Social Studies: Chapter 3 Lesson 2

What does a Supreme Court justice do? Which branch of government approves or rejects Supreme Court justices?

A Supreme Court justice decides if laws agree with the Constitution. Justices must be approved by the legislative branch of government.

Describe the executive and legislative branches of government. How do these branches work together to pass laws?

The House of Representatives and the Senate create and pass laws as part of the legislative branch of government. Congress sends laws to the president. The president can veto, or cancel, the laws. The president is head of the executive branch of government. The executive branch of government carries out laws. If 2/3 of Congress votes for the law, Congress can override the president's veto.

Why do Americans have a responsibility to pay taxes? How do taxes help improve communities?

The government collects taxes in order to build things we need in our communities. Taxes pay for schools, roads, the police department, and courts. The federal government taxes the money we earn when we are working.

checks and balances

a system in U.S. government that prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful; the writers of the Constitution set up this system in the national government because they did not want the government to become too strong and take away rights from states and citizens

Congress

can override, or cancel out, the president's veto if 2/3 of the members in Congress votes for the law

citizens

choose the president in a democracy by voting; they elect a U.S. president every four years in an election and this is one way the United States government is different from the government of a country ruled by a king

local government

counties, cities, towns, and villages are part of this government

local and state taxes

help pay for services, including fire departments, schools, and libraries

House of Representatives

in the legislative branch of the government and the number of representatives each state elects depends on the population of the state

president

leads the executive branch of the government and the armed forces and can veto, or reject, laws that Congress pass

three levels of government in the United States

local, state, and country

the mayor or a group of elected officials

makes laws at the city level

Senate

the legislative branch of the government and each state can elect 2 senators

executive branch

the part of government in charge of carrying out laws written by Congress; It can appoint judges to the judicial branch.

legislative branch

the part of government that makes laws and stops the executive branch from becoming too powerful

judicial branch

the part of government that makes sure laws agree with the Constitution