Separation of Powers

Separation of Powers

Directions:

1. Today you are going to explore the separation of powers of three branches of government.

2. Use the information in this presentation to complete pages 107 and 108 of your Student Resource Book.

3. Remember to Answer each Question that pops up in between informational slides.

​Note: Fold pages 107-108 Hot Dog Style & Turn it in at the end of Class

What is the purpose of the Constitution?

• Countries usually have a document that explain how the government works.

• These are called constitutions.

• The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land, meaning that everything the government does, MUST agree with what the Constitution says.

Multiple Choice

What is the supreme law of the land?

• Words of the president

• Referendum passed by the people

• The US Constitution

• Laws passed by Congress

The Constitution

The Founding Fathers, the framers of the United States Constitution, wanted to form a government that did not allow one person to have too much control.

With this in mind, they wrote the Constitution to provide for a separation of powers, or three separate branches of government.

How is power divided in the US government?

• Power is divided two ways:

• Federalism: Power is divided between the Federal (national) level of government and the states' governments.

• Branches of Government: At both the Federal and state levels of government, the power to make, enforce, and interpret laws is broken up into different offices.

Separation of

Powers

Replace this with a sub-header that can be in multiple lines. ​

• The United States Constitution created three branches of government. Article 1 of the United States Constitution created the Legislative Branch of government. Article 2 of the United States Constitution created the Executive Branch of Government. Article 3 of the United States Constitution created the Judicial Branch of government.

• Each branch has its own responsibilities and at the same time, the three branches work together to make the country run smoothly and to assure that the rights of citizens are not ignored or disallowed.

• This is done through checks and balances. A branch may use its powers to check the powers of the other two in order to maintain a balance of power among the three branches of government.

How do the branches work?

Multiple Choice

What are the three branches of government?

• Executive, Legislative, Judicial

• Elementary, Middle, High

• State, Country, City

• Market, Pool, Theater

Vocabulary Words to Know

1. Separation of Powers - division of power among the three branches of government​

2. Legislative Branch - the creates, writes, and makes the laws of the US Government

3. Executive Branch - the part of the US government that carries out the laws

4. Judicial Branch - the part of the US government that interprets the laws

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Why is Separation of Powers important?

• "Having all of the powers of government in the same hands is the very definition of tyranny" - James Madison​

• ​Tyranny means the cruel and unreasonable use of power or control

• When writing the Constitution, the framers did not want to create a tyrannical, or all-powerful government

• Separation of Powers is used to shield against this type of government in the United States.

Multiple Select

What is the legislative branch responsible for?

• Making and passing laws, declaring war

• Ruling the country and the world

• This branch doesn't exist.

United States Executive Branch

The President

The president is the head of state, head of the U.S. government, and the commander-in-chief of the U.S. military.

​The Vice President

​The vice president not only supports the president but also acts as the presiding officer of the Senate.

​The Cabinet

​The Cabinet members are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate (with at least 51 votes). They serve as the president's advisors and heads of various departments and agencies.

The Executive Branch consist of...

Powers of the Executive Branch

• The president's main job is to administrate, enforce, or carry out the laws passed by Congress.

• The President directs foreign policy.

• The President can propose bills (future laws) to Congress.

• The President makes, creates, and negotiates treaties with other nations

• The President appoints Ambassadors.

• The President nominates Supreme Court Justices.

• The President can issue pardons to people that have been convicted of a crime.

• The President signs bills that have been passed by Congress into law.

• The President appoints cabinet members.

• The President oversees federal agencies

• The President is the Commander-in-Chief armed forces or military

Multiple Select

What is the executive branch responsible for?

• Making sure the laws are obeyed

• Commanding the armed services

• Organizing charities in the world

​United States Legislative Branch

The Congress

The Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Legislative Branch consist of...

House of Representatives

The Senate has 100 elected senators total; 2 senators per state. Each senator serves a 6-year term.

The Senate

The House has 435 voting representatives; the number of representatives from each state is based on the state's population. Each representative serves a two-year term and may be re-elected.

Powers of the Legislative Branch

• Congress can impeach (put the president and other elected officials to trial) and has the power to remove the president and other elected officials from office if they are found guilty.

• Congress can vote to override a presidential veto.

• Congress has the job of declaring war.

• Congress has the power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the forgoing powers.

• Congress has the power to pass laws that impose taxes, lay taxes, and collect taxes.

• Congress has the power to regulate trade and commerce with foreign nations.

• Congress has the power to coin money

• Congress has the power to introduce and make laws for the United States

Multiple Choice

The legislative branch includes:

• the congress

• the teachers

• all of the unions

• alligators and the mob

United States Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. The nine justices are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate (with at least 51 votes). The nine justices of the Supreme Court is made up of one Chief Justice and eight associate justices.

​The Judicial Branch consist of...

​Other Federal Courts

​There are lower Federal courts but they were not created by the Constitution.

Congress established them around the country to handle federal business as the country grew, using power granted by the Constitution.

Multiple Choice

What system is a part of the judicial branch?

• stores

• restaurants

• airports and casinos

• courts

Powers of the Judicial Branch

• The Supreme Court is at the top of the United States legal system.

• The Supreme Court settles disputes affecting ambassadors or other public ministers.

• The Supreme Court rules or makes decisions only on the most difficult legal questions in court cases, and its rulings are never appealed.

• The Supreme Court decides cases between citizens of different states.

• The Supreme Court has the power of Judicial Review. (Judicial Review means that the court can review the actions of the Executive and Legislative branches to determine whether or not they violate the Constitution.)

• The Supreme Court declares laws unconstitutional

• The Supreme Court interprets the meaning of a law as it relates to the Constitution.

Multiple Choice

What makes up the judicial branch?

• The teachers' union

• The court system

• truck and train drivers

• president and the prime minister

Multiple Choice

Can a law, executive order or court ruling disagree with the Constitution?

• Yes

• No