CHAPTER 6:

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

- To ensure the democracy and justice through the

system of checks and balances;
- To even out powersWHY THREE
à limit the power of the president
(not as a King or Queen);
- To form a betterBRANCHES?
government so as to maximize the
right of people living in the U.S., and create the
development of the whole country.
I. GENERAL INFORMATION

NOTES:

- The powers of the federal government is limited to those stated in the

Constitution. All other powers belong to the individual states.
- Each branch of powers has different functions and powers, and each
branch has some control over the other two branches via the system of
checks and balances.
II. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Congress is the legislative branch,

including 2 structures: House of
Representative and a Senate.

The U.S. Capitol (also called Capitol Hill) –

Washington D.C.
II. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
House of Representative
- The House of Representative
(lower house) is made up of 435
representatives, the number per
state varies by population and
elected every 2 years;
- Representatives must be at least 25
years old and at least 7 years of
US’s citizen.
- The leader is the Speaker of the
House, chosen by its members.
Senate
- The Senate (upper house) is made
up of 100 senators, 2 from each
state, elected for 6-year term.
- Senators must be at least 30 years
old and at least 9 years of US’s
citizen.
- The leader is the President of the
Senate, also the Vice-President of
the US.
II. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
POWERS
- Pass federal laws;
- Pass federal budget, levy taxes,
and fund executive functions;
- Regulate commerce between
states;
- Establish lower federal courts,
judicial positions;
- Approve treaties and federal
appointments;
- Declare war.
II. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

NOTES
- Any bill for raising money
must start out in the House;
- In the case of a veto, the bill is
sent back to Congress, and if
both houses pass it by a two-
thirds majority, the bill
becomes law over the
President's veto. This is known
as overriding a veto.
III. EXCECUTIVE BRANCH

Executive branch includes the

President, the Vice president, the
Cabinet, departments, and agencies

The White House (northern facade) –

Washington D.C.
III. EXCECUTIVE BRANCH
III. EXCECUTIVE BRANCH
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., born
November 20, 1942, is the 46th President
of the U.S. He used to be the 47th Vice
President under Barack Obama
THE PRESIDENT
- Powers: leader of the executive
branch; commander in chief of the
armed forces; making treaties with
other nations (with the advice and
consent of 2/3 of the Senate);
appointing diplomatic
representatives, supreme court
judges, and many other officials
(with Senate consent); vetoes a bill;
pardons criminals.
- The president and vice president are
the only government officials in the
U.S. elected by the Electoral College.
III. EXCECUTIVE BRANCH
Flag of the President of the U.S.
THE PRESIDENT
Requirements:
- Native-born U.S. citizen;
- At least 35 years of age to be
president;
- Have resided in the U.S. for 14 years;
Term of Office:
- Four-year presidential term;
- Maximum to two elected terms;
Life in the White House:
The White House is the president’s
office and president’s home. The
presidents live with their spouse,
children, and entertain guests there.
III. EXCECUTIVE BRANCH THE VICE PRESIDENT
- Powers: the president of the U.S.
Senate, where he can cast the deciding
vote in the case of a tie; adviser to the
president; manages special projects
created by the President.
- The Vice President will become the
President because of the President’s
death, resignation, or temporary
incapacitation.
- Standards: Same as the President
- Term of office: In theory, no limit on
Kamala Devi Harris, born October 20,
term of office for the Vice President. In
1964, is the 49th Vice President of the U.S.
practice, no one has served more than
She is the US’s first female Vice President. two terms.
III. EXCECUTIVE BRANCH

The Vice President’s Residence, located

Flag of the Vice President of the U.S.
on the grounds of the U.S. Naval
Observatory in Northwestern
Washington, D.C.
III. EXCECUTIVE BRANCH
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
The Electoral College is based on a “winner-take-all” system. This system of electing
the President and Vice President is an indirect election, consisting of 538 electors
(435 representatives, 100 senators, and 3 electors from Washington, D.C.). The
candidate who receives an absolute majority of electoral votes (270/538) is then
elected to that office.
No candidate receives an absolute majority of the votes for President à the House
of Representatives elects the President.
No candidate receives an absolute majority of the votes for Vice President à the
Senate elects the Vice President.

In December the electors meet in their state capitals to cast their votes and send
them to the U.S. Senate. On January 6 the members of Congress meet to count the
votes. The winners for President and Vice President assume office on January 20.
III. EXCECUTIVE BRANCH
2020 USA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
IV. JUDICIAL BRANCH

Judicial branch interprets the

meaning of laws, applies laws to
individual cases, and decides if laws
violate the Constitution.

The Supreme Court– Washington D.C.

IV. JUDICIAL BRANCH

There are 3
levels of
Federal court
system 13

Federal
Circuit
IV. JUDICIAL BRANCH
IV. JUDICIAL BRANCH
DISTRICT COURTS
- They are the lowest level of
federal court.
CIRCUIT COURTS OF APPEAL
- They are the general trial courts
- They hear appeals from district
of the US.
courts.
- Both civil and criminal cases are
- Appeals from circuit courts of
filed in the district courts.
appeal can be taken to the
- Decisions of district courts may
Supreme Court.
be appealed to the respective
- They can set precedents.
court of appeals of their circuit,
or sometimes directly to the
Supreme Court.
IV. JUDICIAL BRANCH
THE SUPREME COURT
- It is the highest court in the US.
- It includes 9 members nominated by the President and approved by the
Senate: 1 Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices.
- There must be a minimum of 6 Justices to decide a case. If there is an even
number of Justices and a case results in a tie, the lower court’s decision
stands.
- There is no fixed term for Justices. They serve until their death, retirement,
or removal in exceptional circumstances.
- It is responsible for deciding whether laws violate the Constitution and
giving the “Last court of Appeal” for serious cases.
- It can set precedents.
IV. JUDICIAL BRANCH
V. POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE U.S.
The U.S. is a multi-party nation. This
aims to ensure the democracy and
justice in this nation à The U.S. citizens
can follow any party they like.

- Dominating parties: Democratic Party

and Republican Party (also called the
Grand Old Party [G.O.P]);
- Third parties: Green Party, Libertarian
Party, Constitution Party,
Independent Party, Modern Whig
Party, etc.
V. POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE U.S. Abraham Lincoln,
George Bush,
Franklin Roosevelt,
Richard Nixon,
John F. Kennedy, Jimmy
Ronald Reagan,
Carter, Bill Clinton,
Donald John
Barack Obama, …
Trump,…
DEMOCRATIC PARTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
Philosophy Liberal Conservative
Economic ideas Higher tax rates for higher income Not increase tax
Social ideas Based on community Based on individual rights & justice
Military issues Decrease spending Increase spending
Healthcare Strong support of government Support from private companies
Founded in 1824 1854
Gov. regulation Protect consumers Free market capitalism
END OF CHAPTER 6