BellRinger

Under the Articles of Confederation, we had one branch of government, the legislative branch. Why didn’t one branch of government work?

The Three Branches of Government

Legislative BranchHouse of

Representative Serve a 2 year term435 members25 years oldLive in

congressional district

7 year resident

Senate

Serve a 6 year term100 members (2

per state)30 years oldLive in state9 year resident

Legislative Branch-Functions

Write bills (make laws)Impeach and try government officialsOverride presidential vetoAppropriate moneyApprove president appointmentsRatify treatiesEstablish lower courtsEstablish post officesCoin moneyRegulate trade (commerce)Declare war

Executive BranchPresident

Serve a 4 year term2 term limit (changed

after F.D. Roosevelt with the 22nd amendment)

35 years oldNative born citizenLive in the U.S. the last

14 years

Other Members include:

Vice-PresidentRequirements are the

same as presidentCabinet

Formal group of advisors to the president

Executive Branch-Functions

Enforce or carry out the lawsCall special sessions of CongressSign bills into lawsCommander in chief of the militaryChief of foreign affairsAppoint judgesMakes or negotiates treaties

Judicial BranchSupreme Court

No requirementsServe a life term with good

behavior9 members (includes one

Chief justice)

Other Federal Courts

Judicial Branch-Functions

Interpret lawsInterpret the Constitution