Connecticut Political Representatives & U.S. Government Structure Overview

Senior Senator

Richard Blumenthal

Junior Senator

Chris Murphy

1st District Representative

John Larson

2nd District Representative

Joe Courtney

3rd District Representative

Rosa L. DeLaro

4th District Representative

Jim Himes

5th District Representative

Jahana Hayes

President of the Senate

J.D. Vance

Majority Leader of the Senate

John Thune

Minority Leader of the Senate

Chuck Schumer

Speaker of the House

Mike Johnson

Majority Leader of the House

Steve Scalise

Minority Leader of the House

Hakeem Jeffries

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

John Roberts

Preamble

Outlines the major jobs of government: form a more Perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, Provide for the common defence, Promote the general welfare, secure the blessings of liberty.

Article I

The legislative branch

Article II

The executive branch

Article III

The Judicial branch

Popular Sovereignty

Governments authority comes from the People (elections), e.g., state representatives.

Limited Government

Governed by the rule of law AND restricts government Power.

Separation of Power

Each branch of government has its own job: Legislative, Executive, Judicial.

Checks and Balances

Divides Power within the government to prevent one branch from having too much power, e.g., veto.

Judicial Review

Power of the federal courts to decide if laws/actions of the government are valid under the constitution.

Federalism

Powers are divided among the 3 levels of government: National, State, Local.

Third Party Candidates

Take away votes from mainstream parties.

Benefits of a party system

Provide order, discourage sudden shifts, and encourage political participation.

Moderates

Most Americans are moderates.

Executive Branch

Cares for the laws passed by Congress.

Qualifications for President

Must be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, and have resided in the U.S. for 14 years.

Electoral College

The system used to elect the President.

Duties and powers of the President

Includes signing or vetoing legislation, appointing federal judges, and serving as Commander-in-Chief.

Growth of Executive Powers

Has expanded as Congress has failed to act.

Executive Orders (EO)

Used by the President to direct federal departments/agencies to take certain actions.

President Trump's Use of Executive Orders

His rate of using EOs is above average.

House of Representatives

Comprises 435 members.

Senate

Comprises 100 members, two from each state.

Electoral College Calculation

Total members (House of Representatives + Senate) divided by 2 equals 270.

Current House Majority

Republican majority.

Current Senate Majority

Republican majority.

Incumbent

The person who holds the office.

Incumbent Re-election Rates

96.6% of incumbents won re-elections in 2024.

Role of Congress

Primary function is to create laws and control funding.

Political Gridlock

Legislative process is stalled due to inability to reach agreement on policy decisions.

Government Shutdown

Occurs when Congress fails to pass funding legislation.

Sticking Point in Spending Bill

Healthcare is the main issue preventing passage.

Medicaid

A government program that provides health coverage to eligible low-income individuals and families.

ACA healthcare subsidies

Financial assistance provided to help individuals pay for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Federal Workers

Employees of the federal government who may work without pay or be furloughed during a government shutdown.

Judicial Power

The authority vested in the judicial branch to interpret laws, adjudicate legal disputes, and determine the constitutionality of laws.

Supreme Court

The highest federal court in the United States, consisting of nine justices, with appellate jurisdiction through the certiorari process.

Majority Opinion

A judicial opinion agreed to by more than half of the members of a court, setting a precedent for future cases.

Minority Opinion

A judicial opinion written by one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion.

District Courts

The lowest federal courts that have original jurisdiction over most cases and no appellate jurisdiction.

Courts of Appeal

Intermediate level courts in the federal system that review decisions made by district courts.

Town Budget

A financial plan for the town, where about 2/3 of the budget goes to education and 85% comes from property taxes.

Council-Manager Model

A form of local government where a town council adopts laws and policies, and a town manager oversees day-to-day operations.

Board of Education

A governing body that oversees public education within a town or district, with members elected by the community.

Referendum Questions

Proposals submitted to voters for approval or rejection, such as funding for new fire engines or banning turf fields.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government responsible for making laws, which includes Congress.

Presidential Immunity

Legal protection for the President against lawsuits for actions taken while in office.

Tariff Powers

The authority to impose taxes on imported goods, which can be surrendered to the President by Congress.

Trump v. US (2024)

A Supreme Court case addressing presidential immunity for official acts.

Trump v. CASA (2025)

A Supreme Court case concerning limits on nationwide injunctions by federal judges.

Big Idea

The concept that Congress and the Supreme Court have increased presidential powers by reducing their own checks on the executive branch.