The document provides an overview of the system of government established by the United States Constitution. It summarizes that the Articles of Confederation created a weak national government, so the Founding Fathers drafted the Constitution to implement a stronger federal government balanced with state powers. The Constitution established three branches of government and a system of checks and balances. It also guarantees citizens' rights and can be amended. The document then describes the structure and roles of Congress, the President, the Supreme Court, and state governments.

1. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

2. THE BEGINNING…

3. THE ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION
 Drafting began on July 12, 1776
 Agreement among all thirteen
states to work together, but
independently
 The state governments had most
of the power
 The national government was
very weak

4. NEW SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT…
 The Founding Fathers wrote a
new document to replace the
Articles of Confederation
 Stronger national government
 Divided power between the
national government and the
state governments
 Federalism

5. WHAT IS FEDERALISM?
State Government National Government
 National Constitution is "the supreme law of the land”
 Laws made in individual states cannot conflict with the national
Constitution or national laws

6. THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE UNITED STATES
 Shortest constitution in the world: consists of a Preamble, seven
Articles, and 27 Amendments
 Federal government based on the Constitution
 Defines and limits the power of the national government
 Defines the relationship between the national government and
individual state governments
 Guarantees the rights of the citizens of the United States
 Living document, where interpretations have changed
 US citizens are able to make necessary changes over time

7. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
 Three separate branches:
 Legislative
 Executive
 Judicial
 System of checks and
balances, where no
branch can reign
supreme

8. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

9. CONGRESS
 435 members
 Members based on
the state’s
population
 2 years term
 No term limit
 100 members
 2 members per state
 6 years term
 No term limit

10. CONGRESS
 Responsible for making federal laws
 535 voting members
 Main duties include:
o originating spending bills (House)
o impeaching officials (Senate)
o approving treaties (Senate)

11. EXECUTIVE BRANCH
The President
Vice
President

12. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
 Leads the government
 Commands the Armed Forces
 Deals with international powers
 Acts as chief law enforcement officer
 Vetoes laws
 Four years term, renewable once

13. JUDICIAL BRANCH

14. JUDICIAL BRANCH
The Supreme Court

15. SUPREME COURT
 Highest federal court in the United States
 Final interpreter of federal constitutional law
 Interpret and apply US laws through cases brought before them
 Consists of the Chief Justice and eight associate justices
 Nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate
 Life tenure
Judicial Review: can rule laws unconstitutional

16. CHECKS AND BALANCES
 Used to keep the government from getting too powerful in one
branch

17. STATE GOVERNMENT
 Each state has its own constitution, similar to the national
Constitution
 Laws cannot conflict with national laws
 Also has three branches:
o Legislative
o Judicial
o Executive
 Instead of a president, each state elects a governor

18. POLITICAL PROCESS
 Two-Party System:
Republican Party Democratic Party

19. ELECTORAL COLLEGE
 “Popular vote" -- used to choose the president and vice
president "indirectly" through the Electoral College
 Instruct the electors from states to cast their votes for the
same candidate
 Each state gets a number of electors equal to the state's
number of representatives in the House and Senate
 Candidate winning most popular votes wins all electoral votes
for that state
 538 electoral votes total, win presidency with 270 electoral
votes

20. IS IT POSSIBLE TO LOSE WITH
THE POPULAR VOTE?
Popular Votes:
50,456,002
Electoral Votes: 271
Popular Votes: 50,999,897
Electoral Votes: 266

21. President George W.
Bush
IS IT POSSIBLE TO LOSE WITH
THE POPULAR VOTE?

22. PATRIOTIC SYMBOLS

23. AMERICAN
FLAG
 50 stars representing the 50
states
 13 stripes representing the 13
original colonies
 A new star is added to the flag on
the July 4th following the entry
into the Union of the new state.

24. THE BALD
EAGLE
 National bird
 Chosen June 20, 1782 as the
emblem of the United States
 Long life, great strength and
majestic looks
 Represents freedom

25. THE GREAT SEAL
 Used to authenticate certain
documents issued by the U.S.
federal government
 First used publicly in 1782
 ”A strong desire for peace, but
will always be ready for war”
 "Out of Many, One"

26. UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

27. THE STATUE
OF LIBERTY
 Symbolizes freedom throughout
the world
 Right hand holds a burning torch
that represents liberty
 Her left hand holds a tablet
inscribed with the date "July 4,
1776" (in Roman numerals)
 The seven rays of her spiked
crown symbolize the seven seas
and continents.

28. OTHER PATRIOTIC SYMBOLS:
“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the
Republic for which it stands ---
one Nation indivisible -- with liberty and
justice for all.”