United States Government Basics Legislative Branch Bicameral Legislature

United States Government Basics

Legislative Branch Bicameral Legislature Congress Senate House of Representatives

Congress n Both houses must approve all legislation before the president can sign it n Can override a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote n Majority rule for most votes

Congress (cont. ) n Majority Party controls schedule in each house n Speaker of the House most powerful member of Congress

Senate n 100 members – 2 per state n At least 30 years old n 9 years US citizen n Resident of state elected from

Senate Powers n Confirms presidential appointments like federal judges and Cabinet members n Holds impeachment trials n Approves all treaties with foreign governments

House of Representatives n 435 members n Minimum of 1 per state n At least 25 years old n 7 years US citizen n Resident of state and district elected from

House Powers n Starts all bill that call for spending of money n Starts impeachment proceedings n Breaks ties in Electoral College

Executive Branch President Cabinet Departments Executive Office Agencies, Boards, Commissions

President n Must be at least 35 n Natural born citizen n 14 years residency in the US n Can serve only 2 terms (22 nd Amendment) n These apply to VP also

President as Chief Executive n Develops federal policy n Enforces the law n Appoints federal officials n Prepares the national budget

President’s Role n Commander-in-Chief of the military n Makes foreign policy n Chief of State n n Symbolic representative of the nation Annual State of the Union address

President’s Powers n Enforces federal laws n Grants reprieves and pardon n Appoints federal judges, ambassadors, Cabinet members n Make treaties n Can veto legislation

Judicial Branch n Supreme Court only court created by the Constitution n All other federal courts created by Congress n All federal judges appointed by president and approved by Senate

Supreme Court n No stated requirements for office, but usually experience as a lawyer or lower federal judge n Lifetime appointment n 9 members

Supreme Court Powers n Final say on cases involving federal law n Final say on cases involving 2 or more states n Cases involving foreign ambassadors

Supreme Court (cont) n Decides issues of Constitutional law n Most cases come on appeal from a lower federal court n Cases can be appealed from a state court n Decisions by majority vote n Decisions are final

Supreme Court (cont. ) n Greatest Power is Judicial Review n Supreme Court has final say on what is and is not constitutional