Three Branches
Why is our government broken into three branches?
To balance the power between all parts of our government
The group that makes up our legislative branch is called:
Congress
Who is the head of the executive branch?
President
What is the purpose of checks and balances?
To keep any branch from becoming too powerful
What does the Bill of Rights contain?
The basic rights of people in the United States
The Executive Branch…
Enforces the laws
What are the two houses of Congress?
House of Representatives and Senate
Our main concern when creating a President was:
Making sure they were not too powerful or “King-like”
What is the highest court in the United States?
Supreme Court
If a person believes the government violated their constitutional rights, what should they do?
Challenge the action in court
The Legislative Branch…
Writes the laws
The number of representatives each state gets in the House of Representatives is determined by:
State Population (more people = more representatives)
Why do we not want the people to directly vote on the President? (CHOOSE TWO)
Smaller states would not get as many votes (less power)
People could potentially only vote for someone from their own state or region
What is the “supreme Law of the Land”?
The Constitution
What does the right to assemble mean?
People can gather peacefully in groups
The Judicial Branch...
Decides court cases
The number of representatives each state gets in the Senate is…
Equal — all states have 2
What are some of the issues with the Electoral College today?
People can now learn more about candidates outside of their own area (less biased)
It was created before political parties chose candidates
Someone can win the Electoral College without winning the majority of the people’s votes
Which is an example of a presidential check on Congress?
Vetoing a bill
Before police can search a home, they usually must get a:
Warrant
Why do we not want Congress to directly choose the President?
The President might only listen to Congress, not the public
How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?
2 years
What happens after the House votes to impeach a president?
The Senate holds a trial
What is the most important responsibility of being a citizen in a democracy?
Government participation
What does “due process of law” mean?
The government must follow fair rules and act reasonably