as govt + politics - us constitution

federalism

separated branches

• the branches themselves
• how the branches are chosen

separated personnel

separation of branches

• distinct branches
  • three branches - legislature (congress), executive (president), judicial (supreme court)
• us constitution sets out in articles i, ii and iii that congress, the president and the supreme court have separate powers
• enumerated powers
  • congress (article i, section 8)
    • money borrowing; coin money; regulate trade; punishment of counterfeiting; post office/roads; taxes; tribunals; navy; declare war; punish piracies + felonies; raise + support armies; rules for govt regulation of forces; militia; exclusive legislature; laws
  • president
    • commander in chief; reprieves + pardons; treaty signing
  • supreme court
    • arbitrate state-federal govt; ambassadors, public ministers + consuls - original jurisdiction; appellate jurisdiction
• implied powers

separation of branches through when and how branches are selected

• congress: house of representatives
  • direct election by the people
  • every 2 years
• congress: senate
  • formerly by the state legislature
  • now by direct election
    • popular vote - amendment xvii
  • every 6 years (1/3rd up for election every 2 years)
• president
  • electoral college
    • voters vote
    • proportion on votes = electoral college votes
    • state reps
  • every 4 years

separation of branches through when and how branches are selected

• supreme court
  • appointed/selected by president, voted on by the senate
  • no senate approval = no nomination