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Political participation Citizens can participate in government in many ways. They can vote, join political parties, run for office, and exert political influence through public meetings, interest groups, and other means

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The amendment process As a "living document," the Constitution can be amended. The first 10 amendments make up the Bill of Rights. Seventeen more amendments have been added over the years.

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The judicial branch The federal judiciary is made up of the Supreme Court and many lower courts across the country. These courts interpret and apply laws in cases that come before them. The power of judicial review allows the Supreme Court to judge whether acts of Congress are constitutional.

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The executive branch The main task of this branch is to enforce the laws. The president is the chief executive, or head of the executive branch. This branch also includes many other executive officials, departments, and agencies.

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The legislative branch The main function of this branch of government is to enact laws. Congress consists of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The elastic clause of the Constitution gives Congress the flexibility it needs to carry out its duties.

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Three branches of government The first three articles establish the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. A system of checks and balances ensures that powers are distributed among the branches.

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The "supreme Law of the Land" The Constitution is the supreme legal document of the United States. It consists of three parts: the Preamble, the Articles, and the amendments.

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Some people join special interest groups to make their feelings known to the government. Special interest groups are organizations whose members share a specific interest or concern and want to influence policymaking

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The Constitution also establishes the principle of federalism, the division of power between the federal and state governments. Both the federal and state governments have some exclusive powers of their own, while sharing others.

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The Power of Judicial Review A key authority exercised by the Supreme Court is judicial review, the power to review an action of the legislative or executive branch and declare it unconstitutional. This power stems from an 1803 Court case, Marbury v. Madison, in which the Court overturned an act of Congress

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Its rulings become precedents, court decisions used as guides in deciding similar cases. State courts, lower federal courts, and the Supreme Court itself are guided by precedents set by Supreme Court decisions.

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independent judiciary is a system in which judges cannot be removed or have their salaries reduced for making unpopular decisions.

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The Federal Judiciary The federal courts have been called "the guardians of the Constitution" because they judge whether laws and actions conform to constitutional principles. However, a court may address a legal issue only if a relevant case comes before it. It cannot try to solve legal problems on its own.

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As chief executive, the president is the head of the largest branch of the federal government. Under the Constitution, the president and the rest of the executive branch must "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."

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Among these delegated powers are the powers to borrow money, coin money, raise an army and navy, declare war, make treaties, establish post offices, and protect patents and copyrights. The elastic clause enables Congress to make laws necessary to carry out these and other delegated powers.

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Elastic Clause because it gives Congress flexibility to fulfill its duties. In 1791, for example, Congress created a national bank to help collect taxes, pay debts, and regulate trade.

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The Structure of Congress To balance the powers of small and large states, the framers set up Congress as a bicameral, or two chamber, legislature. The two chambers are the Senate and the House of Representatives.

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The Preamble of the constitution describes the purpose of the document and the government it creates.

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To impeach an official is to charge that person with an offense committed while in office.