Published in the United States of America by Cherry Lake Publishing Ann Arbor Michigan www cherrylakepublishing com Content Adviser Austin McCoy Doctoral Candidate in History at the University of Michigan Reading Adviser Marla Conn MS Ed Literacy specialist Read-Ability Inc Photo Credits Dave Newman Shutterstock cover 1 Alison Hancock Shutterstock 5 Joseph Sohm Shutterstock 6 12 Burlingham Shutterstock 8 Rena Schild Shutterstock 11 28 Jason and Bonnie Grower Shutterstock 14 mdgn Shutterstock 15 Barry Blackburn Shutterstock 17 Everett Collection Shutterstock 18 Gyorgy Barna Shutterstock 20 EdStock istock 21 Martin Dallaire Shutterstock 23 Rob Crandall Shutterstock 24 Everett Historical Shutterstock 26 Copyright 2017 by Cherry Lake Publishing All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names Mara Wil author Title Democracy at work Wil Mara Description Ann Arbor Michigan Cherry Lake Publishing 2017 Series A citizen’s guide Includes bibliographical references and index Identifiers LCCN 2016001519 ISBN 9781634710657 hardcover ISBN 9781634711647 pdf ISBN 9781634712637 pbk ISBN 9781634713627 ebook Subjects LCSH United States Politics and government Juvenile literature Separation of powers United States Juvenile literature Democracy United States Juvenile literature Classification LCC JK40 M36 2017 DDC 320 473 dc23 LC record available at http lccn loc gov 2016001519 Cherry Lake Publishing would like to acknowledge the work of the Partnership for 21st Century Learning Please visit www p21 org for more information Printed in the United States of America Corporate Graphics ABOUT THE AUTHOR Wil Mara is an award-winning and best-selling author of more than 150 books many of which are educational titles for young readers Further information about his work can be found at www wilmara com
TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 Democracy Then and Now 4 CHAPTER 2 The Executive Branch 10 CHAPTER 3 The Legislative Branch 16 CHAPTER 4 The Judicial Branch 22 THINK ABOUT IT 30 FOR MORE INFORMATION 31 GLOSSARY 32 INDEX 32
CHAPTER 1 Democracy Then And Now The United States of America is probably the most successful example of a democracy in human history The foundation for that success lies in a document called the Constitution You might think of it as America’s blueprint The terms of the Constitution were first debated in 1787 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in the now-famous building known as Independence Hall It is the very same place where the Founding Fathers forged another great document the Declaration of Independence This is why Philadelphia is often called the Cradle of Liberty The United States is a known as a representative democracy There are way too many of us to assemble in one place and discuss governmental matters so we elect certain people to
The Constitution was signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania
