The Important Book of The Important Book of Government Government

Written by: Joy Greenwood, Michele Menton and Helen MatthewsWritten by: Joy Greenwood, Michele Menton and Helen Matthews

Adapted for Everett by:Adapted for Everett by: K. GoodingK. Gooding

The important thing about our American The important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

After the Revolutionary War, the United States of After the Revolutionary War, the United States of America needed to decide what kind of government America needed to decide what kind of government would be best for their new country. would be best for their new country.

In 1787, In 1787, delegatesdelegates, or leaders from the states met in , or leaders from the states met in Philadelphia to create a new government. At this Philadelphia to create a new government. At this conventionconvention, or meeting, the , or meeting, the United States United States ConstitutionConstitution was written. The Constitution states was written. The Constitution states the laws and outlines a plan for how the government the laws and outlines a plan for how the government works.works.

But the important thing about our American But the important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

The important thing about our American The important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

The delegates decided a The delegates decided a democracydemocracy, or a , or a country whose government gets its power country whose government gets its power from the people would be best. They finally from the people would be best. They finally agreed that the United States citizens would agreed that the United States citizens would elect leaders to run the government. Our elect leaders to run the government. Our U.S. government is therefore called a U.S. government is therefore called a

democratic republicdemocratic republic..

But the important thing about our American But the important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

The important thing about our American The important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

The Constitution, ratified on The Constitution, ratified on June 21, 1788 divided the June 21, 1788 divided the government into three government into three branches: branches: legislativelegislative, , executiveexecutive, and , and judicialjudicial. .

But the important thing about our American But the important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

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JudicialJudicial

The important thing about our American The important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people. comes from the people.

Many people felt the Constitution did not Many people felt the Constitution did not adequately protect the freedom and rights adequately protect the freedom and rights of American citizens. A group of people of American citizens. A group of people insisted that a bill of rights be included in insisted that a bill of rights be included in the Constitution. the Constitution.

The House of Representatives wrote the first The House of Representatives wrote the first 10 10 amendmentsamendments to the Constitution. An to the Constitution. An amendment is an addition. These amendment is an addition. These amendments are called the amendments are called the Bill of RightsBill of Rights. . All ten amendments deal with the protection All ten amendments deal with the protection of individual rights. of individual rights.

But the important thing about our American But the important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

The important thing about our American The important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

Since the signing of the Since the signing of the Constitution, the division Constitution, the division of power in the United of power in the United States has been based on States has been based on sharing power between sharing power between the national government the national government and individual state and individual state governments.governments.

But the important thing about our American But the important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

The important thing about our American The important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

Each state has its own constitution based on its Each state has its own constitution based on its unique history, needs, philosophy, and unique history, needs, philosophy, and geography. A state's constitution is similar to that geography. A state's constitution is similar to that of the national Constitution; however, the laws of the national Constitution; however, the laws made in individual states cannot conflict with the made in individual states cannot conflict with the national Constitution or national laws. The national Constitution or national laws. The national Constitution is "the supreme law of the national Constitution is "the supreme law of the land."land."

But the important thing about our American But the important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

The important thing about our American The important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

The Constitution created three The Constitution created three branches of government. One of the branches of government. One of the three branches of our national three branches of our national government is the legislative branch, government is the legislative branch, called called CongressCongress. Congress has two . Congress has two parts, the parts, the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives, , and the and the U.S. SenateU.S. Senate. .

American citizens elect members of the American citizens elect members of the House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Senate.

Congress is responsible for making Congress is responsible for making laws about money and taxes in the laws about money and taxes in the United States. It can create an army, United States. It can create an army, navy or other armed forces. Only navy or other armed forces. Only Congress can declare war. Congress can declare war.

But the important thing about our American But the important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

The important thing about our American The important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

Just like that of the national Just like that of the national government, each state's government, each state's constitution separates constitution separates power between three power between three branches -- legislative, branches -- legislative, judicial, and executive. judicial, and executive.

But the important thing about our American But the important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

ExecutiveExecutive

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JudicialJudicial

The important thing about our American The important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

In most states, the legislative In most states, the legislative branch contains two houses: branch contains two houses: the Senate and the House of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Representatives. • In Washington, there are 2 In Washington, there are 2

representatives and 1 senator for representatives and 1 senator for each of the 49 legislative districts. each of the 49 legislative districts.

They work in committees to They work in committees to determine taxes, how money determine taxes, how money should be spent and pass laws.should be spent and pass laws.

But the important thing about our American But the important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

Representative Mike Sells

Representative John McCoy

Senator Jean Berkey

The important thing about our American The important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

The second branch of the state government is the The second branch of the state government is the judicial judicial branchbranch. The . The justicesjustices make up this branch and are responsible make up this branch and are responsible for helping citizens understand the laws of the state. The for helping citizens understand the laws of the state. The Supreme CourtSupreme Court is the highest court in the state. is the highest court in the state.

But, the important thing about our American democracy is that the power of the government comes from the people.

There are 9 Supreme Court justices. A There are 9 Supreme Court justices. A justice must be elected by the people. A justice must be elected by the people. A Supreme Court justice interprets the laws Supreme Court justice interprets the laws and makes sure they are all constitutional. and makes sure they are all constitutional.

The important thing about our American The important thing about our American democracy is that the power of government democracy is that the power of government comes from the people.comes from the people.

Another branch of state government is Another branch of state government is the the executive branchexecutive branch. The leader of . The leader of the executive branch is the the executive branch is the GovernorGovernor..

The governor is head of the executive The governor is head of the executive branch and is also the commander in branch and is also the commander in chief of the state’s military. The governor chief of the state’s military. The governor also signs or vetoes bills, submits budget also signs or vetoes bills, submits budget recommendations, and can appoint recommendations, and can appoint people to some government jobs. people to some government jobs.

If anything happens to the governor, If anything happens to the governor, the lieutenant governor takes the the lieutenant governor takes the governor’s place.governor’s place.

But, the important thing about our American democracy is that the power of the government comes from the people.

Governor

Chris Gregoire