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Journal #23

Journal #23. Separation of powers – the way that the federal government is divided into 3 separate branches with their own responsibilities and powers Veto – to cancel, usually talking about laws being cancelled by a president Executive order – a command that has the power of law

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Journal #23

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  1. Journal #23 • Separation of powers – the way that the federal government is divided into 3 separate branches with their own responsibilities and powers • Veto – to cancel, usually talking about laws being cancelled by a president • Executive order – a command that has the power of law • Pardon – freedom from punishment

  2. “None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody - a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns - bent down and helped us pick up our boots.” Thurgood Marshall Quote of the Day

  3. Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) • Born in Baltimore, Maryland • Originally named Thoroughgood • Punishment in school was to copy the U.S. Constitution – made him interested • Wanted to go to law school at the University of Maryland, goes to Howard instead • Friends with J Edgar Hoover – leader of FBI • Lawyer for NAACP in Brown v. Board of Education • First African American on the Supreme Court

  4. Bonus Questions • When and where was the Constitutional Convention held? • Who were 3 important delegates at the Constitutional Convention? • What were the 2 plans for the new Constitution called? • How were the 2 plans different? • What are the 3 branches of government? • What is the system called that makes sure no one branch becomes too powerful?

  5. Understanding the Constitution 8.1

  6. The Federal System • The United States is a representative democracy – a government led by officials who are chosen by the people

  7. The Federal System • The powers granted to the federal government are called delegated powers • Sometimes these powers can be stretched by using the elastic clause – “necessary and proper” • The powers kept by the state government are called reserved powers • Concurrent powers are powers that the federal and state governments share

  8. The Legislative Branch • Is also called Congress and it makes the nation’s laws • It is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate

  9. The House of Representatives • The House of Representatives has 435 members • The U.S. census determines the number of representatives for each state • House members represent a particular area • Requirements for House members • 25 years old minimum • U.S. citizen for at least 7 years • Must be a resident of the state where they are elected • House members serve two-year terms • One of the bodies that creates our countries laws

  10. The Senate • The Senate is made up of two representatives (Senators) from each state • Requirements • Must be 30 years old • U.S. citizen for 9 or more years • Must be a resident of the state they represent • Senators serve 6 year terms • There is no limit to the number of times someone can be elected to Congress

  11. The Legislative Branch • The political party that has the most members in each house of Congress is called the majority party • The party with fewer members is the minority party • The leader of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House • House members elect the Speaker from the majority party • The vice president of the U.S. is the president of the Senate – he only votes to break a tie • Congress does most of its work in committees that specialize in certain types of bills

  12. John Boehner • Is the current Speaker of the House • He is a republican from Ohio

  13. The Executive Branch • Article II of the Constitution specifies the powers of the executive branch • This branch enforces the laws that Congress passes • The President is the head of the executive branch and the most powerful elected leader in the country

  14. The President • Requirements • Native born U.S. citizen • At least 35 years old • U.S. resident for at least 14 years • Barack Obama, our 44th president, is the first African American president • The president and vice-president serve for 4 years • Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected 4 times, but today presidents are limited to 2 terms (22nd Amendment) • This is the most powerful elected leader in the country

  15. Impeachment • The House of Representatives can impeach, or vote to bring charges of “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors” against a president • The Senate tries all impeachment cases, if the president is found guilty Congress can remove him from office • Impeached presidents • Andrew Johnson (removed from office in 1868) • Bill Clinton (stayed in office in 1998) • Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 to avoid impeachment

  16. Working With Congress • The system of checks and balances often places the president against Congress • It is challenging when the president’s party is different from the majority party in Congress • The president can ask Congress to pass or reject bills – he can also veto laws

  17. Other Presidential Powers • In certain situations the president may issue an executive order that stretches the laws • The president can also grant a pardon to people facing criminal charges • As commander in chief of the armed forces, the president can send in U.S. troops • The president has 14 executive departments who do most of the executive branch’s work • The heads of these departments are the president’s advisors also called the cabinet

  18. The Judicial Branch • Article II of the Constitution • A system of federal courts, headed by the Supreme Court • Can strike down laws if they are unconstitutional • The president appoints judges to federal courts • Judges are appointed for life

  19. The Judicial Branch • Lower courts are divided based upon which type of cases they hear • Each state has at least 1 district court to handle federal cases • 94 total U.S. district courts • 13 courts of appeals

  20. The Supreme Court • After a case has been decided by the court of appeals, the losing side may appeal the decision to the Supreme Court • Thousands are appealed to the Supreme Court each year, but only about 100 are heard • Supreme Court justices carefully choose which cases to hear – usually cases must involve an important constitutional or public interest issue

  21. The Supreme Court • The highest and most powerful court in the United States • Congress decides how many justices sit on the Court – it has been 9 traditionally • The chief justice of the United States leads the Supreme Court • There are no specific requirements to become a Supreme Court justice • Thurgood Marshall became the first African American Supreme Court justice in 1967 • Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female Supreme Court justice in 1981

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