Federal Government

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U.S. Constitution sets forth the structure of the U.S. federal government.

• ratified in 1789
• called the supreme Law of the Land

Role of the Constitution

• defines three co-equal roles in the federal government:
  • Legislative Branch
    • makes the laws
  • Executive Branch
    • enforces the laws
  • Judicial Branch
    • reviews laws to ensure they are constitutional
• creates a checks and balances system
• defines relationship between federal government and states
• recognizes fundamental individual rights
  • Bill of Rights are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution
    • ratified in 1791

Federalism is a term that describes the relationship between the states and the U.S. federal government.

Eligibility Requirements for President and Congress

President:

• natural-born US citizen
• 35 years old
• resident of US for at least 14 years

Senator:

• 30 years old
• citizen of US for 9 years
• must be resident of state elected for

House member:

• 25 years old
• citizen of US for 7 years
• resident of the congressional district elected for