What Every Dummy Should Know About US Government

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What Every Dummy Should Know About US Government

• Major David L. Rogers
• USAF (Ret)

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• The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs
  the security of all.
• John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963), speech at
  Vanderbilt University, May 18, 1963

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The Nature of Man

• Are People Basically Good and trustworthy or are
  they basically bad and bear watching?
• The founding fathers thought the latter.
• Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this
  country are decent, hard-working, honest
  Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that
  get all the publicity. But then--we elected them.
  Lilly Tomlin

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Three Branches to Watch Each OtherLaw as a Guide

• Legislative
• Make the Laws
• Executive
• Enforce the Laws
• Judicial
• Determine the constitutionality of law and ensure
  equality under the law

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Legislative Branch

• These Folks make the Law
• Forefathers saw this as the most powerfulif
  there was to be a powerful branch
• Two Houses
• Senate 100 two from every statelected every 6
  years
• Senate confirms treaties and appointeesand House
  actions to a degree
• House of Representatives Lower housemoney
  billselected every 2 years

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The ConstitutionWords to Live By

• Preamblestates the purpose
• Article 1 The Legislative Branch
• Article 2 The Executive
• Article 3 The Judiciary/Supreme Court
• Amendments 27the first 10 formed the Bill of
  Rights

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Executive

• President Four Year Terms
• Enforce the Laws
• President and cabinet
• Some important members
• Vice President Dick Cheney
• Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
• Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld

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Judicial

• Determine if laws are constitutional
• There are 9 Supreme Court Justices
• Serve for Life!!
• Ginsburg, Kennedy Scalia, Thomas, Stevens,
  Souter, Breyer

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Legislative

• Makes the Laws
• Two Houses
• Senate 100 members 6 year terms
• Confirm Presidential Appointees
• Ratify Treaties
• Upper House of the Congress
• House of Representatives 435 membersserve
  2-year terms
• All money bills start with them

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Our Flag

• 50 Stars One for every state
• 13 Stripes
• Represent the original colonies
• 7 Red
• 6 White
• Colors are not representative of any specific
  thing
• National Anthem Written in 1812 by Francis Scott
  Key

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Important Patriotic Days in US

• July 4, 1776
• Declaration of Independence Signed
• June 14, 1777
• First Flag ApprovedFlag Day
• May 30, 1868
• Memorial Day
• November 11, 1919
• Veterans Day

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THE END