Three Branches of Government

Three Branches of Government What are the three branches and how do they work together?

Rule of Law • In America we believe in the rule of law. Laws tell what we have to do, what we can do and what we can’t do.

Three questions for group • Who will pick up materials • Who will write • Who will turn in materials

Three Question for Constitution • When writing the Constitution, the writers had to answer 3 questions: • Who will write the laws? • Who will enforce the laws? • Who will make sure that laws are fair?

Answers to the Questions • Legislative will write the laws. • Executive will enforce the laws. • Judicial will make sure that laws are fair.

Let’s look at an example….. • Mr. Bill did a very bad thing the other day. He hit Mr. Clark.

How does the government keep this from happening? What are the three branches and how do they work together?

Legislative Branch • Writes a law • NO Hitting • To hit someone is called assault. • If you do, you go to jail and pay fines.

Legislative Branch • Senate --- 100 members --- 2 per state • House of Representatives --- 435 members Based on Population Writes, Makes, Passes, Composes, Approves, --- Any word that means creates out of nothing

Can a piece of paper stop the behavior? • Once the law is written, does it stop the hitting? NO

Executive Branch • Enforces the laws • Arrest warrant is issued for Mr. Bill • Sheriff goes to arrest

Executive Branch • President • CIA, FBI, DEA, Secret Service, etc. • Governor • DPS, Texas Rangers, etc. • County commissioner • County Sheriff • Mayor • PD, etc

Executive Branch • Enforces, executes, carries out, • Whatever word --- makes it actually happen

Now that the hitter is arrested, how do we know the arrest was the right person or fair??

Judicial Branch • Interprets the fairness of laws • Mr. Bill gets to go to court. He gets to see the judge and ask for bail. • Mr. Bill will get a trial by jury. • Mr. Bill will get a reasonable punishment if found guilty.

Judicial Branch • Judges, interprets, insures, determines fairness, establishes precedents(examples). • Whatever the word – makes sure the process is fair (due process)

Let’s see if you understand…… • Every newspaper article can be place by which branch and which layer. • Branch Layer • Legislative Federal • Executive State • Judicial Local

Pledge of Allegiance challenged in Massachusetts Supreme Court (NBC news 9/4/2013) • A family in suburban Boston hopes to change the phrasing of the Pledge of Allegiance to remove two words they claim violate students' rights. • The family is challenging the pledge, which students recite daily in U.S. public schools, claiming the words "under God" violate the state's equal rights laws.

Decide • Which branch?? • Legislative • Executive • Judicial • Which layer?? • Federal • State • Local

Pledge of Allegiance challenged in Massachusetts Supreme Court (NBC news 9/4/2013) • A family in suburban Boston hopes to change the phrasing of the Pledge of Allegiance to remove two words they claim violate students' rights. • The family is challenging the pledge, which students recite daily in U.S. public schools, claiming the words "under God" violate the state's equal rights laws. State Judicial

Let’s try one for real…… • Every newspaper article can be place by which branch and which layer. • Branch Layer • Legislative Federal • Executive State • Judicial Local

Executive order from Governor Jan Brewer blocks IDs, benefits for illegal immigrants ( ABC news 8/15/2012) • PHOENIX - Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Wednesday ordered state agencies to deny driver's licenses and other public benefits to young illegal immigrants who obtain work authorizations under a new Obama administration policy.

Good, one more…… • Every newspaper article can be place by which branch and which layer. • Branch Layer • Legislative Federal • Executive State • Judicial Local

Institute of Museum and Library Services Reauthorized (National Assembly of State Arts Agencies Dec 2010) • On December 22, 2010, President Obama signed S. 3984, the Museum and Library Services Act of 2010, to reauthorize the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for the next five years.

Republican-led House committee passes new education bill (The Washington Post, June 19, 2013) • A Republican-controlled House committee Wednesday approved a new version of the country’s main education law that would sharply shrink the federal role in K-12 public schools. • In passing the bill, Republicans took a clear turn away from Bush’s philosophy that states receiving billions of dollars each year in federal aid should be accountable to Washington.

Austin Ramps Up Enforcement of Passing Law (League of American Bicyclists August 12, 2013) • Austin, Texas, is "putting a bite" in its 3-foot passing law. The City of Austin passed a 3-foot law back in 2009,……

Austin Ramps Up Enforcement of Passing Law (League of American Bicyclists August 12, 2013) • …but -- like many localities and states -- was slow to enforce the law. This year, as part of Austin’s celebration of Bike Month, the City of Austin police department began an enforcement effort using undercover police officers on bikes

Justice Department sues Texas over new voter ID law (USA Today August 22, 2013) • Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott reacted sharply to the latest attack on the state's election laws, which he called "the cynical politics of race." • "Voter IDs have nothing to do with race, and they are free to anyone who needs one," Abbott said.

Three Branches of Government