3 Branches of Government

Legislative Branch

*CREATES or MAKES laws *Article I of the Constitution * power to DECLARE WAR *power to override a VETO with a 2/3 VOTE *power to approve of federal appointments - like Supreme Court Justices * power to create a FEDERAL BUDGET $ *435 members

Executive Branch

*ENFORCES/EXECUTES or carries out laws *Article II*Branch that has the power to VETO (not sign it into law) a bill sent to it by CONGRESS because they want it to become a LAW *Branch that has the power to APPOINT federal JUDGES *Branch that has the power to LEAD the Armed Forces during a WAR *Branch that represents our nation in the world - they meet with leaders from other countries *35 years old *Natural Born Citizen *Serves a 4 year term

Judicial Branch

*INTERPRETS laws *Branch that has the power to declare laws or actions by the government UNCONSTITUTIONAL *Serve for life *9 Justices

Cabinet

Advisors to the President. They are 15 Cabinet members.

Supreme Court

Main group within the JUDICIAL Branch

Supreme Court

The highest federal court in the US, consisting of nine justices

Checks and Balances

The three branches of government, executive, legislative and judicial limit the powers of the other branches so that one branch is not more powerful than the others.

Legislative Branch

*CREATES or MAKES laws *Branch that has the power to DECLARE WAR *Runs the US Postal Service *Branch that has the power to override a VETO with a 2/3 VOTE *Branch that has the power to approve of federal appointments - like Supreme Court Justices *Two houses - Senate and House of Representatives *535 members

Executive Branch

*ENFORCES or carries out laws *Article II of the Constitution *power to VETO a bill sent to it by CONGRESS *power to APPOINT federal JUDGES *power to LEAD the Armed Forces during a WAR *represents our nation in the world - they meet with leaders from other countries *35 years old *Natural Born Citizen *Serves a 4 year term

Judicial Branch

*INTERPRETS laws *power to declare laws or actions by the government UNCONSTITUTIONAL *Article III of the Constitution *Serve for life *9 Justices *power to SENTENCE or decide the punishment for lawbreakers *power to SETTLE DISPUTES between STATES

Congress

*Main group within the LEGISLATIVE Branch *Collect taxes *Borrow Money *Declare War *Regulate Trade *Raise an Army *Impeach the president *Propose amendments

Senate

*Part of CONGRESS that each state is guaranteed TWO representatives * Serves for 6 years *Leader is Vice President *100 members total

Senate

*Part of CONGRESS that each state is guaranteed TWO representatives *Must be 30 * Serves for 6 years *100 members total

House of Representatives

*Part of CONGRESS that has representation based on POPULATION * Serves for 2 years *435 members

House of Representatives

*Part of CONGRESS that has representation based on POPULATION * Must be 25 * Serves for 2 years *435 members

Fraction of the vote required to pass a bill in either the House of Representatives or US Senate

1/2

Number of Senator in the US Congress

100 ( 2 from each state)

Fraction of the vote required to OVERRIDE the Presidential Veto of a bill in both the House of Representatives or US Senate

2/3

Number of members of the House of Representatives

435

Number of Supreme Court Justices

9

Unconstitutional

A law that is not agreeable with the constitution and is no longer valid

Requirements to become President

Age 35 or older US born citizen

President

Head of the EXECUTIVE Branch

Separation of Powers

Idea that PREVENTS one person or group from having too much CONTROL over the government

Checks and Balances

Idea that allows different branches of government to LIMIT the POWER of other branches of government

Veto

Latin for "I forbid." A president does not have to sign any legislation into law. He can veto any legislation sent to him by the congress.

President's Powers and Duties

Leader of his/her political party Chief Diplomat Commander and Chief of the armed forces