So far from the reading you know… The United State originally was a colony of GREAT BRITAIN They wanted to escape British rule because they felt they.

So far from the reading you know…The United State originally was a colony of

GREAT BRITAINThey wanted to escape British rule because

they felt they were being unfairly taxed and treated

They wrote the Declaration of Independence as a proclamation that they wished to escape from British rule

Its goal is to serve the needs of the PEOPLE

After the Revolutionary War…The United States set up the ARTICLES OF

CONFEDERATIONThey were unsuccessful because they did not

create a STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENTTherefore while the Articles made laws, there

was no one to enforce the laws that were made

The Founders took what they already knew… and applied it…And came up with the CONSTITUTION as we

know it todayIt was seen as the SUPREME LAW OF THE

LAND

From the reading we know…There were MANY compromises that went into

making the Constitution and getting everyone to agree on it.

SUCH AS…However, even after all that, some states still

did not want to ratify itSo the founders promised to add the Bill of

Rights to make the rest of the states happy…

The Preamble

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Some info about the Preamble…

What do these important phrases mean???“More perfect Union”?Improves upon the weaknesses of previous

governments“Establish Justice”?Any legislation or court decisions that try to

improve feelings that our country is fair“Promoting general welfare”?Things the government does to protect the

people of the country (with good intentions)

The Bill of Rights1- Freedom of religion, of speech, of the

press, to petition, and to assemble 2- The right to bear arms3- No quartering of soldiers in homes during

peace time4- No unreasonable search and seizures5- Right to due process, do not have to

incriminate yourself, no double jeopardy

Bill of Rights6- Right to a fair and speedy public trial,

notice of accusations, right to counsel7- Right to trial by jury8- No excessive bail, no cruel or unusual

punishment9-The rights guaranteed in the constitution

are not the only rights that individuals have10-The states and the people retain the

powers the Constitution does not grant to the United States government.

Later Important Amendments13th- Abolition of Slavery15th- Voting rights to all races16th- Allows federal income tax17th- Direct election to the Senate18th- Prohibition of alcohol19th- Women’s right to vote21st- Repeal 18th amendment22nd- Limits President to 2 terms

Structure of GovernmentFrom the reading you know that government

is divided up into three levelsFEDERAL, STATE, and LOCALWhat are some of the things that each level

does?This idea is called federalism

Executive BranchThe executive branch is headed by the

PRESIDENT, whose responsible for ENFORCING the laws.

Under the President is the Vice-President, and then the Cabinet.

As part of the Executive branch, there are many Departments and Agencies

Presidential PrecedentsPrecedent= an example or standard that is

set that others followGeorge Washington’s Presidential Precedents

NOT a ceremonial figureheadPresidential power of vetoInvoked the “necessary and proper” clauseTook a strong hand in foreign policyRecognized the importance of a nonpartisan

governmentTwo terms

Presidential PrecedentsCabinetBased appointments on best-qualifiedPowers vested in the office, not the individual

Electoral College 538 total electoral votes 100 senators + 435 House of Representatives=

535+3 votes for Washington D.C.So… each state has the number of their Senators

+ their Representatives for their electoral votesWhoever gets the majority of the popular vote in

a state is supposed to get ALL of that states Electoral votes….

“winner take all”

Additional Presidential PowersExecutive powers- The powers to enforce laws Legislative powers- One of the chief law

“suggestors” gives ideas to Congress, also can veto or support new legislation

Appointment powers- Can appoint new judges to various courts, including the Supreme court (must be approved by the Senate)

Foreign affair powers- Can send diplomats, troops, to other nations, keeps up good relations (can not declare war!!)

Legislative BranchThe main function of the Legislative Branch

is to WRITE LAWSIt is divided into the HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES and the SENATE

Passing a BillFirst- The Bill is introduced in both the

House and the SenateSecond- The Bill is referred to committees

for hearings in both the House and the Senate

Third- The Bill gets debated on the floor of both the House and the Senate

Fourth- The President can sign it into lawThis is a long process and few Bills actually

become laws

Congress ChartHouse Senate

Number of members 435 2

Term of office 2 years 6 years

Number per state Depends on population

2

Minimum age 25 30

Years of citizenship required

7 9

Who is in charge? Speaker of the House The Vice President (President Pro Tempore)

Constituency District State

Congressional Powers Elastic clause- This is the part of the

constitution that basically says that Congress can do what it deems “necessary and proper” for the country

Controversial because it leaves room for a great deal of interpretation

Other Congressional PowersCollect taxesCoin moneyEstablish post officesDeclare warImpeach a PresidentApprove a Presidential appointmentApprove treatiesMaintain an army and a navy

Judicial Branch The Judicial Branch is made up of the circuit

and federal courts, including the Supreme Court

It is made to INTERPRET the LAWSIt sets precedents, or examples, on how laws

can or can not be interpreted.Based on its interpretation, the government

might have MORE OR LESS POWER

Our Government

Republic: Everyone votes for the leaders who take their place to make the decisions…

Major Principles that define our government

1. Federalism – power is split between federal (national), state, and local government

2. Separation of powers- powers are divided among the three branches of government

3. Checks and balances- Each branch’s decisions must be ratified by a different branch of government

4. Limited Government- Power is divided between the people and the government

Powers divided…Enumerated powers are powers that are

explicitly written out in the Constitution and given to one branch of government

Implied powers are powers that are inferred by the Constitution… Based on the elastic clause

The Congress shall have Power - To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Powers divided

Concurrent powers are powers that belong to both the state and national government

Classify the following on the H chart in the correct category

coin moneycollect taxesbudget and spendborrow moneyMake treatiesMake laws on marriage Make laws on divorceProvide system of educationDeclare warRaise an army

Checks and Balances Worksheet

Use the chart to fill in the checks and balances worksheet. Try to determine which branch you think has the most power….

Judicial ReviewHow are judges put in office? Why is this important?They are not “campaigning” for their jobs, so

they can make decisions that they feel are best and right based on the Constitution

Judicial Review= when the Supreme Court says that a law is unconstitutional

Limited Government1. Federal government and state government

share powers2. Voters can choose to keep politicians in

office or elect someone new3. Citizens have the right to make their

views of how the government is doing very clear, they may protest, petition the government, etc

Inalienable rights“Secure blessing of liberty to ourselves and

to our posterity”“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”Majority will rule BUT minority has the right

to dissentIt is the courts duty to draw the line between

these inalienable rights and the duty of respecting the freedoms of others

Our country is different…Great Britain does not have a written

Constitution, it has evolved over time Because our constitution is written, it takes a

great deal to make amendments, or changes, to the it

Besides being amended, however, it can be changed through interpretation of the courts, or the way it is enforced

It is a “living document”

Please illustrate the following concepts.Judicial ReviewSeparation of PowersLimited GovernmentFederalismRepresentative DemocracyElastic Clause