Ch 8 Big Idea

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Ch 8 Big Idea

• Citizenship and the Constitution
• What makes up the Constitution and what are my
  responsibilities as a citizen.

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Vocabulary Terms

• representative democracy
• delegated powers
• elastic clause
• reserved powers
• concurrent powers
• separation of powers
• apportionment
• impeach
• veto
• executive order
• pardon
• cabinet
• Thurgood Marshall
• Sandra Day OConnor

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8.1 Big Idea

• Understanding the Constitution
• What are the basic parts of the Constitution and
  how do they work?

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Ch8 Section 1Understanding the Constitution

• Objective 1
• - How did the framers of the Constitution try to
  balance state and federal powers?

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I. The Federal System

• The United States is a representative democracy
  a government led by officials chosen by the
  people
• Powers
• Powers granted in the Constitution to the federal
  government are delegated powers.
• Article I, section 8 also called the elastic
  clause, provides flexibility so that the
  government can respond to unexpected situations
  and make all Laws which shall be necessary and
  proper for carrying out its duties.
• Powers kept by the state government or by the
  citizens are reserved powers.
• Concurrent powers are powers shared by the
  federal and state governments.

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Important Questions

• Which section of the Constitution provides
  flexibility so that the federal government can
  respond to unexpected issues and situations?
• Article I, section 8 also know as the elastic
  clause

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Ch8 Section 1Understanding the Constitution

• Objective 2
• - List the three branches of the federal
  government and describe the requirements for
  membership in each branch.
• Objective 3
• - Analyze how power is divided between the three
  branches of government.

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II. The Legislative Branch

• Separation of Powers
• Each of the governments three branches has
  specific powers.
• This separation of powers keeps any one branch
  from becoming too powerful.
• Congress
• Makes the nations laws, divided into two houses.
• Congress uses apportionment, or planned
  distribution, to determine how many of the 435
  representatives each state receives in the House.
• The Senate is made up of two representatives, or
  senators, from each state.
• House of Representative- has a 2 year term, you
  must be 25 years old, U.S. citizen for 7 years,
  resident of the state you represent.
• Senate- has a 6 year term, you must be 30 years
  old, U.S. citizen for 9 years, resident of the
  state you represent

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III. The Executive Branch

• Powers are specified in Article II of the
  Constitution.
• Enforces the laws that Congress passes.
• The President
• Must be at least 35 years old, a native-born
  citizen, and have lived in the U.S. for at least
  14 years.
• Has a 4 year term, 2 term limit, elections are
  held every four years.
• House of Representative can impeach, bring
  charges against, a president.
• Senate tries all impeached cases and can remove
  the president from office.

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IV. Working with Congress

1. Making Laws
2. President can veto, or cancel, laws that Congress
   passes
3. Congress can override, or undo, a veto by 2/3
   majority vote.
4. In certain cases, presidents can issue an
   executive order, which has the force of law
5. President has the power to pardon, or grant
   freedom from punishment, people accused or
   convicted of crimes.
6. President is also commander in chief of the U.S.
   armed forces.
7. The cabinet advises the president and consists of
   the heads of each executive department.

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V. The Judicial Branch

1. Article III of the Constitution outlines the
   courts duties.
2. Appointed by President but approved by Senate no
   special requirements, term is for life
3. The federal court can strike down state or
   federal laws it finds to be unconstitutional.
4. Has 94 district courts and 13 courts of appeals,
   which review lower-court decisions.

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VI. The Supreme Court

• Hears appeals on cases from court appeals.
• Decisions are final.
• Hears all cases involving international diplomats
  or disputes between states.
• The Justices
• Traditionally has nine Justices, led by the Chief
  Justices.
• Thurgood Marshall became 1st African American
  justice 1967
• Sandra Day OConnor became 1st female justice in
  1981.

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Important Questions

• What are the responsibilities of the Supreme
  Court?
• Hear appeals from court appeals
• Hear all cases involving international diplomats
  and disputes between the states