Transcript Legislative Branch

U.S. Citizens: Empowered
by Popular Sovereignty
U.S Constitution: Creates
Sovereign Power
U.S.
Government
Federal
Government
Legislative Branch Executive Branch
Federalism
50 State Constitutions
State Government
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
Local Government
Legislative Branch:
Article 1- Create and maintain
statutory laws
Bicameral: A
legislative body that
is separated into two
different houses
House of Representatives
Types of Committees
1. Standing Committee: Permanent
2. Select Committee: Specific
purpose with time limit
3. Joint Committee: Combines Members
of the House and Senate
4. Subcommittee: a subdivision of
another committee with a specific
purpose
The Senate
- 435 Representatives
- 100 Representatives
- Representation is
- Representation is decided by
equal per state. 2 per
population
state.
- Two year terms
- Six year terms
- 25 years of age
- Live in state (not district)
- Represent a district
determined by population
- 30 years of age
- Must live in state
- Represent the whole state
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Congressional Services
- Library of Congress: To have access to
all published materials
- Congressional Research Service (CRS)- A
nonpartisan think tank which works specifically
members of Congress.
- General Accountability Office- a
nonpartisan arm of Congress to
investigate, audit, and evaluate
government activity to keep the
government accountable to the people
Powers
- Veto Bills (check on legislative
Enforce Laws (Responsible for the daily
branch)
administration/management of the state )
- Commander of the armed services
- Make treaties (needs senate
President
approval)
- 35 years of age
- Natural Born citizen of the United States - Appoint heads of agencies and
departments
- Permanent resident of the U.S. for 14 years
Executive Branch: Article 2-
Foreign Policy Tools
- Treaties and Executive
Agreements
- Appoint Ambassadors
- Foreign Aid
- Trade Sanctions and Embargoes
- Military Force
The Vice President
- President of the
Senate: Break tie
Independent Agencies
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Executive Office of the President of the United States
(EOP)
- White House Staff
- National Security Council (NSC)
- Office of Management and Budget: oversee the
preparation of the Federal Budget and assess the
spending of executive departments
Department of Justice
- Enforcement of the
Attorney General:
Law
- appointed by president
- Administer Justice
The Cabinet
- The heads of the 15 Executive
Departments
- State, Treasury, Defense, Justice,
Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor,
Health and Human Resources,
Housing and Urban Development,
Transportation, Energy, Education,
Veterans Affairs, and Homeland
Security
Department of the Interior
- Secretary of the Interior
Deputy Secretary
Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
Drug Enforcement
Agency (DEA)
Assistant Secretary
Land and Minerals Managemen
Federal Bureau of
Investigations
(FBI)
- Investigative body
- internal intelligence service
Home
-1 Director of the FBI
- 14,000 special
agent
Bureau of Land Management
Judicial Branch:
Article 3: Interpret and Apply laws
The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme
Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time
ordain and establish.
Qualifications for
Justices:
NONE
Appointed by President and
approved by Senate
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- 12 Courts (including Washington
D.C.)
- Appellate Jurisdiction: authority to
hear and review a case from a lower
court.
- No Original Jurisdiction
- Decisions:
1. Uphold lower court’s decision
2. Reverse lower court’s decision
3. Remand case back to lower court
Appeal
Supreme Court of the United States
(SCOTUS)
Appeal
- 9 Justices
- 1 Chief Justice
- retain limited original jurisdiction
- overturn stare decisis
- review both federal and state
cases
Appeal
State Supreme Court
Appeal
State Intermediate Court of Appeals
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U.S. District Courts
- 94 District Courts
- Original Jurisdiction: the authority to
hear a case for the first time
- Trial Court
Federal Courts
~ 1 million cases per year
Specifics
Appeal
Municipal / County Courts
Possible Crime
State Courts
~ 30 million cases per year