LESSON 5
Describe how Congress makes laws and explore how powers are distributed through the 3 branches of government
In Lesson 4 you looked a bunch of important documents. You looked at a summary of the Constitution. We're going to dive a little deeper. Why is the Constitution so important?
The United States Constitution is based on 6 important principles:
Popular Sovereignty. Sovereignty is where the power lies, so popular sovereignty means that the people have the power. That is how our government is set up. It's based on the principle that the 'government can govern only with the consent of the governed'. This means that if the people are unhappy with the way the government is running things- the policies should change or the leaders should change. The American attitude is that the people who govern our nation are 'public servants'. Even though we don't have a direct democracy, those who represent the people have an obligation to do what the people would do.
Limited Government. This idea was built into the Constitution. The federal government shouldn't have too much power. In fact the only powers that the Federal Government is allowed to have are the powers that the Constitution says they can have. The Constitution says 'all other powers are reserved to the states'. This is also known as Constitutionalism. The government has to obey its own laws.
Separation of Powers The powers of the Federal government are separated into three branches; Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
Checks and Balances are different branches 'checking' other branches, making sure one doesn't get too much power. You'll look more specifically at how the branches do this in the next lesson.
Judicial Review the power that the Judicial Branch has to interpret the Constitution. Again, covered in a future lesson.
And lastly, Federalism- which is a system that divides the power between Federal government and state and local governments. This is another one of those concepts that will be covered more in depth in a future lesson.
These are some of the principles that the Constitution supports, but what about the nitty gritty? How do laws get passed? How do you add an amendment to the Constitution? How do you take an amendment out of the Constitution?
The United States Constitution is based on 6 important principles:
Popular Sovereignty. Sovereignty is where the power lies, so popular sovereignty means that the people have the power. That is how our government is set up. It's based on the principle that the 'government can govern only with the consent of the governed'. This means that if the people are unhappy with the way the government is running things- the policies should change or the leaders should change. The American attitude is that the people who govern our nation are 'public servants'. Even though we don't have a direct democracy, those who represent the people have an obligation to do what the people would do.
Limited Government. This idea was built into the Constitution. The federal government shouldn't have too much power. In fact the only powers that the Federal Government is allowed to have are the powers that the Constitution says they can have. The Constitution says 'all other powers are reserved to the states'. This is also known as Constitutionalism. The government has to obey its own laws.
Separation of Powers The powers of the Federal government are separated into three branches; Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
Checks and Balances are different branches 'checking' other branches, making sure one doesn't get too much power. You'll look more specifically at how the branches do this in the next lesson.
Judicial Review the power that the Judicial Branch has to interpret the Constitution. Again, covered in a future lesson.
And lastly, Federalism- which is a system that divides the power between Federal government and state and local governments. This is another one of those concepts that will be covered more in depth in a future lesson.
These are some of the principles that the Constitution supports, but what about the nitty gritty? How do laws get passed? How do you add an amendment to the Constitution? How do you take an amendment out of the Constitution?
Now to answer that pressing question: 'how does a bill become a law?'
Click to set custom HTML
Near the end of the video it was mentioned that the President can veto the bill. Why you ask? Well because checks and balances. The President has the power to 'check' Congress' power by vetoing their decision to make a law. So when you hear people complain about the 'political process'... now you know there is a lot involved.
The President can actually do 4 different things to a bill:
1. He can pass it (by signing it)
2. He can veto it--The president has 10 days to decide to sign a bill into law. If in those 10 days he sends the bill back to Congress with his objections, that's a veto. If they vote again and 2/3 are still in favor of the bill, the president's veto is over-ruled and the bill becomes law
3. He can pocket veto it- it's like a veto but more secretive. It's a veto done when Congress isn't in session. Since Congress can't vote when it's adjourned, a pocket veto can't be overridden. The only way around a pocket veto is for Congress to re-submit the bill and go through the whole process again.
4. He can also ignore it until it becomes a law (If Congress is in session and the president ignores the bill then it becomes a law anyway. If Congress isn't in session and the President ignores the bill it's a pocket veto) A president might do this because he doesn't want to publicly show support for political reasons
All of this stuff is in the Constitution. The founding fathers had to plan out how a law would be passed and how a veto would work. They were pretty smart guys right?
The President can actually do 4 different things to a bill:
1. He can pass it (by signing it)
2. He can veto it--The president has 10 days to decide to sign a bill into law. If in those 10 days he sends the bill back to Congress with his objections, that's a veto. If they vote again and 2/3 are still in favor of the bill, the president's veto is over-ruled and the bill becomes law
3. He can pocket veto it- it's like a veto but more secretive. It's a veto done when Congress isn't in session. Since Congress can't vote when it's adjourned, a pocket veto can't be overridden. The only way around a pocket veto is for Congress to re-submit the bill and go through the whole process again.
4. He can also ignore it until it becomes a law (If Congress is in session and the president ignores the bill then it becomes a law anyway. If Congress isn't in session and the President ignores the bill it's a pocket veto) A president might do this because he doesn't want to publicly show support for political reasons
All of this stuff is in the Constitution. The founding fathers had to plan out how a law would be passed and how a veto would work. They were pretty smart guys right?
ASSIGNMENT 5
Answer the questions using complete sentences and then upload and submit your assignment below;
ASSIGNMENT 51. Explain what 'Separation of Powers' and 'Checks and Balances' mean
2. Using the SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK: I'm Just A Bill video, explain the process of how a bill becomes a law
3. What is the difference between a veto and a pocket veto?
ASSIGNMENT 51. Explain what 'Separation of Powers' and 'Checks and Balances' mean
2. Using the SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK: I'm Just A Bill video, explain the process of how a bill becomes a law
3. What is the difference between a veto and a pocket veto?