress. Does the Supreme Court declare the action Constitutional or Unconstitutional? Why? What is the Constitutional Evidence? Choose from: Article I, II, or III, or the First Amendment Evidence for this decision is in of the US Constitution because 2. The Massachusetts State Legislature made a law that every school must begin with a moment of prayer. Evidence for this decision is in of the US Constitution because 3. The Virginia State Assembly made it a law that no more than 6 teenagers can hang out together at one time. Evidence for this decision is in of the US Constitution because

18 Welcome to THE JUDICIAL BRANCH and the power given to it in Article III of the US Constitution WHO WE ARE The Supreme Court It is the court in the land Has the power of Federal Courts Try (rule on) cases involving federal law and questions involving of the Constitution of the United States of America Has power at the WHAT WE DO Try cases at the that deal with Interpret the The Supreme Court s power of Judicial Review Judicial Review is the power of Supreme Court to determine the whether or not something agrees or disagrees with what s in the Constitution - of and. The case V. established the principle of judicial review for the Supreme Court

19 Checks and Balances Practice Part One: In the School House Rock Video, they compared Checks and Balances between the three branches to a three ring circus. Illustrate your own metaphor for Checks and Balances in the box below. Part Two: What are the key words for each of the branches that you will be looking for in the answer choices? Then, answer the questions below. Legislative Branch: Executive Branch: Judicial Branch: 1. Which of the following is an Executive Branch check on the Legislative Branch? a. Approves Presidential cabinet appointments b. Impeach senators c. Approves budget d. Appoints 2. Which of the following is a Judicial Branch check on the Legislative Branch? a. Declare executive order unconstitutional b. Impeach a President c. Impeach federal judges d. Declare laws unconstitutional 3. Which of the following is a Legislative Branch check on the Executive Branch? a. Appoint Senators b. Override a veto c. Declare Executive Orders unconstitutional d. Impeach federal judges 4. Which of the following is an Executive Branch check on the Judicial Branch? a. Impeach federal judges b. Appoint federal judges c. Approve federal judge appointments d. Declare laws unconstitutional 5. Which level and branch of government approves a biennial budget? a. National Executive b. State Legislative c. National Legislative d. Local Legislative

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