GOVERNMENT IN THE U.S.
1. Main parts of the U. S. Constitution
a. Preamble: goals of the gov’t.
1. form a more perfect union,
2. establish justice
3. insure domestic tranquility
4. provide for the common defense
5. promote the general welfare,
6. secure the blessing of liberty
b. Article 1 - Legislative Branch
c. Article 2 - Executive Branch
d. Article 3 - Judicial Branch
e. Article 4 - Interstate Relations
f. Article 5 - Amendment Process
g. Article 6 - Supremacy Clause
h. Article 7 - Ratification
i. Amendments 1-10 - Bill of Rights
j. Amendments 11-27
2. The Three branches:
a. Legislative:
1. method of electing members
2. qualifications
3. terms of office
4. procedure for making laws
5. powers
b. Executive:
1. presidential powers
2. term of office
3. method of election
4. method of removal
c. Judicial Branch
1. term of office
2. congress’s power to establish new courts
3. jurisdiction - responsibilities of each court
2. Principles of the U.S. Constitution:
a. Federalism - political union with a strong central
government with some power shared among
smaller components.
1. division of power - more power given to
Central Government
2. Delegated powers - powers listed in the
Constitution for the Central Government.
3. Reserved powers - those given to the states
(Amendment 10)
4. Concurrent powers - those given to both the
central government and the states
5. Denied powers - those powers the government
does not have
6. Implied powers - not specifically mentioned but
broadly hinted at in the Constitution
b. Separation of Powers: three branches
1. legislative branch - makes the laws
2. executive branch - enforces the laws
3. judicial branch - interprets the laws
Purpose is to eliminate one branch from having
too much power.
c. Checks and Balances
1. Definition and Purpose: allows each
branch to counter the powers of the
other two so that no one branch becomes
too powerful.
3. Congress
a. Bicameral organization – two houses
1. requirements for each house
a. House:
b. Senate:
b. Terms and membership:
1. House: 435 members - elected every two years
2. Senate: 100 members - elected every six years
3. The Congress
a. Bicameral Organization - two house
1. requirements:
a. Senate:
1. 30 years of age
2. 9 years a citizen
3. resident of state
b. House of Representatives
1. 25 years of age
2. 7 years a citizen
3. resident of district you represent
2. Apportionment of seats in House of
Representatives is based on the census
taken every 10 years to determine
population changes. (reapportionment)
3. Special powers and rules of the Senate:
a. Approve all treaties by 2/3 vote
b. Approve all appointments with
51% vote.
c. Try cases of impeachment
d. Choose V. Pres., if Electoral
College doesn’t.
Rules on debate:
filibuster: unlimited speaking to
debate a bill sometimes to kill the
law.
4. Special Powers of the House:
a. All money bills originate in House
b. Impeach the President
c. Choose Pres. if Electoral College
doesn’t.
Debate is strictly regulated because of the
size of the House of Representatives.
b. Powers of Congress - 18 delegated powers
1. elastic clause: (implied powers)
Article 1, section 8, clause 18Congress may make all laws
necessary to carry out the other
17 powers.
2. Limits on Power – Article 1, section 9
a. No tax on exports
b. No titles of nobility
c. No suspending habeas corpus
d. No ex post facto laws
e. No bills of attainder
c. How a bill becomes a law:
d. Influence of pressure groups
1. Group Action – Lobbyists
(paid professional representing
a particular interest group)
Examples:
Must file financial records and
register with Federal Gov’t.
2. Individual action –
a. Write letters
b. Call representatives