Social Studies - 2018-19
CE.6a - Structure and Powers of National Government
The student will apply social science skills to understand the American constitutional government at the national level by
a) describing the structure and powers of the national government;
BIG IDEAS
UNDERSTANDING THE STANDARD
The Constitution of the United States defines the structure and powers of the national government.
The powers held by government are divided between the national government in Washington, D.C., and the governments of the 50 states.
ESSENTIALS
Legislative, executive, and judicial powers of the national government are distributed among three distinct and independent branches of government.
The legislative branch
Consists of the Congress, a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives (435 members, based upon populations of the states) and the Senate (100 members—two per state)
Makes the laws of the nation
Approves the annual budget
Confirms presidential appointments
Raises revenue through taxes and other levies
Regulates interstate and foreign trade
Declares war
The executive branch
Headed by the president of the United States, the chief executive officer of the nation
Executes the laws of the land
Prepares the annual budget for congressional action
Appoints cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges
Oversees executive agencies and departments
The judicial branch
Consists of the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land
The Supreme Court exercises the power of judicial review
The federal courts try cases involving federal law and questions involving interpretation of the Constitution of the United States