1. The Constitution was written during the
Constitutional Convention—which
convened from May 25 to September 17,
1787.
After being signed, it still needed to
be ratified by 9 out of the 13 states.
This happened on June 21, 1788.
Kinda amazingly, the Constitution
replaced the initial governing papers
called The Articles of Confederation.
This presentation is interactive. Click on the Images to learn
more....

2. Scene at the
Signing of the
Constitution (a
famous painting by
Howard Chandler
Christy)
For those who are wondering.... John Hancock
signed the Declaration of Independence

3. Checks &
Balances
Click on the different Branches to explore more....
to go back, click on the icon in the lower left hand side

4. The Cabinet:
http://www.doi.gov Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov
Department of Commercehttp://www.commerce.gov
Department of Labor
http://www.dol.gov
Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov
Department of Housing and Urban Development
http://www.hud.gov
Department of Transportation
http://www.dot.gov
Department of Energy
http://www.energy.gov Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov
Department of Veterans Affairshttp://www.va.gov
Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov
Advisors with
Cabinet Rank:
White House Chief of Staff
Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov
Office of Management & Budget
whitehouse.gov/omb
United States Trade Representativewww.ustr.gov
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/
Council of Economic Advisers
www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/cea/
Small Business Administrationwww.sba.gov/
Presidents:
•are elected to 4 year terms
•Must be a natural born citizen
•Must be 35+ years old
•Must have been a permanent
resident of the U>S. for 14 years
•Commander-in-Chief
of the U.S. Military
The Vice President takes over
as president upon the death,
resignation or removal of the
President.
He is also the President of the
Senate & casts any tie-breaker
votes. Because of this, there is
still some debate whether the
Vice President belongs to the
Executive Branch or the
Legislative Branch.
•Enforces the laws
•Proposes a budget
•Nominates judges to
Supreme Court
Checks & Balances:

5. Checks &
Balances
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to go back, click on the icon in the lower left hand side

6. •Interprets laws & declares whether they are
constitutional
•Appointed by the President
•Approved by the Senate
Checks & Balances:
There are no camera’s allowed in the
Supreme Court, so we only have courtroom
sketches to see what is going on in there.
There is debate over whether this rule
should be lifted to allow for more
transparency.
The Supreme Court:
•9 Members
•Appointed for Life
Personally, I’d like to see
what goes on it there and
hear the arguments. I’m
curious, and I think this is
one branch of the
government that is still
shrouded in some
mystery. I’m not sure that
is a good thing.

7. Checks &
Balances
Click on the different Branches to explore more....
to go back, click on the icon in the lower left hand side

8. •Tries & votes on impeachment
proceedings for federal officials
•Approves treaties that the President
negotiates
•Makes laws
•Votes on Bills that become laws
•Passes the national budget
•Approves the appointments
of federal judges
•Has the power to declare war
Checks & Balances:
CongressCongress Checks & Balances:
•Investigates & brings
impeachment charges onto federal
officials
•Originates spending & taxing bills
Checks & Balances:

9. Members of the House:
•Are elected to 2 year terms
•Must be 25+ yrs. old to serve
•Must have been a citizen of the United
States for the past seven years
•Must be an inhabitant of the state they
represent.
There are 435 districts in the Unites States. This number is
determined by law.
Each state is guaranteed at least 1 member, and it is determined by
population count as to how many representatives each state receives.
Gerrymandering is the slang-term given to the process by which
politicians can redesign a state’s district’s map to favor the ruling
party in the next election.
Here’s a fun way to learn more:
The ReDistricting Game
I think the Founding Fathers
intended the members of the House
to be elected every 2 years to keep
them close to the will of the people.
If a Representative has to worry
about constantly getting re-elected
by their constituents, s/he will
usually vote according to whatever
the majority of their voters want.
Click here to
find your
Representative
Learn More:

10. Rep. David McKinley
WV District 1
Rep. Nick RahallWV District 3
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito
WV District 2
West
Virginia

11. Each state has 2 Senators, which are voted in directly by the people.
This wasn’t always the case. Before the 17th Amendment to the
Constitution, Senators to be elected by each State’s legislature.
The Filibuster is a tradition of the Senate. It allows Senators to hold
up votes that they don’t agree with by talking, talking, and talking
some more until the time to vote passes.
Here’s a fun way to learn more:
Senate Filibustering as explained by Mean Girls
Members of the Senate:
•Are elected to 6 year terms
(a third are elected every 2 years)
•Must be 30+ yrs. old to serve
•Must have been a citizen of the United
States for the past nine years
•Must be an inhabitant of the state they
represent.
Click here to
find your
Senator
Click on the map to
learn more about
West Virginia’s
Senators:

12. West
Virginia
Sen. Jay Rockefeller Sen. Joe Manchin

13. Checks &
Balances
Click on the different Branches to explore more....
to go back, click on the icon in the lower left hand side