The American Political System

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

American Politics

Which is not one of the three branches of government

1. Legislative
2. Judicial
3. Executive
4. Constitutional

What makes up the Legislative branch?

1. President and Vice President
2. Congress and Senate
3. The Supreme Court
4. The President and Cabinet

The Legislative Branch 

The legislative branch is in charge of making laws. It is made up of the Congress and several Government agencies. Congress has two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate are voted into office by American citizens in each state.

How many members does the senate have?

How many House Representatives are there?

The Judicial Branch 

The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution. It is comprised of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

How long does a Supreme Court Judge serve?

1. For life
2. Until a new president is elected
3. For four years
4. For forty years

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. The Justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate.

Nine members make up the Supreme Court—a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. There must be a minimum or quorum of six Justices to decide a case.

If there is an even number of Justices and a case results in a tie, the lower court's decision stands.

There is no fixed term for Justices. They serve until their death, retirement, or removal in exceptional circumstances.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. The Justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate.

Nine members make up the Supreme Court—a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. There must be a minimum or quorum of six Justices to decide a case.

If there is an even number of Justices and a case results in a tie, the lower court's decision stands.

There is no fixed term for Justices. They serve until their death, retirement, or removal in exceptional circumstances.

The Executive Branch 

The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the president, vice president, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.

American citizens have the right to vote for the president and vice president through free, confidential ballots.

The Election Process

• Preliminary Elections
• Appointment of Nominee
•  Campaigning
• Elections
• Certification of Election Results
• Inauguration

What gets decided during the preliminary round?

1. The Next President
2. Party Policies
3. Members of Congres
4. The Party's Presidential Candidate

The Election 

Established in Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, the Electoral College is the formal body which elects the President and Vice President of the United States. Each state has as many "electors" in the Electoral College as it has Representatives and Senators in the United States Congress, and the District of Columbia has three electors. 

When voters go to the polls in a Presidential election, they actually vote for the slate of electors who have vowed to cast their ballots for that ticket in the Electoral College.

The Certification

When is the inauguration?