Introduction to Government

• Why do we need a government?• What does a government do?

• What are citizens?• What are the responsibilities of a citizen?• What makes someone a good citizen?

CitizenshipCitizenship

Citizenship Continued

Popular Sovereignty

• All Power is held by the People• The power to govern is given through the

Constitution

• Amendments protecting sovereignty:– 15th – African Americans– 17th – Senators elected directly– 19th – Women– 24th – Outlawed poll tax– 26th – Voting age lowered to 18

FederalismFederalism

• What is federalism?

• Some powers are delegated to the national gov’t and some are reserved for the states

• States have their own laws, courts, constitutions, and elected officials

• What is separation of powers?

• Separation of powers is the assigning of the legislative (law-making) executive (law-enforcing) and judicial (law-interpreting) powers to three different branches of the government.

• The legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch enforces laws, and the judicial branch interprets laws

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

• Each Branch is checked by the other branches

• Ensures one branch does not have all the power

Legislative Branch

• The Legislative Branch (House and Senate) checks on the president; can override a presidential veto; can impeach and remove the president; ratifies presidential appointments; authorizes/appropriates funds for legislation; checks on the judiciary; can impeach and remove judges; confirms federal judges.

The Executive Branch

• The Executive Branch (President) checks on Congress; proposes legislation; vetoes legislation; makes treaties; checks on the judiciary; appoints federal judges; enforces court decisions.

The Judicial Branch

• The Judicial Branch (Supreme Court and lower courts) checks on the president; reviews executive acts; checks on Congress; reviews congressional laws.

• Marbury v. Madison – established judicial review

• Judicial Review – the power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a government