Building blocks of america
- 2. Constitution • The Constitution was written in 1787. • It is the “Supreme law of the land”. – No Law may contradict it – No person is exempt from following it • The Constitution establishes a federal democratic republic – We have a union of 50 states, the people govern themselves, people choose the representatives, and the government gains its power from the people.
- 3. Important Parts • Inherent rights • Self Government • Separation of powers
- 4. • Inherent rights: Rights that anyone living in America has • Self Government: Government by the people. • Seperation of Powers: Branches of governments with different powers (Checks and Balances)
- 8. The Three Types of Government
- 9. Three types of Government • Executive • Legislative • Judicial
- 10. Executive Commander in Chief. President Commander of Armed forces in America Can sign bills into laws
- 11. The US President • Can pardon people and/or “animals”. • Can convene or adjourn (call or close) the Senate or House of Representatives. • Power with the Presidents have grown in recent years. • President can “over ride” Congress in certain circumstances in regards to war. • The President can serve _____ years as President.
- 13. Supreme Court and the House of Representatives both reside in the Capital Building
- 14. Judicial Branch
- 15. The US Supreme Court • • • • Highest federal court in the United States It has jurisdiction over all courts in the US Final interpreter of Constitutional Law Consists of eight judges and one chief Justice- 9 judges total • Once appointed, the Supreme Court judges stay for life…UNLESS
- 16. The US Supreme Court • • • • They die They retire Take senior status Or can be impeached (This has never happened). • And the judges are categorized by being conservative, moderate, or liberal in terms of the law.