POLI100: United States Constiuition

Federal government

• POLITICAL AUTHORITY IS DIVIDED BETWEEN A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL/LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• PRO: IT IS BETTER AT ACCOMODATING LOCAL NEEDS, REGIONAL DIVERSITY, AND MINORITY VOICED

• CON: POLICY CHANGES MAY BE SLOW DUE TO THE NEGOTIATION REQUIRED BETWEEN DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT

• PRO: IT IS BETTER AT ACCOMODATING LOCAL NEEDS, REGIONAL DIVERSITY, AND MINORITY VOICED

• CON: POLICY CHANGES MAY BE SLOW DUE TO THE NEGOTIATION REQUIRED BETWEEN DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT

Federal government

Unitary government

• POILITICAL AUTHORITY IS CONCENTRATED IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND SUBMATIONAL UNITS HOLD LITTLE TO NO POWER

• PRO: USUALLY EFFICIENT IN POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT

• CON: CAN BE DISCONNECTED FROM LOCAL NEEDS AND IGNORE MINORITY VOICES

• POILITICAL AUTHORITY IS CONCENTRATED IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND SUBMATIONAL UNITS HOLD LITTLE TO NO POWER

• PRO: USUALLY EFFICIENT IN POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT

• CON: CAN BE DISCONNECTED FROM LOCAL NEEDS AND IGNORE MINORITY VOICES

Unitary government

What are the three branches of government?

Legislative Branch

• Role: Makes and passes new laws.

• Members: Congress, which splits into two parts—the Senate (100 senators) and the House of Representatives (435 representatives).

• Key Powers: Declaring war, setting tax rates, and approving presidential appointments. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Executive Branch

• Role: Carries out and enforces the laws.

• Members: The President, Vice President, and the Cabinet.

• Key Powers: Acting as Commander-in-Chief of the military, signing or vetoing bills, and conducting diplomacy. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Judicial Branch

• Role: Interprets the laws and decides if they follow the Constitution.

• Members: The Supreme Court and other lower federal courts.

• Key Powers: Resolving legal disputes and striking down unconstitutional laws

Executive Branch

• Role: Carries out and enforces the laws.

• Members: The President, Vice President, and the Cabinet.

• Key Powers: Acting as Commander-in-Chief of the military, signing or vetoing bills, and conducting diplomacy.

Judicial Branch

• Role: Interprets the laws and decides if they follow the Constitution.

• Members: The Supreme Court and other lower federal courts.

• Key Powers: Resolving legal disputes and striking down unconstitutional laws

Legislative Branch

• Role: Makes and passes new laws.

• Members: Congress, which splits into two parts—the Senate (100 senators) and the House of Representatives (435 representatives).

• Key Powers: Declaring war, setting tax rates, and approving presidential appointments. [1, 2, 3, 4]

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH IS…

CONGRESS

CONGRESS IS…

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

THE PRESIDENT IS..

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

THE JUDICIAL BRANCH IS

THE SUPREME COURT AND OTHER COURTS

WHAT DOES OUR CONGRESS (THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH) CONSIST OF?

TWO CHAMBERS (BICAMERAL): HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE

• House of Representatives: Has 435 voting members. Each state gets seats based on its population. Members serve two-year terms. : PROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION

• Senate: Has 100 members. Each state gets two senators. Senators serve six-year terms : EQUAL REPRESENTATION

Bicameral Legislature

• Structure: Divided into two separate assemblies, often called an upper house and a lower house.

• Pros: Provides checks and balances, protects minority or regional interests, and ensures deep debate before a bill becomes law.

• Cons: Can lead to political gridlock, slow progress, and high operating costs.

• Examples: The U.S. Congress (House of Representatives and Senate), the U.K. Parliament (House of Commons and House of Lords), and India

Unicameral Legislature

• Structure: Consists of a single house or group that votes on and passes laws.

• Pros: Fast decision-making, lower costs, and clear accountability.

• Cons: Lacks an internal second house to check power or slow down hasty rules.

• Examples: Nebraska (the only U.S. state with a unicameral system), New Zealand, and Denmark

WHAT TYPE OF LEGISLATURE HAS TWO CHAMBERS?

BICAMERAL

WHAT TYPE OF LEGISLATURE HAS ONE CHAMBER?

UNICAMERAL

BICAMERAL

LEGISLATURE WITH TWO CHAMBERS

UNICAMERAL

LEGISLATURE WITH ONE CHAMBER

moratorium

In political science, a moratorium is a temporary official pause on a specific government policy, law, or project

a temporary official pause on a specific government policy, law, or project

moratorium

 Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted each slave as 3/5th of a person for voting purposes