American Gov’t American Gov’t Midterm ReviewMidterm Review

Federalism – who does what

State Governments Handles most

governing Establishes & oversees

local gov’ts Handles everything

w/in the state borders

Federal Government Handles anything

that affects all states or several states

Handles all foreign matters

Division of Powers Under Federalism

Reserved, Delegated Reserved, Delegated & Concurrent Powers& Concurrent Powers

Reserved Powers Only for states

Election laws Marriage Laws Establishing Local

Gov’ts

Delegated Powers Federal only

Declare War Settle disputes between States

Print Currency

Concurrent Powers Both federal & States

Make Laws Set up courts Tax citizens Protect Citizens &

their Rights

Three Branches of Government

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

Congress Article IArticle I LawmakingLawmaking Representation of Representation of

ConstituentsConstituents Oversight – check up Oversight – check up

on other brancheson other branches

Congress cont. OrganizationOrganization

House of Representatives House of Representatives Proportional, 435, all Proportional, 435, all

money bills start here, money bills start here, articles of impeachmentarticles of impeachment

Senate – Senate – Equal, 100, approve all Equal, 100, approve all

Presidential appointments, Presidential appointments, removal trial removal trial

CommitteesCommittees Handle day to day Handle day to day

businessbusiness Conference Committee Conference Committee

irons out differences of irons out differences of bills from HOR & bills from HOR & SenateSenate

Congress cont.

Three Branches of Government

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

President Oversees execution of laws Most Visible – provides

leadership Executive Office

Cabinet advise President & run agencies/departments

VP

Presidential Election Process Primary – select delegates National Convention –

delegates select party’s candidate

General Election – selects electors

Electoral College – Electors select president

Powers of the President Formal = in Constitution

Enforces laws, pardons, reprieve, amnesty, appointments

Informal = not in Const. Executive order

Domestic Policy Execute Laws Sets Budget

(approved by Cong) Sets Agenda

Foreign Policy Sends troops Negotiates Treaties

(Senate approves) Establishes Executive

Agreements (with other foreign heads of govt.)

Three Branches of Government

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch

Judicial BranchJudicial BranchCriminal & Civil LawHear Cases Judicial Review –

Marbury v. Madison

Jurisdictions Original Jurisdiction

1st to hear the case Appellate Jurisdiction

– review case already heard at a lower level

Federal CourtsFederal Courts Supreme CourtSupreme Court

Highest court in U.S., Highest court in U.S., only court mentioned only court mentioned in the Const., has in the Const., has original & appellate original & appellate jurisdiction, decides jurisdiction, decides what cases they will what cases they will hearhear

Federal Courts cont. Courts of Appeals Courts of Appeals

Reviews cases from Reviews cases from lower courtslower courts

USA Circuit Courts USA Circuit Courts Hears felony cases & Hears felony cases &

appeals from lower appeals from lower courtscourts

Maryland State Courts MD Court of Appeals (hears MD Court of Appeals (hears

all death penalty appeals)all death penalty appeals) MD Court of Special Appeals MD Court of Special Appeals MD Circuit Courts (hears MD Circuit Courts (hears

felony cases & appeals from felony cases & appeals from lower court)lower court)

MD District Courts (hears MD District Courts (hears misdemeanor & traffic misdemeanor & traffic related crimes)related crimes)

Federal Bureaucracy

The 4The 4thth Branch of Gov’t Branch of Gov’t

Part of Executive Branch AgenciesAgencies

FDA – Food & Drug AdministrationFDA – Food & Drug Administration EPA – Environmental Protection EPA – Environmental Protection

AgencyAgency DepartmentsDepartments

Department of StateDepartment of State Homeland SecurityHomeland Security

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Civil Servants stay no matter who is Civil Servants stay no matter who is

electedelected Help set and form public policy Help set and form public policy

Maryland Government

Three Branches at Three Branches at the State Levelthe State Level

MD LegislatureMaryland General

Assembly House of Delegates

(like House of Representatives)

Senate (like US Senate)

MD ExecutiveGovernorGovernorSupported by Supported by

state state bureaucracybureaucracy