Government and Westward
Expansion
By Miss O.
What is the
Constitution?
• Review: the document
that tells what the
government can do and
what the government
cannot do.
• Who wrote the
Constitution?
Preamble to the US Constitution
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sre7GuNEjp
E&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_
safety_mode=1&safe=active
We The Kids
• Read aloud
The Constitution
is…
• the law of the land for
all America.
• How many states are
in the USA?
What are the 3 branches of
government in the USA?
• 1. Executive
• 2. Legislative
• 3. Judicial
Executive  President
• For all the 50 states
• Washington, D.C.
▫ (White House)
• Makes sure the laws are
carried out.
Sing the President’s Song
Legislative  Congress
• Congress = the House of Representatives + Senate
Congress  2 PARTS
• House of
Representatives 
based on how many
people live in the state
• Senate  every state
gets 2 senators
Legislative  Congress
• Makes the federal laws.
• Federal = the whole country
• Washington, D.C.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxT7QjlvDq
M&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1
&safe=active
Judicial  Supreme Court
• 9 Supreme Court Justices
Judicial Interprets the Laws
• Supreme Court = the country’s highest court
• Washington, D.C.
Why 3 branches?
• Each branch of
government has just as
much power as the other
two branches.
• Keep each other in check,
so one “branch” does not
get out of hand.
• http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=x5M50xBz1cU&f
eature=related&safety_mo
de=true&persist_safety_
mode=1&safe=active
Checks and Balances
• What does it mean to check?
• What does it mean to balance?
• The 3 branches of government protect the
people of the USA from bad government.
• Sing the 3 Branches of Government Song
Book to Read
Aloud
Quiz TIME Federal Government
• What is the branch of government that makes
the laws?
• A. Judicial
• B. Legislative
• C. Executive
Quiz Time  Federal Government
• What is the branch of government that
interprets the laws?
• A. Judicial
• B. Legislative
• C. Executive
Quiz TIME Federal Government
• What is the branch of government that carries
out the laws?
• A. Judicial
• B. Legislative
• C. Executive
Quiz TIME Federal Government
•
•
•
•
Which branch of government is the President?
A. Judicial
B. Legislative
C. Executive
Quiz TIME Federal Government
• Which branch of government is the House of
Representatives and the Senate?
• A. Judicial
• B. Legislative
• C. Executive
Quiz TIME Federal Government
• Which branch of government is the court system
with 9 Justices?
• A. Judicial
• B. Legislative
• C. Executive
Quiz TIME Federal Government
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•
•
•
What does federal mean?
A. state
B. local
C. national
Quiz TIME Federal Government
•
•
•
•
Where is the US federal government located?
A. Richmond, Virginia
B. Washington, D.C.
C. London, England
Quiz TIME Federal Government
• How many Senators does Virginia have in the
federal government’s Senate?
• A. 9
• B. 5
• C. 2
Quiz TIME Federal Government
•
•
•
•
What is the law of the land?
A. Constitution
B. Bill of Rights
C. Declaration of Independence
Virginia State
Government
• Richmond,
Virginia = capital
of our state
• Virginia has a state
constitution too!
Virginia State Government
• What are the three branches of government in
Virginia?
1. Executive
2. Legislative
3. Judicial
•
In Virginia (state government), we call each
“branch” a different name.
Executive  Governor
• Heads the executive branch
of government
• Makes sure the state laws
are carried out.
Governor (executive)
• The people of Virginia elect a new governor
every 4 years.
• The governor is in charge of writing the budget
(the plan of how the tax money is spent) for the
state.
Legislative  General Assembly
• General Assembly = new name for old House of
Burgesses
• Makes state
laws
General Assembly (legislative)
• (2 parts) = House of Delegates + Senate
Capital building in
Downtown
Richmond
General Assembly (legislative)
• The people of Virginia elect the members of the
General Assembly.
• Meets every
January to
make laws for
the state of
Virginia.
Judicial  Virginia Court System
• Decides cases about people accused of breaking
the law and whether or not a law agrees with
Virginia’s constitution.
Judicial branch of
government
• Makes sure that
laws are fair.
• State courts
and judges are
part of this
branch.
Judicial (Court System)
• Some of the everyday jobs
of the judicial branch
include listening to the
court cases when people
break the law.
• After listening to a court
case, this branch decides
if people are innocent or
guilty.
Judicial Branch  court system
• Another job of the
judicial branch is to
review the laws.
• Any law passed by the
General Assembly must
agree with Virginia’s
Constitution.
What do we call Virginia’s legislative
branch?
• A. House of Burgesses
• B. Congress
• C. General Assembly
What do we call Virginia’s executive
branch?
• A. President
• B. Senator
• C. Governor
What do we call Virginia’s judicial
branch?
• A. judges
• B. justices
• C. Court advisor
Western Migration
• After the American Revolution, Virginia’s
agricultural base began to change, and as a
result large numbers of Virginians moved west
and to the deep South to find better farmland
and new opportunities.
Louisiana Purchase
• President Thomas Jefferson bought a huge chunk of
land from France, which doubled the size of the USA!
Lewis and Clarke Expedition
• Thomas Jefferson wants
his newly-bought land to
be explored and mapped
out, so he sends
Meriwether Lewis and
William Clarke on a 3
year long journey!
Daniel Boone
• Found a trail through the
Cumberland Gap to Kentucky.
• Settlers crossed the Appalachian
Mountains through the Cumberland
Gap as they migrated to new lands
in the west.
Tobacco farming
• Was hard on the soil, causing many farmers to
look west and south for new land to farm instead
of staying in Virginia.
Migration
• Virginians migrated
into western territories
looking for large areas
of land and new
opportunities.
Taking Culture With Them
• As Virginians moved, they took their traditions,
ideas, and cultures with them.