11/26/12 – BR- What does the following quote mean?“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external or internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”-James Madison

Today: Understanding Federalism and The Branches of Government

But wait.. Before we focus on our government lets check

in with the other forms of government.. Get out a piece of paper and take the forms of

government quiz

Vocabulary Journal #14 Federalism: government in which power is

divided between central authority, states, and localities.

Separation of powers: Constitutional principle that limits powers vested in any person or individual; division of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Why are these concepts so important to our form of government? Why do we have them?

Separation of Powers- 3 Branches of Government

Constitution

Legislative

Congress

SenateHouse of

Representatives

Executive

President

Vice President Cabinet

Judicial

U.S. Supreme Court

What is a presidential cabinet? Some sort of special

furniture? The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings

of the Presidency itself. Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office.

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.

In order of succession to the Presidency:

Vice President of the United StatesJoseph R. Biden

Department of StateSecretary Hillary Rodham Clinton

Department of the TreasurySecretary Timothy F. Geithner 

Department of DefenseSecretary Leon E. Panetta

Department of JusticeAttorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr

Department of the InteriorSecretary Kenneth L. Salazar

Department of AgricultureSecretary Thomas J. Vilsack

Department of CommerceActing Secretary Rebecca Blank

Department of LaborSecretary Hilda L. Solis 

Department of Health and Human ServicesSecretary Kathleen Sebelius

Department of Housing and Urban

DevelopmentSecretary Shaun L.S. Donovan

Department of TransportationSecretary Ray LaHood

Department of EnergySecretary Steven Chu

Department of EducationSecretary Arne Duncan

Department of Veterans AffairsSecretary Eric K. Shinseki

Department of Homeland SecuritySecretary Janet A. Napolitano

Other PeopleThe following positions have the

status of Cabinet-rank: White House Chief of Staff (“the power behind the throne?”)Jack Lew

Environmental Protection AgencyAdministrator Lisa P. Jackson

Office of Management & BudgetJeffrey Zients, Acting Director

United States Trade

RepresentativeAmbassador Ronald Kirk

United States Ambassador to the United NationsAmbassador Susan Rice

Council of Economic AdvisersChairman Alan B. Krueger

Small Business AdministrationAdministrator Karen G. Mills

Levels Of Government: Who’s Responsible for What?

Look at the different levels of government (Federal, State, and Local)

Do you see how different levels are in charge of certain things?

Federal, State, Or Local?

Federal

StateLocal

Federal, State, Or Local?

Local

StateFederal

Using our Discussion and your notes

Complete the federal, state, and local venn diagram

Homework: For each level (state, local, and federal) state one

problem that that level could solve and explain why they would handle it.

For example:Federal - Poor mail delivery. The federal government would have to handle this because the post office is their responsibility.