The White House
The Capitol Building
Executive Branch
The President is elected to lead the executive
branch. He enforces the laws, is commander in
chief of the armed forces, and conducts foreign
affairs. The Vice president is elected with the
President.
Executive Branch
The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the
beginnings of the Presidency itself. One of the
principal purposes of the Cabinet is to advise the
President on any subject he may require relating
to the duties of their respective offices.
15 Executive Departments
“The Cabinet”
The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the
heads of 15 executive departments-the
Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense,
Education, Energy, Health and Human Services,
Homeland Security, Housing and Urban
Development, Interior, Labor, State,
Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs,
and the Attorney General.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/cabinet.html
Executive Branch
•President leads this
branch
•Vice President plus 15 Cabinet
Members called “Secretaries” who
head their own departments.
•The purpose of the Cabinet is to
advise the President
•Their overall job is to enforce
the law.
U.S. Supreme Court Justices
2015
http://www.supremecourt.gov/
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court heads the judicial branch of
the United States government. It is the only court
established by the Constitution. Decisions made
by the Supreme Court are usually of national
importance. "Equal Justice under Law" is the
motto of the Supreme Court. The wording of the
Constitution is complex, so it must be studied and
examined carefully. When questions concerning
particular laws arise in lower courts, the justices
who make up the Supreme Court are responsible
for explaining and interpreting the Constitution.
Judicial Branch
The judicial branch is the system of federal courts
that make sure all laws and treaties are
constitutional, or agree with the U.S. Constitution.
The highest federal court, the Supreme Court,
has nine justices, or judges, nominated by the
President and approved by the Senate.
Judicial Branch
•Supreme Court
•9 Supreme Court Justices or
“Judges”
•Judges are nominated by the
President & approved by the Senate.
•Serve for life – until they die or step
down
•Job is to make sure laws are
in agreement with the US
Constitution
Legislative Branch
The legislative branch of the federal government
consists of the Congress, which is divided into
two chambers -- the Senate and the House of
Representatives. Each member of Congress is
elected by the people of his or her state. The
House of Representatives, with membership
based on state populations, has 435 seats, while
the Senate, with two members from each state,
has 100 seats. Members of the House of
Representatives are elected for two-year terms,
and Senators are elected for six-year terms.
Senate Chamber
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senat
ors_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=state&Sort=ASC
House Chamber
http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/olm110.html
Legislative Branch
Called “Congress”
•MAKE LAWS
•Control taxes and spending
Congress is made up
of two departments
Senate:
House of Representatives:
•Exactly 100 members
(two from each state)
•Exactly 435 members
by population
•6 year term in office
•2 year term in office
Legislative Branch
Called “_________.”
•Make _______.
•Control _______ and ________.
Congress is made up of two
separate departments:
The _________:
The House of __________:
•Exactly ___ members
(____ from each state)
•Exactly ____members
(based on population)
•___ year term in office
•___ year term in office
Judicial Branch
•_______ Court.
•____ Supreme Court
Justices called “_________.”
•Judges are ____________ by the
President & approved by the ______.
•Serve for ______ – until they _____
or ______ _______.
•Job is to make sure ______
are in agreement with the
______ _____________.
Executive Branch
•The ___________
leads this branch.
•The ______ _________ plus
____ Cabinet Members called
“___________” who head their
own departments.
•The purpose of the Cabinet is to
_________ the ____________.
•Their overall job is to
________ the ______.