The Government of The Government of the USAthe USA

The American The American ConstitutionConstitution

• Written in 1783 by the Founding Written in 1783 by the Founding FathersFathers

• A set of rules describing how a A set of rules describing how a country should be runcountry should be run

• Tells the government what they can Tells the government what they can and cannot doand cannot do

• Tells all citizens of their rights and Tells all citizens of their rights and responsibilities. responsibilities.

How the Government is How the Government is organisedorganised

• There is one government for the whole of There is one government for the whole of the USA – this is called the FEDERAL the USA – this is called the FEDERAL governmentgovernment

• The President is the head of the Federal The President is the head of the Federal Government Government

• There are also 50 STATE governments There are also 50 STATE governments • Each one makes smaller laws for their own Each one makes smaller laws for their own

statestate• The Head of a State Government is called The Head of a State Government is called

the GOVERNORthe GOVERNOR

The Three Branches of The Three Branches of GovernmentGovernment

To make sure no one person or To make sure no one person or group became too powerful the group became too powerful the founding fathers created “3 founding fathers created “3 BRANCHES OF POWER” which BRANCHES OF POWER” which would each keep a check on the would each keep a check on the other 2.other 2.

This is known as the “SEPERATION This is known as the “SEPERATION OF POWERS”OF POWERS”

The Three Branches of The Three Branches of GovernmentGovernment

Elections in the USAElections in the USA• The President is elected every 4 yearsThe President is elected every 4 years• Congressional elections are held Congressional elections are held

every 2 yearsevery 2 years• Representatives serve a two year Representatives serve a two year

term and are all put up for election at term and are all put up for election at the same timethe same time

• Senators serve for 6 years. Every 2 Senators serve for 6 years. Every 2 years, one third of senators (approx years, one third of senators (approx 33) are up for election33) are up for election

33

33

34

What does each Branch What does each Branch do??do??

LEGISLATIVE (congress)LEGISLATIVE (congress)Makes the Laws of the USAMakes the Laws of the USA

EXECUTIVE (White House)EXECUTIVE (White House)Makes sure laws are carried out by Makes sure laws are carried out by

every stateevery state

JUDICIAL (Supreme Court)JUDICIAL (Supreme Court)Ensures laws are constitutionalEnsures laws are constitutional

CONGRESSCONGRESS

Congress is America’s Parliament. It is Congress is America’s Parliament. It is made up of two Houses.made up of two Houses.

The Upper House is called The Upper House is called “THE SENATE”.“THE SENATE”. Every state (50) elects 2 Senators to Every state (50) elects 2 Senators to represent them in the Senate. There are represent them in the Senate. There are 100100 Senators Senators

altogether.altogether.

The Lower House is called The Lower House is called “THE HOUSE “THE HOUSE OFOF REPRESENTATIVES”.REPRESENTATIVES”. Every state Every state elects a number of Congressmen/women to elects a number of Congressmen/women to represent them in the House of Reps. There represent them in the House of Reps. There are are 435 435 altogether.altogether.