U.S. Government Notes from Ben's Guide

 

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Branches of Government

•  The Constitution Convention faced many challenges.

• The Constitution wanted to ensure, there is no one has strong power.
• therefore, the delegates created 3 separate branches in the government.

•  The three Branches are:

1. The legislative branch ( power of the congress)
2. The judicial branch ( power of the president)
3. The executive branch (  power of the Supreme Court and Inferior courts)

• Each branch operation  depends on the other.
• Each branch limits the power of the other (Checks and balance)
• For example :

The president can veto.

The Congress can impeach the president.

The last step is always from the Supreme Court. They are the ones who declare the new law constitutional or not

Finally, they made these steps to protect the citizens' rights. ( Hadi Almareah)..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Laws Are Made

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National vs. State Government

 The national's and the state's power are diffrent in terms of each one complete the other, so each power exist, otherwise, it is going to be an imbalance in the system of the country. Moreovere, they both share some powers such as,Collect taxes, borrow money, build roads, make and enforce laws. However, some of the seprate powers the national government has are, declare war, print money, provide an army and navy, establish post offices, but on the other hand, the state government can issue licenses, conduct elections, and establish local governments. From this point we can see the diffrent in powers each one has, and both of them are important to balnce the system of the country.(Muhammad)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Election Process

 

1. Elections to choose the president are held every four years.

 

2. Each party would nominate candidates for both president and vice-president. This ensured that both the president and the vice-president would be of the same party.

 

3. → (This means 'vote')

 

citizens  → electors → candidate → President

 

4. A candidate must receive a majority of votes(50% + 1) to become president.

 

(Chi - Eun Kim)

 

 

Citizenship

 

 Feeling free and political or religious or searching for a better life , people have left there country to live in America.

People in America have different languages and different religion and beliefs.

The president of the U.S can be aliens , nationals , or citizen .

Aliens are people who have emigrated from a foreign country.

People have their freedom as citizen , but they cant vote in the elections.

Person who born in the U.S. or Americans who born in foreign countries, are automatically citizens of the United States.

Citizens of other countries must apply for the citizen test if he want to be an American citizen.

 

Becoming a U.S. Citizen :

 

The process by which people from foreign countries become U.S. citizens is called naturalization .

 There is three steps :

 

1-    File application :

2-    Take a naturalization examination :

3-    Appear for a court hearing :

 

To become a citizen, or to be naturalized, a person must meet certain requirements:

•    Be at least 18 years old

•    Have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years

•    Be of good moral character and loyal to the U.S.

•    Be able to read, write, speak and understand basic English

•    Have basic knowledge and understanding of the history, government structure and the Constitution of the U.S.

•    Be willing to take an oath of allegiance to the U.S.

From Mubarak

 

 

 

 

the U.S. = “nation of immigrants” “salad bowl” “melting pot”

          : people live with different heritages, religious beliefs, ethnicity, language, national origins – bound by political values and principles

 

residents – aliens: immigrants from other countries

                  have some freedoms and legal rights (except the rights of voting)

 

- nationals: natives of American territorial possessions

                    have all the legal protections

                    do not have the full political rights

        

- citizens: born in the U.S. or born to U.S. citizens in foreign countries

         enjoy the freedoms, protections and legal rights

                  naturalization = making people who are born in other countries to American citizens

                                  they can travel with a U.S. passport and obtain federal government job

                                <process>

                                1. file an application

                                  2. take a naturalization examination

                                  3. appear for a court hearing

                                 <requirement>

                                  at least 18-year-old

                                  lived in the U.S. at least 5 years

                                  good moral character & loyal to the U.S.

                                  able to read, write, speak, and understand basic English

                                  basic knowledge and understanding of history, government structure, and the U.S. constitution

 

citizens = a full member of the U.S. and owe loyalty or allegiance to their country

         - take active part to improve their community and government

           e.g. nominating candidates to run for public office

               voting for candidates who are nominated

               holding public office at the local, states, or national level

               directing or organizing community affaires

 

voting: the basis of a representative democracy

      each states has a power to decide which citizens can vote

      some rights are guaranteed by the constitution

        e.g. We cannot deny the rights of voting who

             1. is at least 18-year-old

             2. because of the race, color, gender

             3. because of not paid a voting or a rolling tax

             4. in national elections for President and vice president

 

the Bill of Rights: ten amendments to the U.S. constitution

                - guarantee certain freedom and rights

 

responsibility: to participate in their government

             - voting

             - serving on a jury

             - serving in the armed forces (men)

             respect others and laws, pay taxes, offer their knowledge and talents

(Reiko)