The Three Branches of Government and Government Powers The
Federal Government has 3 main branches
1-8 1-8 Legislative Executive Judicial The Law-making group Makes
sure laws are enforced 9 people who judge whether laws follow the
Constitution Headed by Congress (Senate and House of
Representatives) Headed by the President Headed by the Supreme
Court C Legislative Branch (Two branches of Congress)
1-8 1-8 1-8 The Senate The House of Representatives Each state has
2 Senators (2 each times 50 states = 100 total) (Senators serve 6
year terms) Each state has a different amount (based on the
population of each state:states with more people have more
representatives) (Representatives serve 2 year terms) 435 in the
whole country 19 from Illinois 1-8 1-8 C The 2 Senators from
Illinois:
Duties of the Legislative Branch (The Senate and the House of
Representatives) Get, think up, and organize ideas for laws.
Discuss how to make these ideas into useful bills (potential laws)
or decide they werent good ideas. The Senate approves or
disapproves treaties (agreements) with other countries the
president does this, but the Senate has to agree that his treaties
are okay. The Senate approves or disapproves Presidential
appointments (for:new Supreme Court justices, ambassadors, cabinet
members, federal judges, etc). Suggest amendments to the
Constitution. Hold other special hearings like:baseball and
steroids, impeachments, etc) The 2 Senators from Illinois: Dick
Durbin Mark Kirk 9-13 C C Illinois Congressional Districts
Around this area: There are people from the 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th,
14th, and 16th Districts. C Duties of the Executive
Branch(President, Vice-President, the Presidents cabinet)
Approves or disapproves of Congressional bills (law ideas). Sees
that laws are enforced. Makes treaties (approved by the Senate)
Appoints people to government positions (approved by the Senate).
Work with Congress on new ideas for laws And other things that come
up. 14-18 C Duties of the Judicial Branch (The Supreme Court and
the court system)
Headed by the Supreme Court, with 9 justices including a chief
justice. Applies the laws to cases that come before it to see if
they follow the Constitution. Decide if actions taken by the
president and/or Congress are constitutional or not. Also, the
Courts of Appeals, District Courts, Bankruptcy Courts, Court of
International Trade, Court of Federal Claims, etc To see a history
of Supreme Court Justices, click below 19-20 C C Sonia Sotomayor
(Summer, 2009) Seated left to right:
Anthony M. Kennedy, John Paul Stevens,Chief Justice John G.
Roberts, Jr., Antonin Scalia, David H. Souter (Retired:Summer,
2009) Standing left to right: Stephen G. Breyer, Clarence Thomas,
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel Anthony Alito, Jr. C C Governmental
Powers C The national government has the greatest power
Our system of dividing powers between the federal government and
state governments is called: The national government has the
greatest power The states have some powers the national government
does not want / need Federalism C The 6 different powers: C
3 Delegated Powers:given to the national government by the
Constitution. Expressed Powers:Powers written in the Constitution.
Implied Powers:Not written, but implied in the Constitution.
Inherent Powers:Powers a government has just because theyre the
government. Reserved Powers:powers only the states can use.
Concurrent Powers:shared by both the states and the federal
government. C Delegated Powers 21-26 C Given to the Federal
Government
by the Constitution How to remember:Delegated means put in charge
of something Examples:make treaties and deal with foreign policies,
take control in emergency situations 21-26 C Written out in the
Constitution
Expressed Powers Written out in the Constitution How to remember:If
you express yourself, you say / write exactly what you want
Examples:the power to declare war, build and arm an army, Navy, Air
Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard 21-26 C Implied Powers
21-26 C Not written, but implied in the Constitution
How to remember:Implied means suggested Examples:the ability to
make money, establish post offices, regulate interstate trade
(between states), protection of savings, use of energy resources
21-26 C Powers a government has, just because theyre the
government.
Inherent Powers Powers a government has, just because theyre the
government. How to remember:Inherent is like inherit and if you
inherit something, you get it just because of who you are
Examples:getting new territories, deciding who can come into the
country 21-26 C Reserved Powers 21-26 C Powers only the states can
have
How to remember:Reserved means saved for someone else
Examples:driving age, marriage age, conduct local and state
elections, take care of public health and safety, regulate
intrastate business (within the state), elections of local
officials C Concurrent Powers 21-26 C Shared by both the states
and
the federal government How to remember:current is like swimming
along with the current Examples:paying and collecting taxes,
building roads, borrowing money, establishing court systems, making
and enforcing laws, spend money for the general welfare of people,
use private property for public use (with just compensation) 21-26
C The federal and state governments should work together:
State laws cant go against federal laws The federal government
protects the states in time of war. The federal government helps
out states and local governments if they need it (natural
disasters, unrest, road systems, etc) C C
Top Related