U.S. Government: Branches, Departments, and Agencies

Vocabulary review flashcards covering the structure of the U.S. government, executive departments, independent agencies, qualifications for office, and the legislative process.

Presidential Qualifications

The constitutional requirements to become president: must be at least $35$ years of age, a resident/citizen for $14$ years, and a natural born citizen.

Senate Qualifications

The constitutional requirements to serve in the Senate: must be at least $30$ years of age, a citizen for $9$ years, and live in the state represented.

House of Representatives Qualifications

The constitutional requirements to serve in the House: must be at least $25$ years of age, a citizen for $7$ years, and live in the state represented.

House of Representatives

The legislative body consisting of $435$ representatives.

Electoral College

The institution that officially elects the president, noted in the review with $290$ votes.

Veto

The presidential power to block a law passed by Congress.

State Department

The executive department that plans the nation's foreign policy and manages agencies including Visa and Passports.

Treasury Department

The executive department that collects and spends all the nation's tax money, containing the IRS.

War/Defense Department

The executive department that protects the nation, overseeing the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Justice Department

The executive department that represents the U.S. in the legal system, overseeing agencies such as the FBI, ATF, and DEA.

Interior Department

The executive department that manages our nation's lands and resources, including the National Park Service.

Department of Agriculture

The executive department that helps farmers and oversees the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Department Secretary

The title of the leader who heads each executive department.

Department of Commerce

The executive department that promotes the economy and business of the nation, including the Patent and Trademark Office.

Department of Health and Human Services

The executive department that works for the well-being of the public, overseeing Medicare and Medicaid as well as the FDA.

Department of Transportation

The executive department that manages and oversees the nation's transportation systems, including the FAA.

Department of Veteran's Affairs

The executive department that manages the system of benefits for the veterans of our armed forces, including Veteran's Hospitals.

Department of Homeland Security

The executive department whose purpose is to protect the security of America from threats, overseeing FEMA, Secret Service, Coast Guard, Immigration, Transportation Security, and Border Patrol.

Impeachment

An official accusation of wrongdoing by a government official, voted on by the House while the Senate acts as the jury in the trial with a $2/3$ threshold.

Majority Leader

A floor leader chosen by the majority party in each house of Congress.

Speaker of the House

The leader who runs the House of Representatives, sets up the calendar, and schedules bills and debates.

Vice President (Senate Leader)

The official leader of the Senate who is rarely present and only votes in the event of a tie.

Committee Government

The internal organizational system developed to divide the workload of Congress.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

The seven-step legislative process: 1. Idea; 2. Proposed by a congressman; 3. Committee; 4. Debated and voted on; 5. Goes to other house and repeats committee, debate, and vote; 6. Goes to president; 7. President signs or vetoes (which Congress can override).

Executive Agencies

A type of independent agency under the direct control of the presidency, such as NASA and the EPA.

NASA

An executive agency created to develop and administer the nation's space program.

EPA

An executive agency established to protect the environment.

Regulatory Commissions

Independent groups given powers to regulate or control a certain industry or activity.

Government Corporations

Government agencies that are operated and run as though they were a profit-oriented business, such as the U.S.P.S.

U.S.P.S.

A prominent example of a government corporation run like a profit-oriented business.