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class="vector-toc-contents" id="mw-panel-toc-list"> <li id="toc-mw-content-text" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a href="#" class="vector-toc-link"> <div class="vector-toc-text">Beginning</div> </a> </li> <li id="toc-Key_Roles_of_Government" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Key_Roles_of_Government"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1</span> <span>Key Roles of Government</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Key_Roles_of_Government-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Branches_of_Government" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Branches_of_Government"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Branches of Government</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Branches_of_Government-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Branches of Government subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Branches_of_Government-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Legislative_Branch" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Legislative_Branch"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Legislative Branch</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Legislative_Branch-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-The_House_of_Representatives" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_House_of_Representatives"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1.1</span> <span>The House of Representatives</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_House_of_Representatives-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_Senate" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a 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<div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikiversity</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"><div class="cdx-message cdx-message--block cdx-message--warning mw-revision"><span class="cdx-message__icon"></span><div class="cdx-message__content"><div id="mw-revision-info">Revision as of 14:50, 6 November 2022 by <a href="/wiki/User:Michael_Ten" class="mw-userlink" title="User:Michael Ten" data-mw-revid="2447795"><bdi>Michael Ten</bdi></a> <span class="mw-usertoollinks">(<a href="/wiki/User_talk:Michael_Ten" class="mw-usertoollinks-talk" title="User talk:Michael Ten">discuss</a> | <a href="/wiki/Special:Contributions/Michael_Ten" class="mw-usertoollinks-contribs" title="Special:Contributions/Michael Ten">contribs</a>)</span> <span class="comment">(added division of US government as see also== * <a href="/wiki/NASA" title="NASA">NASA</a>)</span></div><div id="mw-revision-nav">(<a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&diff=prev&oldid=2447795" title="United States Government">diff</a>) <a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&direction=prev&oldid=2447795" title="United States Government">← Older revision</a> | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)</div></div></div></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:US_presidential_inauguration_2005.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/US_presidential_inauguration_2005.jpg/220px-US_presidential_inauguration_2005.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/US_presidential_inauguration_2005.jpg/330px-US_presidential_inauguration_2005.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/US_presidential_inauguration_2005.jpg/440px-US_presidential_inauguration_2005.jpg 2x" data-file-width="515" data-file-height="343" /></a><figcaption>2005 US presidential inauguration</figcaption></figure> <p>The government of the United States of America is <i>federal</i> in structure. In addition to a national government, there are fifty state governments. Federalism refers to the system of relations between these levels of government. The state governments are not mere administrative units of the national government; they each have well-defined governmental structures of their own: constitutions, legislatures, supreme courts, etc. Many of the major events in American History have involved questions about the proper relation between the national government and the states. </p><p>In terms of governments around the world, the federal bicameral republic is a fairly rare form of governance. The majority of democracies around the world tend toward parliamentary systems, so what is it about this particular system that makes it stand so well yet rarely attempted? This particular topic will engage students into several aspects of American Government in order to bring about some understanding of the process. Emphasis is placed upon historical events leading up to the foundation of the republic and the drafting of the constitution. Later on, a study of several key cases about federal powers (typically through court cases) will tie the experience to a close. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Key_Roles_of_Government">Key Roles of Government</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&veaction=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Key Roles of Government" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section's source code: Key Roles of Government"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Historically, the key power of any government has been the ability to collect taxes from the people (in form of money, goods, and/or labor) and redistribute those resources in such a way as to benefit the community as a whole. Government can exist in a variety of styles, from dictatorships to monarchies to different forms of democracy. Being that this topic is based on the American form of democratic republic we are going to look at what key roles are defined as per the Constitution: </p> <table class="cquote pullquote" role="presentation" style="margin:auto; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; background-color: transparent; width: auto;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="width: 20px; vertical-align: top; border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 40px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: .6em; text-align: left; padding: 10px 10px;">“ </td> <td style="vertical-align: top; border: none; padding: 4px 10px;">We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. </td> <td style="width: 20px; vertical-align: bottom; border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 40px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: .6em; text-align: right; padding: 10px 10px;">” </td></tr> </tbody></table><p> - Preamble, US Constitution </p><p>This paragraph is the opening statement of the Constitution, also known as the Preamble. Looking into this statement it can be seen that the framers had a few particular goals in mind: </p> <ul><li>"form a more perfect union" - obviously stemming from the fact that the Articles of Confederation were not working out as planned, something new needed to be enacted.</li> <li>"establish justice" - to create fair and equitable courts, fairly self-explanatory.</li> <li>"insure domestic tranquility" - the creation of laws to ensure an orderly society.</li> <li>"provide for the common defense" - self-explanatory.</li> <li>"promote the general welfare" - to do what is best for America and Americans.</li> <li>"secure the blessing of liberty" - as a country we value the rights of the individual over monarchial/dictatorial rule.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Branches_of_Government">Branches of Government</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&veaction=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Branches of Government" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section's source code: Branches of Government"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>At the federal level, there is a tripartite structure, or what is usually referred to as the three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. In theory, the legislature makes the law, the executive enforces or executes the law, and the judiciary interprets the law. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Legislative_Branch">Legislative Branch</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&veaction=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Legislative Branch" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section's source code: Legislative Branch"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="cquote pullquote" role="presentation" style="margin:auto; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; background-color: transparent; width: auto;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="width: 20px; vertical-align: top; border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 40px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: .6em; text-align: left; padding: 10px 10px;">“ </td> <td style="vertical-align: top; border: none; padding: 4px 10px;">Section 1: All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. </td> <td style="width: 20px; vertical-align: bottom; border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 40px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: .6em; text-align: right; padding: 10px 10px;">” </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p>-Article 1, US Constitution </p><p>The Legislative Branch of the United States government is divided in the House of Representatives and the Senate. This bicameral legislature was designed as a compromise between the constitutional delegates of the state of New Jersey (who preferred equal representation for all states) and Virginia (who preferred representation based on population). All bills concerning taxes must begin in the House of Representatives while the Senate alone approves treaties and confirms presidential appointments. Ultimately all bills passed in either the House or the Senate must be sent to the other legislative house and pass before the bill is sent to the President to sign. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="The_House_of_Representatives">The House of Representatives</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&veaction=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: The House of Representatives" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section's source code: The House of Representatives"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>The number of representatives for each state is based on population. Today, all citizens of a state are counted.</li> <li>All delegates to the House of Representatives are elected every two years. There is no term limit.</li> <li>To be eligible, delegates must be citizens of the state in which they are running, must have been a citizen for at least seven years, and must be at least 25 years old.</li></ul> <p>The current number of representatives is fixed at 435. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="The_Senate">The Senate</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&veaction=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: The Senate" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section's source code: The Senate"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Each state is entitled to two senators, each with a six year term. There is no term limit.</li> <li>Senators used to be appointed from the state legislatures, however an amendment changed senator appointment to general election by the people.</li> <li>To be eligible, canidates must be citizens of the state in which they are running, must have been a citizen for nine years, and be at least 30 years old.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Executive_Branch">Executive Branch</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&veaction=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Executive Branch" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section's source code: Executive Branch"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="cquote pullquote" role="presentation" style="margin:auto; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; background-color: transparent; width: auto;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="width: 20px; vertical-align: top; border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 40px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: .6em; text-align: left; padding: 10px 10px;">“ </td> <td style="vertical-align: top; border: none; padding: 4px 10px;">Section 1 - The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:[…] </td> <td style="width: 20px; vertical-align: bottom; border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 40px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: .6em; text-align: right; padding: 10px 10px;">” </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p>-Article 2, US Constitution </p><p>The Executive Branch consists of a hierarchal organization starting with the President and branching down to every federal government employee (excepting those working for Congress or the Courts). Historically, the powers of the presidency have shifted over time; typically on the personal power each executive brings to the office. For more information, please refer to the actual Constitution for details; the important thing to mention is that this branch 'carries out' the laws and decisions made by the other two branches (Legislative and Judicial). The military, intelligence, police, and public services all fall under administration from this branch of the government. Under the President are 15 'department heads', also known as Secretaries (except for the Attorney General). These are the leading officers of each major department that the administration has control of. Also in the cabinet are six other members who only attend meetings (VP, Chief of Staff, EPA, OMB, National Drug Control, and Trade Representative but it's not important to understand in this discussion). </p><p>Together with the President, the cabinet carries out all the tasks required of them and forwards the policies of the President in determining future actions. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Judicial_Branch">Judicial Branch</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&veaction=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Judicial Branch" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section's source code: Judicial Branch"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="cquote pullquote" role="presentation" style="margin:auto; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; background-color: transparent; width: auto;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="width: 20px; vertical-align: top; border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 40px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: .6em; text-align: left; padding: 10px 10px;">“ </td> <td style="vertical-align: top; border: none; padding: 4px 10px;">Section 1 - The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. </td> <td style="width: 20px; vertical-align: bottom; border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 40px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: .6em; text-align: right; padding: 10px 10px;">” </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p>-Article 3, US Constitution </p><p>It's surprising to most people today, but in fact the Supreme Court is the only judicial entity that is specifically mentioned in the Constitution. All the other courts have been sprung from acts of Congress. The main role of the judicial branch is to evaluate the legal standing of constitutional issues (ie: does this law go against the Constitution?) Some have argued that because of this charge, the Supreme Court is the most powerful branch in government (in terms of Constitutional authority). However, others have pointed out that the judicial branch is tied to the laws that Congress passes and is dependent upon the President enforcing the decisions handed out. Without those two branches working in sync with the judicial branch, it's debatable on how useful the court would be at all. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notable_Supreme_Court_Cases_Involving_the_Constitution">Notable Supreme Court Cases Involving the Constitution</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&veaction=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Notable Supreme Court Cases Involving the Constitution" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section's source code: Notable Supreme Court Cases Involving the Constitution"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><u>Marbury v. Madison</u> (1803) was the earliest landmark decision of the Supreme Court. It established the doctrine of judical review, meaning that the Supreme Court had the authority to declare an act of Congress or the executive branch unconstitutional. </p> <ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbury_v._Madison" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:Marbury v. Madison">Wikipedia: Marbury v. Madison</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Activities">Activities</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&veaction=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Activities" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section's source code: Activities"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/United_States_Government/Assignment" title="United States Government/Assignment">Assignment</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&veaction=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: See also" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section's source code: See also"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NASA" title="NASA">NASA</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&veaction=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: External links" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section's source code: External links"><span>edit source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>September 2008 <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.physorg.com/news140411377.html">FDA hires 1,300 new doctors and scientists</a></i></li> <li>April 2008 <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://cleantechnica.com/2008/04/04/senate-coalition-introduces-clean-energy-tax-package/">Senate Coalition Introduces Clean Energy Tax Package</a></i></li></ul>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1&useformat=desktop" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&oldid=2447795">https://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_Government&oldid=2447795</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:United_States_of_America" title="Category:United States of America">United States of America</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Government" title="Category:Government">Government</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 6 November 2022, at 14:50.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License</a>; additional terms may apply. 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