Our Government and How it Came to Be

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Our Government and How it Came to Be

• By Mrs. Collier
• 8-16-05

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United States Government
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Executive Branch (President)

• President appoints Supreme Court justices.
• President can veto laws passed by Congress.
• President is commander in chief of the military
  and can move troops to danger spots throughout
  the world
• President has the power to grant pardons and
  reprieves and to commute the sentences of
  criminals

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Legislative Branch (Congress)

• The senate confirms the appointments of Supreme
  Court justices
• Congress can overturn a presidential veto by two
  thirds vote of both houses.
• The senate ratifies treaties made by the
  President or his ambassadors.
• The Senate confirms appointments of ambassadors
  and other foreign representatives recommended by
  the President.
• The House of Representative impeaches the
  President the Senate tries the President on
  impeachment charges.
• Only Congress can declare war
• Only Congress can appropriate money to carry out
  laws or to pay for the Presidents movement of
  military troops overseas.

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Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)

• The Supreme Court can declare congressional laws
  and Executive Orders unconstitutional.
• The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides
  over an impeachment trial of a President.

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Declaration of Independence

• It was written by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,
  Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston and Roger
  Sherman.
• Declaration of Independence was adopted and our
  nation was officially born on July 4, 1776.
• It has five parts, they are the Preamble, the
  Statement of Human Rights, Charges Against the
  King and Parliament, the Statement of Separation
  and Signatures
• The main purpose was to announce the colonies
  separation from England.
• It states that all men are created equal and are
  entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
  happiness.

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Constitution

• The delegates that wrote the constitution were
  selected by their states. This group of men are
  also sometimes referred to as the Founding
  Fathers.
• The first 10 amendments of the Constitution is
  also called the Bill of Rights.
• 39 delegates signed the Constitution.
• It is compose of the Bill of Rights and the
  Amendments.