u.s. government rachelle renee rinke u.s. government

U.S. GovernmentRachelle Renee Rinke

U.S. Government


Quick Facts about the USA National Independence: Motto: Largest Cities: Border Countries and Oceans: Population: Land Area: Highest Point: Lowest Point: Largest State: Smallest State: National Bird: National Flower: National Anthem:


Quick Facts about the USA National Independence:July 4, 1776 Motto:In God We Trust Largest Cities:New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston,

Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, San Jose Border Countries and Oceans:Canada, Mexico, Atlantic Ocean,

Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean Population:298,444,215 (July 2006 est.) Land Area:3,615,123 sq. mi. (9,375,720 sq. km.) Highest Point:Mt. McKinley, Alaska, 20,320 ft. (6194 m.) above

sea level Lowest Point:Death Valley, California, 282 ft (86 m.) below sea

level Largest State:Alaska Smallest State:Rhode Island National Bird:Bald Eagle National Flower:Rose National Anthem:The Star-Spangled Banner


What is the capital of the United States of America?

???NYC


Washington, D.C.


New York City was the first capital once the Constitution was ratified. This is where Congress met. George Washington took the oath of

office from the balcony of the old City Hall to become the first President of the United States.

Source: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/nation/capital.html


George Washington had to decide on a permanent location for the country’s seat of government. The capital was moved to Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania in 1791 for ten years and then to a suitable permanent location on the Potomac River.



The new capital included land from the states of Maryland and Virginia (primarily farm and marsh lands.)



The "Federal City“ (Washington City, The District)On June 11, 1800, Philadelphia was no

longer the seat of government. The capital of the United States now had

a permanent home in Washington, District of Columbia



Branches of Government

Source: http://www.house.gov/putnam/graphics/branches.jpg


Branches of GovernmentThe Founding Fathers

Form a government that did not allow one person to have too much authority or control


Branches of GovernmentThe framers wrote the Constitution to

provide for a separation of powers, three separate branches of government. Each has its own responsibilities.Checks and Balances

A branch may use its powers to check the powers of the other two in order to maintain a balance of power among the three branches of government.


Checks & Balances


e.g., John G. Roberts, Chief Justice


Legislative Branch


Legislative Branch Congress and Government Agencies

such as the Government Printing Office and Library of Congress

Article I of the Constitution established this branch and gave Congress the power to make laws.

Congress has two parts: the House of Representatives and

the Senate.


The Powers of Congress:Some of the congressional powers are:

Coining money (deciding what the legal tender is).

Maintaining a military. Declaring war on other countries. Regulating interstate and foreign

commerce And more …

http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.worstedwitch.com/pix/2007/02/22/money.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.worstedwitch.com/category/voluntary-simplicity&h=300&w=400&sz=30&hl=de&start=16&um=1&tbnid=Os-bigBQV0v3XM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcoining%2Bmoney%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dde%26sa%3DN


How laws are made …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ


US educational seriesSongs about educational topics, e.g.,

politics, history, grammar, math, science

Broadcasted on American Broadcasting Company (ABC): 1973 - present

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:American_Broadcasting_Company_Logo_2007.png

http://psu.se/skills/wp-content/gallery/blog/school_house_rock.gif


How laws are made …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ


The voters from Representative Jones' state constituents want a law requiring seatbelts on school buses. He and his staff write a bill, which is a draft (early version) of the proposed law. The bill is then passed out to each Representative. A Standing Committee (a small, permanent group made up of legislators who studies and reports on bills) reviews the bill and does one of three things:

1. Sends the bill back with no changes.2. Makes changes and sends it back.3. Tables the bill -- In other words, they can do nothing.

http://www.house.gov/putnam/pages/bill.wav


If the committee sends it back with no changes, then the bill goes on the House's calendar to be voted on. When that day comes, the bill is voted on and a majority of the representatives (218 of 435) must vote yes to pass it.


If the bill is passed by the House, it then moves to the other branch of Congress, the United States Senate. The bill goes to a Senate committee, which studies the bill, and then is voted on by the senators. Just as in the House, over half of the senators (51 of 100) must vote yes to pass the bill.


If the bill is passed in both the House and Senate, the bill goes to the President of the United States. If the president signs the bill, it then becomes a law. It may also become law if the president does not sign it for 10 days. If the president rejects, vetoes the bill, it can still become a law if two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate then vote in favor of the bill.

A bill may begin in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. So, Senator Smith could introduce a bill of her own just like Representative Jones. This bill would take the same steps only it would begin in the Senate instead of the House of Representatives.

Source: http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.house.gov/putnam/graphics/branches.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.house.gov/putnam/pages/kidspage.htm&h=352&w=558&sz=41&hl=de&start=1&um=1&tbnid=TgK7pF9gTfLmNM:&tbnh=84&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbranches%2Bof%2Bgovernment%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dde


Judicial Branch

Source: http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Images/Federal%20Courts.jpg


Judicial BranchArticle III of the Constitution established

the judicial branch of government with the creation of the Supreme Court. This court is the highest court in the country.

Courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws, how they are applied, and whether they violate the Constitution.


Executive Branch


Executive Branch

Food and Drug Administration

Federal Emergency Management Agency


Executive Branch This branch makes sure that the laws of the United

States are obeyed. The President is the head of the executive branch of

government.

President: Leader of the country and commands the military.

Vice President: President of the Senate and becomes President if the President can no longer do the job.

Departments: Department heads advise the President on issues and help carry out policies.

Independent Agencies: Help carry out policy or provide special services.


The next president of the United States of America?


President: Requirements and Term The President and the Vice-President are the only

officials elected by the entire country. Requirements for these positions:

at least 35 years old have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years natural-born U.S. citizen

The President serves a term of four years. At most, a President may serve two terms. FDR – 4 terms, 1933-1945

The 22nd Amendment limits Presidents to two terms.

The President can be removed from office through the process of impeachment.


What does the president do? Generally viewed as the head of the U.S. Government

His power is limited by the Constitution.

Constitutional Powers of the President: Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Make treaties, with two-thirds consent of the Senate Receive ambassadors and other public ministers from foreign

countries Appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court justices, federal judges,

and any officials as provided for by the Congress, with the approval of the Senate

Give an annual State of the Union Address to Congress Recommend legislation to Congress Convene Congress on extraordinary occasions Adjourn Congress, in cases of a disagreement about

adjournment "Take care that the laws be faithfully executed" Fill in administrative vacancies during Congressional recesses Grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the U.S.


If something were to happen to the president, who would take

over the office?What is this order called?

Order of Succession


Order of Succession According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, if the President of the United States is

incapacitated, dies, resigns, is for any reason unable to hold his office, or is removed from office (impeached and convicted), people in the following offices, in this order, will assume the office of the President, provided they are qualified as stated by the Constitution to assume the office of the President, which means they have to be must be at least 35 years old, must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.

Vice President Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore of the Senate Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General Secretary of the Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Labor Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Energy Secretary of Education Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Homeland Security


Election Process


Voter RegistrationAny citizen over the age of 18, and who meets

certain state requirements, may vote in Federal elections.

In the past, there were many restrictions on who could vote.Only white male landowners over the age of 21 Constitutional Amendments (15th, 17th, 19th, 23rd,

24th, and 26th) and passage of certain pieces of legislation have extended voting privileges to more and more citizens.

It is everyone's civic responsibility to vote, but in order to do so you must be registered. Requirements for registration and registration

deadlines vary from state to state and the District of Columbia.


Voter Registration Card


Electing the President and the Vice President

How does one become President of the United States? The following steps outline the general process for presidential elections.

Step I: Primaries and Caucuses There are many people who would like to become

President. In these elections (primaries and caucuses), party

members vote for the candidate that will represent their party in the upcoming general election.


Step 2: National Conventions After the primaries and caucuses, each party holds a

national convention to finalize the selection of one Presidential nominee. Each Presidential candidate chooses a running-mate (or Vice-

Presidential candidate).

John Kerry, 2004Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, 1984

http://www.answers.com/topic/reagan-bush-1984-jpg


Step 3: The General (or Popular) Election Candidates campaign throughout the country in an attempt

to win the support of voters. In November, the people vote for one candidate.

Indirect Election: When a person casts a vote in the general election, they are

not voting directly for an individual Presidential candidate. Instead, voters in each state actually cast their vote for a group of people, known as electors.

These electors are part of the Electoral College and are supposed to vote for their state’s preferred candidate

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Step 4: The Electoral College Each state has a certain number of electors, based on each

state's total number of representation in Congress. Each elector gets one electoral vote. (A large state like

California has 54 electoral votes, while Rhode Island has only four. All together, there are 538 Electoral votes.)

In December (following the general election), the electors cast their votes. When the votes are counted on January 6th, the Presidential candidate that gets more than half (270) wins the election. The President-elect and Vice President-elect take the oath of office and are inaugurated two weeks later, on January 20th.


Electoral Votes for the 2008 Election

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Electoral_College


Source: http://elections.journalnow.com/graphics/26ELECTORAL_COLLEGE.gif


How states currently select electors:

Presidential elector candidates are nominated by their state political parties in the summer before the Election Day. (Each state provides its own means for the nomination of electors.)

All states require the names of all

Electors to be filed with the Secretary of State (or equivalent) at least a month prior to election day.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Electoral_College#How_states_currently_select_electors


How can the loser of the popular vote win the election?

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Electoral_College


National versus State Government


National versus State Government After the American colonies won their independence

from England, the thirteen colonies became thirteen states.

Their system of government was described in a document called the Articles of Confederation. In this system, the state governments had most of the

power. The national government was very weak.

The Founding Fathers saw that this system left the nation too weak. They wrote a new document, the Constitution, to replace the

Articles of Confederation. The Constitution made a stronger national government. It divided power between the national government and the

state governments. Federalism


State Government


Questions ???

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