US government

governmental branches

• Legislative — congress (senate and house of representatives): makes laws

• Executive — president, vice president and cabinet: carry out laws

• Judicial — supreme court and other federal courts: interpret law

Legislative:

• Duties:

  • Enacts legislation

  • Declares war

  • Investigates powers

• Members elected from each state — everyone has their say

  • Senate: 2 senators per state, 100 members

  • House: population based member number per state, 435 members

Executive:

• Duties:

  • President:

    • Head of state

    • Commander in chief of army

    • Enforces laws of congress

    • Appoints cabinet

  • Vice president:

    • Takes over from president if dies or is impeached

  • Cabinet:

    • Enforces laws

Judicial:

• Duties:

  • Sorts through legislation to decide if its constitutional

• 9 members that serve a lifetime

• 12 judicial districts

Federalism — national and state governments share power

• Enumerated powers (congress) — printing money, declaring war

• Reserved powers (states) — elections, marriage license

• Concurrent powers (both) — establish courts, collect taxes