Transcript U.S. Government

U.S. Government
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Quick Facts about the USA













National Independence:
Motto:
Largest Cities:
Border Countries and Oceans:
Population:
Land Area:
Highest Point:
Lowest Point:
Largest State:
Smallest State:
National Bird:
National Flower:
National Anthem:
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Quick Facts about the USA
 National Independence:July 4, 1776
 Motto:In God We Trust
 Largest Cities:New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia,
Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, San Jose
 Border Countries and Oceans:Canada, Mexico, Atlantic Ocean,
Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean
 Population:298,444,215 (July 2006 est.)
 Land Area:3,615,123 sq. mi. (9,375,720 sq. km.)
 Highest Point:Mt. McKinley, Alaska, 20,320 ft. (6194 m.) above sea level
 Lowest Point:Death Valley, California, 282 ft (86 m.) below sea level
 Largest State:Alaska
 Smallest State:Rhode Island
 National Bird:Bald Eagle
 National Flower:Rose
 National Anthem:The Star-Spangled Banner
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
What is the capital of the United
States of America?
???
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Washington, D.C.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
New York City was the first capital once the
Constitution was ratified.
This is where Congress met.
George Washington took the oath of office from
the balcony of the old City Hall to become the first
President of the United States.
Source: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/912/nation/capital.html
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
 George Washington had to decide on a permanent
location for the country’s seat of government.
 The capital was moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in
1791 for ten years and then to a suitable permanent location
on the Potomac River.
Source: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/912/nation/capital.html
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
 The new capital included land from the states
of Maryland and Virginia (primarily farm and
marsh lands.)
Source: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/912/nation/capital.html
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
The "Federal City“ (Washington City, The
District)
On June 11, 1800, Philadelphia was no longer the
seat of government.
The capital of the United States now had a
permanent home in Washington, District of
Columbia
Source: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/912/nation/capital.html
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Branches of Government
Source:
http://www.house.gov/putnam/graphics/b
ranches.jpg
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Branches of Government
The Founding Fathers
Form a government that did not allow one person
to have too much authority or control
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Branches of Government
The framers wrote the Constitution to provide
for a separation of powers, three separate
branches of government.
Each has its own responsibilities.
Checks and Balances
A branch may use its powers to check the powers of the
other two in order to maintain a balance of power
among the three branches of government.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Checks & Balances
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
e.g., John G.
Roberts, Chief
Justice
Legislative Branch
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Legislative Branch
 Congress and Government Agencies
 such as the Government Printing Office and Library of Congress
 Article I of the Constitution established this branch and gave
Congress the power to make laws.
 Congress has two parts:
 the House of Representatives and
 the Senate.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
The Powers of Congress:
Some of the congressional powers are:
Coining money (deciding what the legal tender is).
Maintaining a military.
Declaring war on other countries.
Regulating interstate and foreign commerce
And more …
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
How laws are made …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
US educational series
Songs about educational topics, e.g., politics,
history, grammar, math, science
Broadcasted on American Broadcasting
Company (ABC): 1973 - present
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
How laws are made …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
 The voters from Representative Jones' state
constituents want a law requiring seatbelts on school
buses. He and his staff write a bill, which is a draft
(early version) of the proposed law. The bill is then
passed out to each Representative. A Standing
Committee (a small, permanent group made up of
legislators who studies and reports on bills) reviews
the bill and does one of three things:
1. Sends the bill back with no changes.
2. Makes changes and sends it back.
3. Tables the bill -- In other words, they can do
nothing.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
If the committee sends it back with no
changes, then the bill goes on the House's
calendar to be voted on. When that day
comes, the bill is voted on and a majority of
the representatives (218 of 435) must vote yes
to pass it.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
If the bill is passed by the House, it then
moves to the other branch of Congress, the
United States Senate. The bill goes to a Senate
committee, which studies the bill, and then is
voted on by the senators. Just as in the
House, over half of the senators (51 of 100)
must vote yes to pass the bill.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
 If the bill is passed in both the House and Senate, the bill goes
to the President of the United States. If the president signs
the bill, it then becomes a law. It may also become law if the
president does not sign it for 10 days. If the president rejects,
vetoes the bill, it can still become a law if two-thirds of the
House and two-thirds of the Senate then vote in favor of the
bill.
 A bill may begin in either the House of Representatives or the
Senate. So, Senator Smith could introduce a bill of her own
just like Representative Jones. This bill would take the same
steps only it would begin in the Senate instead of the House of
Representatives.
Source:
http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=h
ttp://www.house.gov/putnam/graphics/br
anches.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.house.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Judicial Branch
Source:
http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Images/Fed
eral%20Courts.jpg
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Judicial Branch
 Article III of the Constitution established the judicial
branch of government with the creation of the
Supreme Court.
 This court is the highest court in the country.
 Courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws,
how they are applied, and whether they violate the
Constitution.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Executive Branch
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Executive Branch
Food and Drug
Administration
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Federal Emergency
Management
Agency
Executive Branch
 This branch makes sure that the laws of the United States are
obeyed.
 The President is the head of the executive branch of
government.
 President: Leader of the country and commands the military.
 Vice President: President of the Senate and becomes
President if the President can no longer do the job.
 Departments: Department heads advise the President on
issues and help carry out policies.
 Independent Agencies: Help carry out policy or provide
special services.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
The next president of the United
States of America?
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
President: Requirements and Term
 The President and the Vice-President are the only officials
elected by the entire country.
 Requirements for these positions:
 at least 35 years old
 have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years
 natural-born U.S. citizen
 The President serves a term of four years. At most, a President
may serve two terms.
 FDR – 4 terms, 1933-1945
 The 22nd Amendment limits Presidents to two terms.
 The President can be removed from office through the process
of impeachment.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
What does the president do?
 Generally viewed as the head of the U.S. Government
 His power is limited by the Constitution.
Constitutional Powers of the President:
 Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
 Make treaties, with two-thirds consent of the Senate
 Receive ambassadors and other public ministers from foreign countries
 Appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court justices, federal judges, and any
officials as provided for by the Congress, with the approval of the Senate
 Give an annual State of the Union Address to Congress
 Recommend legislation to Congress
 Convene Congress on extraordinary occasions
 Adjourn Congress, in cases of a disagreement about adjournment
 "Take care that the laws be faithfully executed"
 Fill in administrative vacancies during Congressional recesses
 Grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the U.S.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
If something were to happen to the
president, who would take over the
office?
What is this order called?
Order of Succession
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Order of Succession

According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, if the President of the United States is incapacitated, dies, resigns, is
for any reason unable to hold his office, or is removed from office (impeached and convicted), people in the following
offices, in this order, will assume the office of the President, provided they are qualified as stated by the Constitution to
assume the office of the President, which means they have to be must be at least 35 years old, must be a natural-born U.S.
citizen, and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.


















Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Election Process
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Voter Registration
 Any citizen over the age of 18, and who meets certain
state requirements, may vote in Federal elections.
 In the past, there were many restrictions on who
could vote.
 Only white male landowners over the age of 21
 Constitutional Amendments (15th, 17th, 19th, 23rd, 24th,
and 26th) and passage of certain pieces of legislation have
extended voting privileges to more and more citizens.
 It is everyone's civic responsibility to vote, but in
order to do so you must be registered.
 Requirements for registration and registration deadlines
vary from state to state and the District of Columbia.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Voter Registration Card
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Electing the President and the Vice
President
 How does one become President of the United States? The following steps
outline the general process for presidential elections.
Step I: Primaries and Caucuses
 There are many people who would like to become President.
 In these elections (primaries and caucuses), party members vote for the
candidate that will represent their party in the upcoming general election.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Step 2: National Conventions
 After the primaries and caucuses, each party holds a national convention
to finalize the selection of one Presidential nominee.
 Each Presidential candidate chooses a running-mate (or Vice-Presidential
candidate).
Ronald Reagan and George H. W.
Bush, 1984
John Kerry, 2004
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Step 3: The General (or Popular) Election
 Candidates campaign throughout the country in an attempt to win the
support of voters.
 In November, the people vote for one candidate.
 Indirect Election:
 When a person casts a vote in the general election, they are not voting directly
for an individual Presidential candidate. Instead, voters in each state actually
cast their vote for a group of people, known as electors.
 These electors are part of the Electoral College and are supposed to vote for
their state’s preferred candidate
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Step 4: The Electoral College
 Each state has a certain number of electors, based on each state's total
number of representation in Congress.
 Each elector gets one electoral vote. (A large state like California has 54
electoral votes, while Rhode Island has only four. All together, there are
538 Electoral votes.)
 In December (following the general election), the electors cast their votes.
When the votes are counted on January 6th, the Presidential candidate
that gets more than half (270) wins the election. The President-elect and
Vice President-elect take the oath of office and are inaugurated two weeks
later, on January 20th.
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Electoral Votes for the 2008 Election
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik
i/United_States_Electoral
_College
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Source:
http://elections.journalnow.com/graphic
s/26ELECTORAL_COLLEGE.gif
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
How states currently select electors:
Presidential elector candidates are nominated
by their state political parties in the summer
before the Election Day. (Each state provides
its own means for the nomination of electors.)
 All states require the names of all Electors to
be filed with the Secretary of State (or
equivalent) at least a month prior to election
day.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_S
tates_Electoral_College#How_state
s_currently_select_electors
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
How can the loser of the popular vote
win the election?
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/United_States_El
ectoral_College
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
National versus State Government
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
National versus State Government
 After the American colonies won their independence from
England, the thirteen colonies became thirteen states.
 Their system of government was described in a document
called the Articles of Confederation.
 In this system, the state governments had most of the power.
 The national government was very weak.
 The Founding Fathers saw that this system left the nation too
weak.
 They wrote a new document, the Constitution, to replace the Articles
of Confederation.
 The Constitution made a stronger national government.
 It divided power between the national government and the state
governments.
 Federalism
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
State Government
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
Questions ???
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke
U.S. Government
Rachelle Renee Rinke