Civics EOC Exam Preparation
Welcome!
Sit in groups of four at each
table.
Presenter
Mr. Hough
Do not doodle on the dry erase
boards.
Topic
The Three Branches of
Government as
Established in the
U.S. Constitution
Benchmark
Illustrate the structure and
function (three branches of
government established in
Articles I, II, and III with
corresponding powers) of
government in the United States
as established in the Constitution.
SS.7.C.3.3
Benchmark Clarifications
 Students will recognize the
structure of the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches.
 Students will compare the roles and
responsibilities of the three
branches of the federal government.
 Students will identify the general
powers described in Articles I, II,
 and III of the U.S. Constitution.
SS.7.C.3.3
Content Limit
Items will not include
comparison of U.S.
government to other forms
of government.
SS.7.C.3.3
Stimulus Attribute
Items addressing the
structure and function of the
three branches of government
may use historical and
contemporary documents and
other relevant stimuli (e.g.,
maps, timelines, charts, graphs,
tables).
Content Focus
Additional items may include, but are
not limited to, the following: approval of
presidential appointments, armed
forces, coin and print money,
concurrent powers, declare war,
delegated powers, elastic clause,
numerated powers, foreign relations,
impeachment, implied powers,
naturalization laws, necessary and
proper, regulation of immigration, and
regulation of trade.
The U.S. Capitol
Where the U.S. Congress debates and passes laws.
Article I – Purpose
 Created Congress: the
legislative (law-making) branch
of the federal government
 Congress is divided into 2
chambers (parts): the Senate,
and the House of
Representatives
Expressed (Written) Powers of Congress
 Create taxes (tax bills start in the House of Reps.)
 Regulate commerce with foreign nations and between
the states
 Establish naturalization laws
 Establish post offices
 Create courts (other than the U.S. Supreme Court)
 Create and fund military forces
 Declare war against another country
 Coin and print money
 Senate: approve presidential nominations
 Senate: approve treaties
 To make laws that are “necessary and proper” for
executing expressed powers; called implied powers;
also know as the elastic clause (government stretches
to do the job it needs to do)
Checks over Executive Branch
 Impeach (House) and convict (Senate) executive
branch officials (president, vice-president,
department heads, etc.)
 Override presidential veto with 2/3 majority
vote (both houses)
 Senate: can reject presidential appointments
 Senate: can refuse to approve treaties
 Pass an Amendment (which president cannot
veto)
Check over Judicial Branch
 Impeach and convict judges
 Can reject appointment of judges
 Can pass an Amendment (which cannot be ruled
unconstitutional)
The Senate (“upper” house)
VicePresident and
President of
the Senate:
Joseph Biden
(D)
 Each state has 2 senators (total =
100)
 Senators are elected every 6 years
(1/3 every 2 years, in 3 “classes”)
 To run for the Senate: 30 years old,
citizen of the U.S. for nine years,
resident of the state elected in
 The Vice-President of the U.S. is
the “President” of the Senate; he
votes only to break a tie
 When the Vice-President is not
present, the “President protempore” is in charge
 Florida’s senators: Bill Nelson and
Marco Rubio
<<< Bill Nelson
(D – FL)
Marco Rubio
(R - FL) >>>
President
pro-tempore
of the
Senate:
Dennis Leahy
(D – VT)
House of Representatives
(“lower” house)
House
Speaker:
John
Boehner
(R – OH)
 Each state has a number of
representatives based on its
population; all get at least 1
(current total = 435)
 All representatives are elected
every 2 years
 To run for the House: at least
25 years old, citizen of the U.S.
for seven years, resident of the
state and district elected in
 The leader of the House is
called the “Speaker”
 Florida has 27 representatives
Florida
District 17
Rep.:
Thomas
Rooney
(R – FL)
The White House in Washington, D.C.
Where the President lives and works.
Article II – Purpose
Created the offices
of President and
Vice-President: the
executive (lawenforcing) branch
of the federal
government
Executive Branch Roles/Powers
The President is…
 Chief Executive: carries out the nation’s laws;
appoints heads of executive branch agencies
 Chief Diplomat: signs treaties with foreign
countries (with the approval of the Senate)
 Head of State: receives foreign leaders, presides
over official government ceremonies
 Commander in Chief: leads the nation’s armed
forces
 Legislative Leader: proposes new laws to Congress
 Economic Leader: creates the federal government’s
budget, encourages American business growth
 Party Leader: Assists fellow part members who are
trying to get elected or reelected
Check over Legislative Branch
Vetoes (forbids) laws passed by Congress
Check over Judicial Branch
Appoints federal judges (with the approval
of the Senate)
The President
President
Barack
Obama (D)
 Elected every 4 years;
22nd Amendment states
that a President can serve
for two terms (8 years
total)
 To run for President: must
be a natural-born citizen,
at least 35 years old, and a
resident of the U.S. for 14
years
The Vice President
VicePresident
Joseph Biden
(D)
 Elected with the President
(12th Amendment)
 To run for V.P. you must
have the same
qualifications as President
 If the President resigns,
dies, or becomes incapable
of performing their duties,
the V.P. becomes President
The Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.
Where the Supreme Court hears arguments about and makes
decisions on major legal cases.
Article III – Purpose
 Created the U.S.
Supreme Court: the
judicial (lawinterpreting) branch of
the federal
government
 Other “inferior”
federal courts are
created by Congress
U.S. Supreme Court’s Powers
 Final appellate court
 Judicial Review (established by the
Judiciary Act of 1789 and in Marbury
v. Madison): review acts of Congress,
the President, and the states to
determine their constitutionality
 Has original jurisdiction in cases that…
o Involve the United States as a party
oInvolve state vs. state conflicts
oInvolve ambassadors
Check over Legislative Branch
 Can declare acts of Congress
unconstitutional
Check over Executive Branch
 Can declare presidential actions
unconstitutional
The Supreme Court
Chief Justice
John Roberts
 Made up of nine “Justices”
(judges)
 One “Chief Justice” leads the
Supreme Court with eight
“Associate Justices” (number
can change by law)
 To be a justice: you must be
appointed by the President,
and confirmed by a majority
vote in the Senate
 Justices serve for life (as
long as they do not break the
law)
The reflecting pool next to
the Washington Monument
Instructions
1. Rally Coach:
a. One student reads a question out
loud and then answers it (explain
your answer, too).
b. The other three students at the
table agree or disagree with the
answer.
c. The table must come to a consensus.
One an answer is agreed upon, write
a brief statement under it explaining
why your answer is correct.
d. Students take turns as the reader.
Which part of the U.S.
Constitution outlines
legislative power?
a. First Amendment
b.Bill of rights
c. Preamble
d.Article I
The passage below is from a speech by President
George W. Bush, March 19, 2003.
On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking
selected targets of military importance to
undermine Saddam Hussein’s ability to wage war.
These are the opening stages of what will be a
broad and concerted campaign.
What constitutional power justifies the actions
described in the passage?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Commander-in-Chief
Head of State
Chief Legislator
Chief Regulator
The following passage is from McCulloch v. Maryland
(1819).
If…such be the mandate of the Constitution, we
have only to obey; but that instrument does not
profess to enumerate the means by which the
powers it confers may be executed…
Which constitutional provision does this decision
support?
a.
b.
c.
d.
commerce clause
judicial review
habeas corpus
elastic clause
Which list includes roles of the
president?
a. Chief Justice, Commander in Chief
b. Commander in Chief, Chief
Executive
c. President pro tempore, Chief
Executive
d. Speaker of the House, Chief
Justice
The statement below is from a congressional
document, July 27, 1974.
Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to
his trust as President and subversive of
constitutional government, to the great prejudice
of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest
injury of the people of the United States.
How have similar statements influenced modern
congressional actions?
a.
b.
c.
d.
presidential impeachment
presidential nomination
presidential election
presidential veto
The newspaper headline below describes an event in U.S.
History.
Daily News
August 4, 2006
CYBERCRIME TREATY APPROVED
What parts of the national government participated in
the process described in this newspaper headline?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Senate and President
Supreme Court and President
House of Representatives and Senate
Supreme Court and House of Representatives
Which of the following is an expressed
power of the U.S. Congress?
a. Pass a bill to fund the printing of
postage stamps for the U.S. Post
Office
b. Appoint an ambassador to the U.S.
Embassy in Paris, France
c. Declare war against a foreign country
d. Review cases decided by the U.S.
Supreme Court to determine their
constitutionality