Chapter 4 - Lesson 2 Flashcards
The writers of the US Constitution wanted to make sure the power to rule the nation was divided equally. They organized government into
3 parts or branches
The 3 branches of government are
- judicial
- executive
- legislative
The legislative branch makes
laws
The judicial branch
makes sure the laws are fair
The executive branch
enforces or carries out the law
The legislative branch is called
Congress
The 2 parts that make up Congress is
- the Senate
2. the House of Representatives
A representative is a person
chosen to speak for others
How many Senators do we have?
- 2 for each state
How often are Senators elected?
every 6 years. They can be elected many times (no limit).
How many Representatives in House of Representatives?
435.
The number of representatives for each state is determined by
each state’s population or the number of people living in the state
Representatives are elected every
2 years
Congress makes
laws for the country
When an idea for a new law comes up, a ___ is written down for both parts of Congress to approve
Bill
Once Congress approves a bill, it is sent to the ____ to sign into law.
President
The executive branch is headed by
the President
The President is elected every
4 years and can only serve 2 terms (8 years)
The President lives and works in
the White House in Washington DC
If a president does not agree with a bill, he can
veto (reject) it
If a bill is vetoed, the only way to make it a law is for
Congress to vote again and approve it in greater majority (2/3 of the members of congress)
The President is in charge of our military which consists of the
Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force
The president is also a world leader. He meets with other world leaders to
work together and solve problems in the world
The President works with the Cabinet. A Cabinet is a
group of advisors who tells a leader what they think about a subject.
Each advisor leads one of ___ different departments or groups in the executive branch. (like education, healthcare, security, defense, finance)
15
The judicial branch of the government is made up of
courts
What is the highest court in the US
Supreme Court
How many judges are in the Supreme Court and what are they called?
9, Justices
The Supreme Court makes sure the laws passed by Congress follows the _____. They also decide cases between citizens of ______.
US Constitution, different states
The _____ appoints the Supreme Court Justices, but ____ must approve the choice.
President, Congress
What is the term for a Supreme Court Justice?
none. Until he/she retires.
What kind of system is the 3 branches of government called
checks and balances
