The Three Branches of the US Government

1. The Three Branches of the US Government State Standard Task 12.4: Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

2. The Three Branches of the US Government The Constitution of the United States of America We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

3. The Three Branches of the US Government 1. Discuss Article I of the Constitution as it relates to the legislative branch, including eligibility for office and lengths of terms of representatives and senators; election to office; the roles of the House and Senate in impeachment proceedings; the role of the vice president; the enumerated legislative powers; and the process by which a bill becomes a law.

4. The Three Branches of the US Government Terms House : two years Senate: six years Eligibility House : twenty five years old, and seven years a citizen , an inhabitant of that state Senate: thirty years old, and nine years a citizen , an inhabitant of that state

5. The Three Branches of the US Government • The House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment. • The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. • When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: • And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present.

6. The Three Branches of the US Government The Vice President is the President of the Senate In the absence of the Vice President the Senate shall choose a President (temporary) pro tempore.

7. The Three Branches of the US Government Section 8. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

8. The Three Branches of the US Government • Section 8. The Congress shall have power to • borrow money on the credit of the United States; • regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes; • establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States; • coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures; • provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States;

9. The Three Branches of the US Government • Section 8. The Congress shall have power to • establish post offices and post roads; • promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries; • constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court; • define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations; • declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;

10. The Three Branches of the US Government • Section 8. The Congress shall have power to • raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years; • provide and maintain a navy; • make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces; • provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;

11. The Three Branches of the US Government • Section 8. The Congress shall have power to • provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

12. The Three Branches of the US Government • Section 8. The Congress shall have power to • exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings;--And

13. The Three Branches of the US Government • Section 8. The Congress shall have power to • make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

15. The Three Branches of the US Government How a Bill Becomes Law Step 1: A Bill Is BornAnyone may draft a bill; however, only members of Congress can introduce legislation, and, by doing so, become the sponsor (s). The president, a member of the cabinet or the head of a federal agency can also propose legislation, although a member of Congress must introduce it. Step 2: Committee ActionAs soon as a bill is introduced, it is referred to a committee. At this point the bill is examined carefully and its chances for passage are first determined. If the committee does not act on a bill, the bill is effectively "dead."

16. The Three Branches of the US Government Step 3: Subcommittee ReviewOften, bills are referred to a subcommittee for study and hearings. Hearings provide the opportunity to put on the record the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials and supporters, and opponents of the legislation. Step 4: Mark upWhen the hearings are completed, the subcommittee may meet to "mark up" the bill; that is, make changes and amendments prior to recommending the bill to the full committee. If a subcommittee votes not to report legislation to the full committee, the bill dies. If the committee votes for the bill, it is sent to the floor.

17. The Three Branches of the US Government Step 5: Committee Action to Report a BillAfter receiving a subcommittee's report on a bill the full committee votes on its recommendation to the House or Senate. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported." Step 6: VotingAfter the debate and the approval of any amendments, the bill is passed or defeated by the members voting. Step 7: Referral to Other ChamberWhen the House or Senate passes a bill, it is referred to the other chamber, where it usually follows the same route through committee and floor action. This chamber may approve the bill as received, reject it, ignore it, or change it.

18. The Three Branches of the US Government Step 8: Conference Committee ActionWhen the actions of the other chamber significantly alter the bill, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions. If the conferees are unable to reach agreement, the legislation dies. If agreement is reached, a conference report is prepared describing the committee members' recommendations for changes. Both the House and Senate must approve the conference report. Step 9: Final ActionAfter both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, it is sent to the president. If the president approves of the legislation, he signs it and it becomes law. Or, if the president takes no action for ten days, while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law.If the president opposes the bill he can veto it; or if he takes no action after the Congress has adjourned its second session, it is a "pocket veto" and the legislation dies.

19. The Three Branches of the US Government Step 10: Overriding a VetoIf the president vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to "override the veto." If both the Senate and the House pass the bill by a two-thirds majority, the president's veto is overruled and the bill becomes a law.

20. The Three Branches of the US Government 3. Identify their current representatives in the legislative branch of the national government.

21. The Three Branches of the US Government Senators of California Dianne Feinstein (D) 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Barbara Boxer (D) 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510

22. The Three Branches of the US Government California has 53 Districts for the members of the House of Representatives Most of the students and faculty of Serra High School live in one of these districts: 35th, 36th, 37th and some in the 46th.

23. The Three Branches of the US Government The 35th district is represented by Maxine Walters (D) 10124 South Broadway Suite 1Los Angeles, CA 90003 The 36th district is represented by Jane Harman (D) 2321 E. Rosecrans Avenue Suite 3270El Segundo, CA 90245

24. The Three Branches of the US Government The 37th district is represented by The Honorable Laura Richardson (D-CA) was elected August 21, 2007 in special election. Representative-elect Richardson was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on September 4, 2007. • The 46th district is represented by Dana Rohrabacher (R) 101 Main Street Suite 380Huntington Beach, CA 92648

25. The Three Branches of the US Government 2. Explain the process through which the Constitution can be amended. Article V The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress;

26. The Three Branches of the US Government The Constitution provides that an amendment can be proposed either by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate, or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. So far, none of the 27 amendments to the Constitution has been proposed by constitutional convention. In the case of a congressional vote the archivist of the United States submits the proposed amendment to the states for their consideration. A proposed amendment becomes part of the Constitution if it is ratified by three-fourths, or 38, of the 50 states.

27. The Three Branches of the US Government 4. Discuss Article II of the Constitution as it relates to the executive branch, including eligibility for office and length of term, election to and removal from office, the oath of office, and the enumerated executive powers.

28. The Three Branches of the US Government Article II Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected, as follows:

29. The Three Branches of the US Government Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector.

30. The Three Branches of the US Government Amendment XII The electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, … and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit … to the President of the Senate;--

31. The Three Branches of the US Government Amendment XII The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, … [count the] votes;--the person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if …[it is] a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; …if no person [has] majority, then … the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President [from] the persons having the highest numbers not [over] three on the list of those voted for as President…

32. The Three Branches of the US Government Amendment XII The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; … But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

33. The Three Branches of the US Government Before he enter on the execution of his office, [The President] shall take the following oath or affirmation:-- "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

34. The Three Branches of the US Government Section 2. The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States;

35. The Three Branches of the US Government Section 2. The President may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, The President shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

36. The Three Branches of the US Government Section 2. The President shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court,

37. The Three Branches of the US Government Section 2. The President shall appoint all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law: but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.

38. The Three Branches of the US Government Section 2. The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session.

39. The Three Branches of the US Government Section 3. The President …shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;

40. The Three Branches of the US Government Section 3. The President …may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; The President … shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States.

41. The Three Branches of the US Government Section 4. The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

42. The Three Branches of the US Government 5. Discuss Article III of the Constitution as it relates to judicial power, including the length of terms of judges and the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Article III Section 1. The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior.

43. The Three Branches of the US Government Article III Section 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority

44. The Three Branches of the US Government • Article III • Section 2. The judicial power shall extend to • all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls; • all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; • controversies to which the United States shall be a party; • controversies between two or more states

45. The Three Branches of the US Government • Article III • Section 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, • between citizens of different states; • between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, • between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.

46. The Three Branches of the US Government Article III Section 2. The Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction in all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.

47. The Three Branches of the US Government 6. Explain the processes of selection and confirmation of Supreme Court justices. The President … shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint judges of the Supreme Court. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior...