U.S. Government
Essential Question:
How are the powers of government distributed?
 Basic principles:
o Popular sovereignty
 The idea that the government is subject to the will of the people
 Established in the Preamble of the Constitution
 Citizens have the right to vote
o Citizenship
 Obligations and responsibilities of citizens:
 Obey the law
 Pay taxes
 Serve on a jury
 Serve in the military
 Vote
 Respect the rights of others
o Federalism
 The principle that divides power between the national and state
governments
 Three powers:
 Enumerated powers
o Powers given only to the federal government
o Examples:
 Coin money
 Declare war
 Maintain an army
 Reserved powers
o Powers left to the state governments
o Examples:
 Education
 Maintain highways
 Grant licenses
 Concurrent powers
o Powers shared by the federal and state governments
o Examples:
 Tax
 Borrow money
 Set up courts and prisons
Federal Government
concurrent
powers
reserved
powers
State Governments
enumerated
powers
 Three Branches of Government
o Executive Branch
 Enforces the law
 Includes the President and Vice President
 Electoral process:
 Primary election
o Political parties select nominees
 General election
o Decides the final winner of the election
 Electoral College
o Group of 538 elected representatives who elect the
President
o Legislative Branch
 Makes laws
 Congress (two houses):
 Senate
 House of Representatives
o Judicial Branch
 Interprets the law
 Supreme Court is the highest court in America
 Checks and balances
o The principle that allows each branch of the federal government to
overrule other branches
Judicial
Branch
judicial review
appoint
judges
Executive
Branch
judicial
review
impeach judges,
reject judicial
appointment
veto
override, impeach,
reject appointments
Legislative
Branch