Understanding Our Government

Understanding Our
Government

By Nick Kirkessner and Isaac Smith

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Declaration of Independence
Chapter 2 Legislative Branch
Chapter 3 Executive Branch
Chapter 4 Judicial Branch
Chapter 5 Bill of Rights

Chapter 1

The Declaration of Independence was very Important. It is
what our country. This is a very valuable document and took a

long time to write and is very old. It has 1458 words and 56
signatures!

On June 11 1776 Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin

Franklin, and Roger R. Livingston adopted a committee to create
the Declaration Of Independence. The Declaration Of

Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July
4, 1776. The colonists were frustrated with Great Britain and King
George. July 8th was the first public reading of the Declaration.

July 9th congress ordered for the Declaration to be signed.

Chapter 2

. The legislative branch is in charge of making laws.
It is made up of the Congress and several

Government agencies. Congress has two parts:
the House of Representatives and the Senate The

Legislative Branch is also called the Congress.
The first step in the legislative process is the
introduction of a bill to Congress.

Anyone can write it, but only members of Congress
can introduce legislation. Some important bills are

traditionally introduced at the request of the
President, such as the annual federal budget.
During the legislative process, however, the initial

bill can undergo drastic changes

Chapter 3

The Executive Branch is Responsible for making
laws and editing them that come from the

legislative branch. This is an important branch in
our government. The President of the United
States, as head of the Executive Branch, has

several powers according to the United States
Constitution. These include: the ability to veto or
sign into law legislation that has been voted for

by Congress

The Executive Office includes the White House Staff,
the National Security Council, close advisors to the
President, the Press Secretary, and others. The Vice
President of the United States advises the President,

and is prepared to take over in the case of the
President being unable to continue in his role. The

Cabinet of the Executive Office includes 15
departments.

Chapter 4

The Judicial Branch of the United States was established by
Article III of the U.S. Constitution. The Judicial Branches
determined by the U.S. Congress and the U.S. President.

Congress is able to determine the number of Supreme Court
judges.

The Judiciary is made up of courts Supreme, Circuit the
magistrate local and municipal city courts. The Judicial branch
interprets the laws. The state judges are elected by the citizens

rather than being appointed

Chapter 5

Bill of Rights Amendments 1-10. The First 10 Amendments to the
United States Constitution are also known as the US Bill of Rights. An
amendment is a change or addition to the US Constitution. The first 10

amendments the Bill of Rights were ratified in 1791.

● Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Speech, and the Press.
● Amendment 2 - The Right to Bear Arms
● Amendment 3 - The Housing of Soldiers.
● Amendment 4 - Protection from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures.
● Amendment 5 - Protection of Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property
● Amendment 6 - Rights of Accused Persons in Criminal Cases
● Amendment 7 - Rights in Civil Cases
● Amendment 8 - Excessive Bail, Fines, and Punishments Forbidden
● Amendment 9 - Other Rights Kept by the People
● Amendment 10 - Undelegated Powers Kept by the States and the

People

The END! Review TIME!

THE END!!