Who Does What in the Government?

1. Who Does What in the Government? Pages 353-357

2. Legislative Branch Congress can: • Pass taxes • Make laws • Approve treaties • Approve appointments

3. Executive Branch The President: • Manages the government • Proposes new laws • Makes treaties • Heads the military • Appoints Supreme Court Justices • Can veto a bill passed by Congress

4. Judicial Branch The Supreme Court can: • Decide whether or not a law is constitutional • Can rule a law is unconstitutional • Can rule a President’s actions are unconstitutional • Explain the meaning of treaties

5. Legislative Branch • The Legislative Branch makes laws for the country. • A member of the House of Representatives or Senate can introduce a bill. • Congressional committees review the bill. • Both houses of Congress then vote to approve the bill.

6. Executive Branch • When the President receives a bill from Congress, he reviews the bill. • The President either vetoes the bill or signs it into law. • If the president vetoes the law, it is sent back to Congress for another vote. • If he approves the bill, he will sign it and it becomes a law.

7. Judicial Branch • The justices on the Supreme Court must decide if laws are working fairly. • They have the power to over turn a law if it is found to be unconstitutional.

8. Checks and Balances • Checks and Balances is the power of the government to prevent a branch from abusing its power.