THE US GOVERNMENT
with help from http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
I’m Benjamin Franklin! Call me
Ben.
Constitution and Amendments
Constitution
1787 “We the
people….”
The 27
amendments
1791
1-10 Bill of Rights
1794-1992
11-27 Others
Amendment rap
TWO GUIDING
PRINCIPLES OF US
GOVERNMENT
1. SEPARATION OF POWERS
2. CHECKS AND BALANCES
SEPARATION OF POWERS
CHECKS AND BALANCES

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_13_Notes.htm
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
CONGRESS
– HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
– SENATE
–
–
–
–
Agencies:
Library of congress,
Congressional budget office
etc
SENATE (100 members)
TWO SENATORS ARE ELECTED FROM
EACH STATE FOR 6 years
Must be
– 30 or older
– Citizen for 9 years
– Resident of state

Vice president is the leader
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES (435
members)
• A NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE
ELECTED FOR 2 YEARS
Must be
• 25 or older
• Citizen for 7 years
• Resident of state
• HOUSE SPEAKER IS THE LEADER
EXECUTIVE
BRANCH

PRESIDENT and his cabinet
– VICE PRESIDENT
– 15 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS
• Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense,
Education, Energy, Health and Human
Services, Homeland Security, Housing and
Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State,
Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs,
and the Attorney General.
THE PRESIDENT
And vice president are elected by the
people (via the Electoral College) for 4
years
 Must be at least 35 years old
 Must be a natural born citizen
 Must have lived in the US for 14 years
 May only serve 2 terms (8 years)

Order of Succession

If something happens to the president, who is next?
– Vice President
– Speaker of the House
– President of the Senate
– Secretary of State
– Secretary of the Treasury
– Secretary of Defense
– Attorney General
– Secretary of the Interior
etc.
JUDICIAL BRANCH

SUPREME COURT
– 9 SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
• One of these is the Chief Justice
• Appointed by president
• Serve until retirement
– Only has about 100 cases a year from STATE and
FEDERAL COURTS
VOTING

Every 4 years (00, 04, 08, 12, 16, 20…)
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BIPARTITE SYSTEM (TWO (big) PARTIES)
– REPUBLICAN (GOP) --- e.g. George W. Bush
– DEMOCRATIC --- e.g. John Kerry
– Other small parties
• Socialist
• Green
• Etc.
– Independent candidates
The Electoral College
Source:
http://blog.4president.org/2008/2009/01/2008electoral-college-map.html
That’s all for today!!

For some fun, try these:
– Presidents’ card game
– Name that President
– Or work on your government terms paper
– Or catch up on some lessons (11, 6, 7, 8, 9)
– Or take your test again….