2/12/2023

Foundation and Structure of U.S. Government

Tr. J Mirram

Foundation and Structure of U.S. Government

Natural Rights

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Popular Sovereignty - Popular sovereignty can be defined as the doctrine that all people have a right
to participate in government. The idea of popular sovereignty was first introduced by Thomas Paine, an English-
American writer and revolutionary who called for universal suffrage. popular sovereignty is contained in Article One
of the United States Constitution, which states that “the people” are the source of political power and legitimacy.
 Constitutionalism
What does the Constitution do?
 sets up the government
 defines the government
 protects basic rights of Americans
(a)Limited Government(power is limited)
(b)The rule of law(neither the citizens nor the government officials are permitted to break the laws or to violate
the Constitution.)
(c) Majority rules(a majority might not abuse its power and might respect the rights of a minority.)
(d)Minority rights(majority rule needs to be limited so that minority rights are guaranteed.)
One way this protection is granted in the United States is by the Bill of Rights, which protects the basic rights of
individual citizens.

What is the “rule of law”?

 Everyone must follow the law
 Leaders must obey the law
 Government must obey the law
 No one is above the law

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 Article 1. The Legislative Branch

 Article 2. The Executive Branch
 Article 3. The Judicial Branch
 Article 4. Relations Among States
 Article 5. The Amendment Process
 Article 6. National Supremacy
 Article 7. Ratification Process
 Amendments 1-10 = The Bill of Rights
 Amendments 11-27 = Other Amendments

Three Branches of United States & its Authority

•Legislative - make laws
•Executive - carries out laws
•Judicial - evaluate laws
These three branches are coequal, meaning that the power within each one is equal to the others. This separation
of powers ensures that authority is never concentrated in the hands of one person or body. Let’s explore each branch
more thoroughly and then see how they interact.

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Article 1 .Legislative Branch assigns the responsibility for making laws to the Legislative Branch
(Congress).
The Constitution gives Congress the power to:
 collect taxes
 borrow money
 provide for the welfare of the people
 create paper money and coins
 create an army and navy
 create courts of law and post offices
 declare war on other nations
 impeach or remove a president
 The legislative branch is charged with making laws. It is a
bicameral branch of government, meaning that there are
two chambers of the legislature or Congress: the Senate
and the House of Representatives.

Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

 all people of the state

Article 2 . The Executive Branch

 The executive branch of the U.S. government includes the president, elected by the people to serve as head of state and
commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the vice president, and the cabinet, which consists of the department heads
appointed by the president.
 The powers of the executive branch include
 signing bills into law
 vetoing bills
 nominating federal judges and Supreme Court justices
 issuing pardons
 making treaties.
 Solve disputes between the states

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The President’s Cabinet

Cabinet
 to advise the president
 is appointed by the president and then confirmed by the Senate

The 15 Cabinets of the executive branch

 Department of Agriculture-the safety food and regulating farming·
 Department of Commerce-economic development (trade, banking, economy)·
 Department of Defense-the largest government agencies and armed force·
 Department of Education-student achievements and equal access to a quality education·
 Department of Energy-utilities and power supply, new technology·
 Department of Health & Human Service-FDA, CDC, national institute of Health and administration·
 Department of Homeland Security-2001 (terrorist) , security within the US, patrolling borders
 Department of Housing & Urban development-home ownership and no discrimination to purchase
home
 Department of the Interior-protect, conserve, and nature national recourses (park and wildlife)
 Department of Justice-the largest law office in world
 Department of Labor-protects the safety and rights of workers
 Department of State-diplomatic relations with other countries and works to develop and implement
the foreign policies of the president.
 Department of Transportation-maintaining and ensuring the safety of the nation’s transportation
network.
 Department of Treasury-collects taxes, manages federal finances, produces coins and currency, and
oversees the financial and economic stability
 Department of Veteran’s Affairs-medical care for veterans

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 There are 9 Supreme Court justices, nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate, appointed to serve for
life. The uneven number ensures that there cannot be a split decision; there will always be a majority opinion held
by at least one more justice than the dissenting opinion in a case.

What does the judicial branch do?

 reviews laws
 explains laws
 resolves disputes (disagreements)
 decides if a law goes against the Constitution

What stops one branch of government from becoming

too powerful?
*Checks and balances*

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Article 5 . Amending the Constitution

Amendment process - amending by Constitution with two third of the vote
The amendment process is more difficult than the process for making laws. When two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the
House of Representatives vote to change the Constitution, an amendment goes to the state legislatures for a vote. Alternatively,
two-thirds of the state legislatures can submit an application to Congress, and then Congress calls a national convention at which
states propose amendments. Three-fourths of the state legislatures or state conventions must vote in favor of an amendment to
ratify it.

 The only amendment to have been ratified by all 50 states was the Twentieth Amendment. (1000 have been proposed)
 Only 27 changes
 The president plays no role
 Joint resolution
 This amendment set the beginning and ending dates for presidential and congressional terms.

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Article 6. National Supremacy- leaders must take the loyalty oath due to the
supreme law which is constitution
 states that Federal law is supreme, or higher than, state and local laws. This means that if a
state law conflicts with a Federal law, Federal law takes precedence.
1. Federal Government 2. State Government
• Declaring war • Functions that are not assigned to the federal government
• Making treaties with other countries • Local issues covered by state and local laws
• National defense
• Regulating trade Under the Constitution, some powers belong to the states.
• provide schooling and education
• provide protection (police)
• provide safety (fire departments)
Under the Constitution, some powers belong to the • give a driver’s license
federal government. • approve zoning and land use
• to print money • To punish crimes for misdemeanors and felonies
• to declare war
• to create an army
• to make treaties

Article 7. Ratification- The process set out in the Constitution for its ratification provided for much popular debate
in the States. During the debate over the Constitution, two factions emerged: the Federalists, who supported adoption, and the
Anti-Federalists, who opposed it.

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What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

 checks and balances
 separation of powers

Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

 (because of) the state’s population
 (because) they have more people
 (because) some states have more people

What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
 Kamala Harris