An Overview of the American Government Current Issues – Libertyville HS
Feb 07, 2016
An Overview of the American Government
Current Issues – Libertyville HS
First Principles
• What are the ideals upon which America rests?– Democracy– Liberty / Freedom– Equality– Capitalism– Majority rule– … and many more
• Where do we get these ideals from?
Foundation of American Government
• Declaration of Independence– Read the first two paragraphs– Principles contained in the
document?– Why was this such a radical
document for its time?• Laid out principles of
governance• Gave justification for
overthrowing any government• Not a monarchy!
Foundation of American Goverment
• US Constitution– “Grand experiment in
democracy”– First government in history
to be set up based on a piece of paper
• Principles of US Constitution– Popular sovereignty– Limited government– Separation of powers– Checks and balances– Federalism
Structure of American Goverment
• Three branches– Executive– Legislative– Judicial
• Before looking at each branch, which do you think is …– the most powerful?– The most important?– The most representative?
Legislative Branch• What does it do? – Makes the laws– How a bill becomes a law
• Who runs it?– House (435 members):
Speaker of the House– Senate (100 members):
Majority Leader (President pro tempore)
• Basis in Constitution?– Article I lays out powers of
both chambers (examples of Congress, House, Senate)
The Executive Branch
• What does it do? – Enforce the laws– When you think of “the
Government”, the Executive Branch is it!
• Who runs it?– President– Bureaucracy (agencies,
departments, etc)
• Basis in Constitution?– Article II lays out powers of
President (examples)
Judicial Branch• What does it do?– Interpret the laws– Judicial Review
• Who runs it?– US Supreme Court = 1 chief
justice, 8 associate justices– Appellate courts– District courts (lowest level)
• Basis in Constitution?– Article III– Only the USSC was created in
constitution; all other courts created by Congress
Federalism
• Idea that local issues should be handled by local government
• Why?– Closest to the problem– Big country, lots of
differences between states
• National issues handled by national government
Political Parties• Not anticipated by founding
fathers• Not provided for in
Declaration, Constitution• Came about shortly after
founding (Federalists / Anti-Federalists)
• Today, two major parties– Democrats– Republicans
• Third Parties exist, too (examples?)
Differences Between Political Parties
Democrats (Liberals)• Basic philosophy:
Government is a positive force, to improve people’s lives
• Emphasis on protecting (most) individual liberties (examples), gov’t regulation of marketplace
• Foreign relations: preference towards multi-lateral actions, skeptical of unilateral efforts
Republicans (Conservatives)• Basic philosophy:
Government should be limited to allow individuals the ability to do best for themselves
• Emphasis on slowing individual innovation, free market principles
• Foreign relations: unilateral action ok; skeptical of multi-national efforts