CE.

6a R 20 – CE6a­National Govt

Describing the structure and powers of the national government:

What is the structure of government as set out of the United States Constitution?

๏ Legislative, executive, and judicial powers of the national government are 
distributed among the three distinct and independent branches of 
government.

The Legislative Branch:
๏  The Congress is a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of 
Representatives (453 members based upon population) and Senate (100 
members 2 per state)
๏ Makes laws of the nation 
๏ Approves the annual budget
๏ Confirms presidential appointments 
๏ Raises revenue through taxes and other levies 
๏ Regulates interstate and foreign trade 
๏ Declares war 

The Executive Branch:
๏ The President of the United States is the Chief Executive Officer of the 
nation 
๏ Executes the law of the land 
๏ Prepares the annual budget for congressional action 
๏ Appoints cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges 
๏ Administers the federal bureaucracy 

The Judicial Branch consists of the courts:
๏ The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land
๏ The Supreme Court exercises the power of judicial review 
๏ The federal courts try cases involving federal law and questions involving 
interpretation of the Constitution of the United States of America

Summary:
* The Constitution of the United States defines the structure and powers of the
national government
* The powers held by government are divided between the national 
government  

R 21 – CE 6a
 Legislative Branch
Legislative check over
EXECUTIVE
1. Override a presidential
veto
2. Impeach/convict a
president
3. Prepare annual budget for
3. Approve the budget
4. Approve presidential
appointment
Legislative check over
JUDICIAL
1. Confirm / refuse to
confirm federal
judges or Supreme Court
justices
2. Impeach and convict
judge or justice
Executive Branch Judicial Branch
Executive checkR 23  ­ CE 6b – Checks and Balances
over Judicial check over LEGISLATIVE
LEGISLATIVE
1. Declare acts passed by Congress
1. Propose legislation to be unconstitutional
(violates the Constitution)
2. Call Congress into
special session
Judicial check over EXECUTIVE
Congress to approve
1. Declare executive
4. Vetoes acts of actions to be unconstitutional
legislation passed by
Congress (violates the Constitution)
Executive check over
JUDICIAL
1. Appoints judges
& justices
2. Grants pardons
and reprieves
 R 25 – CE6d – Executive Branch / President

SOL 6D : Roles and _powers_ of the executive _branch_

Article _II_ sets up the Executive Branch, headed by the _President_.
What are the ways the executive branch influences policy-making?

A. Ways the executive branch influences policymaking.

1. Propose legislation in an annual speech to Congress (State of the
Union Address)

2. Proposing _legislation
3. Appealing directly to the people.
4. Approving (signing) or vetoing legislation.
5. Appointing officials who carry out the laws.
6. Issuing executive acts / orders.
7. Appealing directly through the media and communications with people.
B. Cabinet Departments, agencies, and regulatory groups interpret and execute
the laws.

What are the roles and powers of the President?

C. The President exercise powers as…

1. Chief of State : Ceremonial head of the government.

2. Chief Executive: Head of the Executive Branch of government.
 3. Chief Legislator: Proposer of the legislative agenda.

4. Commander in Chief: Head of the nation’s armed forces

5. Chief Diplomat: Architect of American foreign policy.

6. Chief of Party_: Leader of the political party that controls the executive branch.

7. Chief _Citizen: Representative of all the people.

Presidential power has grown in the years since the Constitution was written.
Summary:
 The executive branch plays a key role in the policy-making process.
 Presidential Power is broad in both foreign and domestic affairs, but there are
limits on what the president can and cannot do.