Unit 4: Structure of the US Government in the Constitution
SOL 6a, 6c Question: What is the structure of the national government as set out in the
United States Constitution?
The legislative branch
• Consists of the Congress, a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives (435 members,
based upon populations of the states) and the Senate (100 members—two per state)
• Makes the laws of the nation
• Approves the annual budget
• Confirms presidential appointments
• Raises revenue through taxes and other levies
• Regulates interstate and foreign trade
• Declares war
Which branch of the national government has the power to pass laws?
Legislative powers
• Expressed: Specifically listed in the Constitution of the United States
• Implied: Used to carry out expressed powers
The lawmaking process in Congress
• Introducing a bill by a Senator or Representative
• Working in committees
• Debating the bill on the floor of each house
• Voting on the bill in each house
• Sending the bill to the president to sign into law
•
•
•
Elected officials in Congress write laws and take action in response to problems or issues.
Individuals and interest groups help shape legislation.
The formal powers of Congress are limited by the Constitution of the United States.
SOL 6a, 6d Question: What is the structure of the national government as set out in the
United States Constitution?
The executive branch
• Headed by the president of the United States, the chief executive officer of the nation
• Executes the laws of the land
• Prepares the annual budget for congressional action
• Appoints cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges
• Administers the federal bureaucracy
What are the roles and powers of the executive branch of the national government? What
are the roles and powers of the president?
Ways the executive branch influences policymaking
• Proposing legislation in an annual speech to Congress (State of the Union Address)
• Appealing directly to the people
• Approving or vetoing legislation
• Appointing officials who carry out the laws
⇒ Cabinet departments, agencies, and regulatory groups interpret and execute the laws.
The president exercises power as
• chief of state: Ceremonial head of the government
• chief executive: Head of the executive branch of government
•
•
•
•
•
chief legislator: Proposer of the legislative agenda
commander-in-chief: Head of the nation’s armed forces
chief diplomat: Architect of American foreign policy
chief of party: Leader of the political party that controls the executive branch
chief citizen: Representative of all of the people.
Presidential power has grown in the years since the Constitution was ratified.
SOL 6a, 10b Question: What is the structure of the national government as set out in the
United States Constitution?
The judicial branch
• Consists of the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land
• The Supreme Court exercises the power of judicial review.
• The federal courts try cases involving federal law and questions involving interpretation of the Constitution
of the United States.
What is judicial review?
•
•
•
•
The supreme courts of the United States and Virginia determine the constitutionality of laws and acts of the
executive branch of government. This power is called “judicial review.”
Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review at the national level.
The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the land.
State laws must conform to the Virginia and United States constitutions.
SOL 6b Question: How do the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances
protect against an abuse of power by any one branch of the national government?
Answer: Separation of powers
The Constitution of the United States in Articles I, II, and III defines the powers of the legislative, executive,
and judicial branches of the national government.
Checks and balances
Each of the three branches of the national government limits the exercise of power by the other two branches.
The legislative branch
• The Congress checks the president when legislators
− override presidential vetoes
− impeach and convict a president.
• The Congress checks the courts when legislators
− confirm or refuse to confirm federal judges/justices
− impeach and convict judges/justices.
The executive branch
• The president checks Congress when the president
− proposes legislation
− prepares an annual budget for Congress to approve
− call special sessions of Congress
− vetoes legislation Congress has passed.
• The president checks the courts when the president appoints judges/justices.
The judicial branch
• The courts check Congress when judges/justices declare acts of Congress to be unconstitutional.
• The courts check the president when judges/justices declare executive actions to be unconstitutional.
Unit 4: Structure of the US Government in the Constitution
Unit Study Guide: Answer these questions on your own. This will help you prepare for quizzes/tests!
SOL 6a: Structure of the National Government – Sort of the facts in the bank into the branch where they belong.
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Sorting Bank
Congress
Approves the annual budget
President
Judicial review
interprets the law
Chief executive
Raises revenue through taxes and other levies
Supreme Court Makes the laws of the nation
Prepares the annual budget
Executes the laws of the land
Appoints cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges
SOL 6c: Powers of the National Legislative Branch - Illustrate (pictures or symbols) the five steps in the lawmaking
process below:
STEP 1
•
•
•
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
_________________________ in Congress write____________ and take action in response to
_______________________ or ______________________.
___________________________ and ________________________ help shape legislation.
The formal powers of ___________________________ are limited by the
____________________________________________________________.
SOL 6d: Powers of the National Executive Branch
Match the article with the role of the Executive Branch
A - Obama Proposing Legislation
B - Individuals Expressing their opinions
C - Interest Groups making political contributions
D - Executive Branch Appealing to the people
E - Mass Media creating a forum for opposing viewpoints
President Obama going on TV to get support for the Healthcare Bill ________
Fox News showing a debate
________
President Obama asking for new Immigration Laws ________
People protesting ________
The Sierra Club donating to Obama’s Campaign _______
Complete the statements below:
The President’s job as chief of state is to_________________________________________________________________
The President’s job as commander in chief is to ___________________________________________________________
The President’s job as chief legislator is to________________________________________________________________
The President’s job as chief diplomat is to ________________________________________________________________
SOL 10b: Powers of the National Judicial Branch/Judicial Review
What is judicial review?
Who has the power to use judicial review?
What Supreme Court case established this power?
SOL 6b: Checks and Balances in the National Government
What is one way that the President can limit the power of the Supreme Court?
What is one way that Congress can limit the power of the Supreme Court?
What is one way that the President can limit the Power of Congress?
What is one way that Congress can limit the power of the President?
What is one way that the Supreme Court can limit the power of Congress?
What is one way that the Supreme Court can limit the power of the President?
Unit 4: Structure of Government
Key Terms
Term
federal
legislate
bicameral
bill
expressed
powers
implied
powers
execute
public policy
bureaucracy
reform
impeach
veto
override
appoint
Definition
Picture
Unit 4: Structure of Government
Key Terms
Term
federal
legislate
bicameral
bill
expressed
powers
implied
powers
execute
public policy
bureaucracy
reform
impeach
veto
override
appoint
Notes page
Write in a sentence correctly.
Directions: Match each news article to the branch of government that will be covered in the article.
Legislative Branch
Answer choices (you will use some more than once)
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
1. ________________________The President visits with Russian President to discuss military strength
2. ________________________ Citizens feel that the powers given in Article I of the Constitution need to
be revised.
3. ________________________ Annual budget gets approval
4. ________________________ William Gates gets appointed as Secretary of Defense
5. ________________________ Marbury v. Madison moves to the Supreme Court
6. ________________________ Congress to discuss bill about banning cell phone use in cars
7. ________________________ Controversial law to be reviewed to determine if it is unconstitutional
8. ________________________ Healthcare bill moves to the Senate for approval
Job of the Government
(highlighted action that can be
performed by the government)
What Article and
Section of the
Constitution was this
found in?
What branch of is
responsible for this job?
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Expressed or Implied????
The following quotes are from the US Constitution. Identify whether they are examples
of expressed powers or implied powers.
________________________
1. “To raise and support Armies”
________________________
2. “The Congress shall have Power To lay and
collect Taxes”
________________________
3. “To coin Money”
________________________
4. “The Congress shall have Power – To make all
Laws which shall be necessary and proper for
carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers…”
What Would Happen?
For the scenario below, explain what would happen to the number of Senators and
Representatives each state would have.
# of Senators
Up/Down/Stays the
Same???
# of
Representatives
Up/Down/Stays
the Same???
Scenario
1. California’s population drops by 25%.
2. Montana’s population grows by 50%
3. Pennsylvania’s population grows by
30%.
The National Legislative Branch:
Congress is a BICAMERAL legislature, which means it has ______________________.
House of
Representatives:
Senate:
THE LEGISLATIVE POWERS
Congress’s powers are found in
Some of these listed powers are:
_____________________________________.
1. ________________________________
The Congress has two types of powers:
2. ________________________________
1. ___________________ - listed powers
3. ________________________________
2. ___________________ - powers that are
not listed
4. ________________________________
5. ________________________________
6. ________________________________
The National Legislative Branch:
Congress is a BICAMERAL legislature, which means it has ______________________.
House of
Representatives:
National Legislative Word Bank
Senate:
Sort the facts below into either the House or Senate
435 Members
2 Members
Members based on population
Members equal for all states
Lawmaking Process Sort the steps into the boxes below
Work on bill in committee
Send the bill to the President to sign into law
Debate the bill on the floor
Introduce bill
Vote on the bill
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Lawmaking Process Sort the examples into the boxes above
"Congress Begins Floor Debate on Stimulus Bill"
"Congress Committee Advances Stimulus Bill"
"Congress Introduces Stimulus Bill"
"Obama Signs Stimulus Bill Into Law"
"Congress OKs Stimulus Bill"
The Legislative Branch – How a Bill Becomes a Law
House of Representatives
Senate
House STEP 1:
House STEP 2:
House STEP 3:
House STEP 4:
Senate STEP 1:
A bill is a
written idea
or proposal
for a law.
If it goes
through all
steps in each
house of
Congress
and gets
approved by
the
president, it
becomes an
official law!
Senate STEP 2:
Senate STEP 3:
Senate STEP 4:
STEP 5:
The wants and needs of ____________________________________________ help shape legislation.
EX: Congress will work to make a law that gives increased benefits to people who lose their jobs.
Laws are passed that attempt to ___________________________________________.
Ex: Unemployment is rising.
Executive Branch and Public Policy - Practice
Match the role of the Executive Branch with the example.
Word Bank:
*Proposing Legislation
*Appointing Officials
*Appealing to the people
1. President Obama going on TV to get support for the Healthcare Bill
2. President Obama choosing Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State.
3. President Obama asking for new Immigration Laws.
4. President Obama signed the new Healthcare Law.
Executive Branch in Action
VIDEO ONE:
1. Describe what is happening in the clip (people, setting, actions):
2. How is the President influencing public policy?
VIDEO TWO:
3. Describe what is happening in the clip (people, setting, actions):
4. How is the President influencing public policy?
VIDEO THREE:
5. Describe what is happening in the clip (people, setting, actions):
6. How is the President influencing public policy?
VIDEO FOUR:
7. Describe what is happening in the clip (people, setting, actions):
8. How is the President influencing public policy?
*Approve or Veto Laws
The Executive Branch
The Executive at the National Level is the ___________________________________________________.
The National Executive in our current government is name ____________________________________.
Where are the powers of the National Executive defined? ___________________________.
Presidential power has grown in the years since the Constitution was ratified. Looking at how the President
influences public policy, why do you think that happened?
___________or
___________ Laws…
…that are sent to the President by
the Congress
How does the executive branch influence
___________ ___________
(The Government’s Actions and Plans)
____________ Officials
that carry out the
laws…
… such as the Secretary of
Education that sets up schools
and the Secretary of Defense that
runs the military.
Illustration:
Illustration:
_____________ legislation (laws)…
…in an annual speech to the legislature called the
____________ directly to the
__________...
____________________________________.
…by going on television to ask them to support a plan
for a law or for the country. For example, President
Bush went on television to ask people to support the
War in Iraq.
Illustration:
Illustration:
Roles of the National Executive: Practice Questions
Word Bank: chief of state
chief executive
chief diplomat
chief legislator
chief of party
commander-in-chief
chief citizen
For each question below, match the correct role of the national executive.
1. The President represents all Americans.
2. The President presided over the ceremonial swearing-in of the Chief Justice.
3. The President made speeches to help Democratic candidates get elected.
4. The President ran the meeting with the Secretary of Agriculture and other members of the cabinet.
5. The President asked for a law that lowered taxes for small businesses.
6. The President made the decision for more troops to be sent to Afghanistan.
7. The President led peace talks with the leaders of Israel and Palestine.
The Many Hats of the President
The President has different ways of influencing public policy and affecting the laws and decisions the
government makes. In the box below, design a hat that shows the many roles of the National Executive. Then,
explain your design and how it shows each role of the President. All seven roles must be included. Use color
and be neat!
On a piece of notebook paper, write a one paragraph explanation of your design.
Roles of the National Executive
The National Executive is the _____________ and has many roles and jobs within the
government. Even though the national executive can’t make laws, the President is the chief
executive (leader) of different parts of the government and country.
The President exercises power (acts) as…
Role in the
Government
Chief of State
Chief Executive
Chief Legislator
Commander-inChief
Chief Diplomat
Chief of Party
Chief Citizen
Logo
What does that mean?
Examples
Design a logo for this role
Create a visual for each of the following statements:
“The Supreme Court is the
highest court in the land”
“Federal Courts interpret
the Constitution”
“Federal Courts try cases at
the national level”
“Judicial Review –
determines if a law is
Constitutional”
M&M: Judicial Review in Action
Directions: Marbury v. Madison (M&M) gave Congress the power of judicial review, or the right
to overturn unconstitutional laws and unconstitutional executive acts. Use the power of Judicial
Review to declare each action constitutional or unconstitutional.
Case before the Court
Does the Supreme Court declare
the action Constitutional or
Unconstitutional?
Why? What is the Constitutional Evidence?
Choose from: Article I, II, or III, or the First
Amendment
1. The US Congress made a law that
stated that the President has no
power to approve or veto laws
passed by Congress.
Evidence for this decision is in
_________________________ of the US
Constitution because …
2. The Massachusetts State Legislature
made a law that every school must
begin with a moment of prayer.
Evidence for this decision is in
_________________________ of the US
Constitution because …
3. The Virginia State Assembly made it a
law that no more than 6 teenagers
can hang out together at one time.
Evidence for this decision is in
_________________________ of the US
Constitution because …
Welcome to
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
and the power given to it in Article III of the US Constitution
WHO WE ARE
The Supreme Court
• It is the _______________
court in the land
• Has the power of
______________________
______________________
Federal Courts
• Try (rule on) cases
involving federal law and
questions involving
_____________________
of the Constitution of the
United States of America
• Has power at the
______________________
______________________
WHAT WE DO
• Try cases at the
_______________
______________
that deal with
_______________
_______________
• Interpret the
_______________
_______________
The Supreme Court’s power of Judicial Review
• Judicial Review is the power of Supreme Court to determine the
__________________ – whether or not something agrees or disagrees
with what’s in the Constitution - of _______________and
_______________________.
• The case ________________V.________________ established the
principle of judicial review for the Supreme Court
Checks and Balances Practice
Part One: In the School House Rock Video, they compared Checks and Balances between the three branches to a three
ring circus. Illustrate your own metaphor for Checks and Balances in the box below.
Part Two: What are the key words for each of the branches that you will be looking for in the answer choices? Then,
answer the questions below.
Legislative Branch:___________________________________________________________________
Executive Branch: ___________________________________________________________________
Judicial Branch: _____________________________________________________________________
1. Which of the following is an Executive Branch check on the Legislative Branch?
a. Approves Presidential cabinet appointments
b. Impeach senators
c. Approves budget
d. Appoints
2. Which of the following is a Judicial Branch check on the Legislative Branch?
a. Declare executive order unconstitutional
b. Impeach a President
c. Impeach federal judges
d. Declare laws unconstitutional
3. Which of the following is a Legislative Branch check on the Executive Branch?
a. Appoint Senators
b. Override a veto
c. Declare Executive Orders unconstitutional
d. Impeach federal judges
4. Which of the following is an Executive Branch check on the Judicial Branch?
a. Impeach federal judges
b. Appoint federal judges
c. Approve federal judge appointments
d. Declare laws unconstitutional
5. Which level and branch of government approves a biennial budget?
a. National Executive
b. State Legislative
c. National Legislative
d. Local Legislative