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Social Studies: 9/17/24

🏛️ Mr. Kidney's Civics Notes 📚9/9/24

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Social Studies: 9/17/24

THIS TEXT IS FROM THE YT TRANSCRIPTS FROM THESE VIDEOS ⬇️⬇️⬇️

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What Is the Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government? | History How did the legislative branch of the U.S. government come to be? How does Congress work? And how does a bill get passed? Subscribe for more HISTORY: http://histv.co/SubscribeHistoryYT Newsletter: https://www.history.com/newsletter Website - http://www.history.com /posts Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/History Twitter - https://twitter.com/history HISTORY Topical Video Season 1 Episode 1 Whether you're looking for more on American Revolution battles, WWII generals, architectural wonders, secrets of the ancient world, U.S. presidents, Civil War leaders, famous explorers or the stories behind your favorite holidays. HISTORY®, now reaching more than 98 million homes, is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive, and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network’s all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, epic miniseries, and scripted event programming. Visit us at HISTORY.com for more info. www.youtube.com⁠

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What Is the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government? | History What are the powers of the executive branch of the U.S. government? Who can be president in the United States? And what exactly goes into electing the person who sits in the Oval Office? Subscribe for more HISTORY: http://histv.co/SubscribeHistoryYT Newsletter: https://www.history.com/newsletter Website - http://www.history.com /posts Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/History Twitter - https://twitter.com/history HISTORY Topical Video Season 1 Episode 1 Whether you're looking for more on American Revolution battles, WWII generals, architectural wonders, secrets of the ancient world, U.S. presidents, Civil War leaders, famous explorers or the stories behind your favorite holidays. HISTORY®, now reaching more than 98 million homes, is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive, and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network’s all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, epic miniseries, and scripted event programming. Visit us at HISTORY.com for more info. www.youtube.com⁠

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What Is the Judicial Branch of the U.S. Government? | History What are the origins of the judicial branch of the U.S. government? What powers does the Supreme Court have, and what are its most notable rulings? Subscribe for more HISTORY: http://histv.co/SubscribeHistoryYT Newsletter: https://www.history.com/newsletter Website - http://www.history.com /posts Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/History Twitter - https://twitter.com/history HISTORY Topical Video Season 1 History Topical Whether you're looking for more on American Revolution battles, WWII generals, architectural wonders, secrets of the ancient world, U.S. presidents, Civil War leaders, famous explorers or the stories behind your favorite holidays. HISTORY®, now reaching more than 98 million homes, is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive, and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network’s all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, epic miniseries, and scripted event programming. Visit us at HISTORY.com for more info. www.youtube.com⁠

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The United States Congress: Structure and Functions

The legislative branch of the United States government is comprised of the United States Congress, a bicameral legislature responsible for writing and passing federal laws, among various other functions.

Historical Background

During the drafting of the Constitution, the Founding Fathers debated between two types of representation:

Equal representation: Same number of representatives for each state

Proportional representation: Number of representatives reflecting each state's population

Unable to choose, they settled on a compromise: a legislative branch with two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the Congress.

Constitutional Basis

Article I of the Constitution outlines the structure, functions, powers, and parameters of Congress and its individual representatives.

Primary Responsibilities of Congressmen

Representing constituents' interests

Writing laws

Overseeing government agencies

Passing bills

Structure of Congress

House of Representatives

Table 1

Table 1

Number of Members

435 elected officials

Representation

Based on state population

Requirements

At least 25 years old, US resident for 7 years, live in represented state

Term Length

2 years

Leadership

Speaker of the House

There are no rows in this table

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Exclusive Powers

Initiating tax laws and spending bills

Initiating impeachment of government officials

Deciding presidential elections in case of no Electoral College majority

Senate

Table 2

Table 2

Number of Members

100 elected members (2 per state)

Representation

Equal for all states

Requirements

At least 30 years old, US resident for 9 years, live in represented state

Term Length

6 years

Leadership

Vice President of the United States (tie-breaking vote only)

There are no rows in this table

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Exclusive Powers

Approving presidential appointments and treaties

Trying impeached officials

Shared Powers

Taxation

Coining money

Declaring war

Regulating foreign and interstate commerce

The Legislative Process

Getting a bill passed involves several steps:

Bill origination in either house

Committee reviews

Amendments and floor debates

Voting in both chambers

Presidential approval or veto

Potential veto override (requires 2/3 majority in both houses)

Significance of Congress

Congress is unique in that it's the only branch of government:

Whose members are elected directly by the people

That balances the relationship between national power and individual states

This structure ensures a system of checks and balances, fostering a democratic process in lawmaking and governance.

The Three Branches of US Government

Table 3

Table 3

Legislative

Executive

Judicial

Congress (House and Senate)

President and Cabinet

Supreme Court and Federal Courts

There are no rows in this table

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Executive Branch: Presidential Powers and Responsibilities

Table 4

Table 4

Power

Description

Executive Orders

Direct actions of executive branch members without Congressional approval

Vetoes

Reject legislation passed by Congress

Appointments

Nominate federal judges, cabinet members, and heads of federal agencies (with Senate confirmation)

Military

Serves as Commander-in-Chief

Foreign Relations

Negotiate treaties (with Senate ratification) and represent the nation globally

Pardons

Grant pardons and clemencies for federal crimes (except in impeachment cases)

There are no rows in this table

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Presidential Succession

Vice President

Speaker of the House

Senate President pro tempore

Cabinet members (in specified order)

Checks and Balances

Table 5

Table 5

Executive checks on Legislative

Legislative checks on Executive

Judicial checks on Executive

Veto power

Senate confirmation of appointments

Supreme Court can overturn executive orders

2/3 Senate vote to ratify treaties

There are no rows in this table

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Presidential Eligibility and Terms

Table 6

Table 6

Age

Citizenship

Residency

Term Limit

At least 35 years old

Natural born citizen

14 years US residency

Two 4-year terms (22nd Amendment, 1951)

There are no rows in this table

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Presidential Election

The US elects a new president every four years through the Electoral College system. Voters choose electors who then cast votes on behalf of their state.

While the president's power has expanded as the United States has grown as a global force, the judicial and legislative branches continue to provide checks and balances, maintaining the balance of power envisioned by the founding fathers.

The Judicial Branch of the United States Government

The judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts, is responsible for interpreting the law and the Constitution.

Structure and Composition

Table 7

Table 7

Supreme Court Justices

9 (since 1869)

Appointment Process

Nominated by President, confirmed by Senate

Term Length

Life tenure (until death, retirement, or impeachment)

Requirements

No specific constitutional requirements

There are no rows in this table

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Powers and Responsibilities

Table 8

Table 8

Primary Function

Rule on matters related to law and Constitution

Judicial Review

Interpret constitutionality of laws

Precedent Setting

Supreme Court decisions must be followed by all other courts

There are no rows in this table

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Historical Significance

Table 9

Table 9

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review power

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Previously upheld "separate but equal" doctrine (overturned by Brown v. Board)

There are no rows in this table

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Unique Aspects of the Judicial Branch

Operates outside of elections and direct voter input

Only acts when a valid case is brought forward

Evaluates constitutionality of laws to maintain checks and balances

This restructured format provides a clearer overview of the judicial branch, its structure, powers, and historical significance, using tables to organize key information.

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