us poitical institutions

• the constitution

  • the supreme law

    • conform with the constitution

    • the supreme court interpretes the law.

  • principles on the government 

    • the separation of powers

      • executive

      • judicial

      • legislative

    • checks and balances

      • president vs congress 

        president can veto the law passed by the congress

        the congress can impeach the president

      • judiciary vs congress

        the judiciary can deny the law by claiming it unconstitutional
        

    • federalism

      • between the states and federal government

  • the compromises 

    • federalists

      • support the constitution

    • anti-federalists

      • oppose 

        • lack protections for individuals

        • endangered the sovereignty of states

      • solution: 10 amendments called the bill of rights 

  • amending

    • 2/3rds majority in both chambres 

    • 3/4ths of all states legislatures

    • amendments enhance the powers of the federal government

      • 5 amendments

        13,15th 1865-1870

        16th,1913: congress levy tax

        17th,1913 elect senators

        19th 1920: women voting rights

        26th 1971: voting age 18

• separation of powers

  • executive branch

    the president

    implement and enforcing the laws

    • the largest of the us government

    • consists of 

      • the president

      • the vice president

      • the cabinet

        composed by the heads of 15 departments

      • 40 federal agencies

        NASA, FBI, CIA....

    • the president 

      • criteria

        • age>=35

        • citizenship >=14 years

        • natural-born citizen of us

      • serves 4 years, 
        <=2 terms

      • serves as

        • commander-in-chief

        • foreign policy leader,
          chief diplomat

        • legislative leader

          • annual state

            give annual state to the congress

          • sign or veto the bills

      • prerogatives

        • appointing

          ambassadors, top-ranking federal officers, supreme court justices

        • granting reprieves and pardons

  • judicial branch

    the supreme court
    

  • legislative branch

    the congress
    

    • 6 functions

      • law making

      • regulating commerce

      • budgets

      • adversing

      • impeaching

      •  military forces, declaring wars

    • consists of 

      • senate

        • 100 members, 2 per state

        • requirements

          • age>=30

          • citizenship>=9

          • belong to the district

        • serve 6 years. every 1/3rd elected every 2 years 

        • powers

          • impeachment

          • consenting

          • vote for vice-president

          • filibustering

      • the house of representatives, HR

        • 435 members

        • serve 2 years

        • relative to the state's population

        • representatives require

          • age>=25

          • us citizen>=7 years

          • belong to the district

        • powers

          • present the charges

          • vote for president in case of a tie

    • how laws are made?

      • senate/HR 

        • (sub)committee

          committee: 40

          subcommittee:230

          formed by the congressmen,

          headed by the chairman of the majority party.

          • evalulate

          • hearings (to amend)