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US Government

US Government. Not good to be a King. “If men were angels no government would be necessary” -James Madison Federalist 51. What is Government. The institution through which society makes and enforces public policies. Politics is the process

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US Government

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  1. US Government Not good to be a King

  2. “If men were angels no government would be necessary”-James MadisonFederalist 51

  3. What is Government • The institution through which society makes and enforces public policies. • Politics is the process • Policies are Laws (what the government decides to do)

  4. Government • Legislative Power • Executive Power • Judicial Power • Make the Laws • Enforces the Laws • Interpret the Laws, and settle disputes

  5. Dictatorship Democracy • Leader Decides • Authoritarian Dictatorship • Totalitarian Dictatorship • Devine Right • Above the People • Will of the people decide • Direct Democracy • Indirect Democracy • Republic How they wield Power

  6. Dictatorships • Most common form of government in History • Autocracy, 1 person holds power (North Korea) • Oligarchy, small group holds power (Iran)

  7. The State • The state can be defined as a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically (that is, with a government) and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority. • More than 190 states in the world today.

  8. What it needs to be a State • Population- People, does not need to be homogeneous • Territory- Area in which to rule • Government- A way to make laws • Sovereignty- Nothing above it

  9. How states developed • Force Theory • Evolutionary Theory • Family to Tribe to Nation to State • Divine Right Theory • God said so • Social Contract • Newest theory

  10. Distribution of Power • Unitary Government (UK, China, N Korea) • All power in central government • Federal Government (USA, Mexico) • Power Split Central and Local Government • Cannot change without consent of both • Confederate Government (EU, NAFTA) • All power in local governments

  11. Quick Difference • Presidential Government • 2 separate offices • People vote for both • Parliamentary Government • People vote for party in Legislative • They select Prime Minister

  12. Our Political History • Our system is based of Rome, Greece and England • Most of our offices are based off English towns • Idea of Limited Government • Magna Carta • Bill of Rights

  13. Basic Concepts of Democracy

  14. Activity Make a list of what you consider to be the basic rights of individuals. Include a minimum of five (5) basic rights on your list

  15. Read pg. 20-22 about individuals and rights. Revise your list, compare and contrast lists within your group. Come up with one list of 5, ranking from most important to least important. After you have your list discuss what factors limit individual rights, and jot a few ideas down about that

  16. The American concept of democracy rests on these basic notions: • A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person • A respect for the equality of all persons • A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights

  17. The American concept of democracy rests on these basic notions: • An acceptance of the necessity of compromise • An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom.

  18. Democracy and the Free Enterprise System • Economic system characterized by the private ownership of capital goods. • Investments made by private decisions • Success or failure determined by competition in the market • There is government involvement • We have mixed economy

  19. Origins of American Government • Our political system comes from a combination of past governments. • England, Rome, Greece, ancient Asia and Africa • Hammurabi’s Code

  20. Basic Concepts of Government • Ordered Government • Limited Government • Representative Government • Pg. 29 Volunteers

  21. Landmark English Documents • The Magna Carta • People forced King John to sign in 1215 • Included trial by jury and due process of law, protection against the arbitrary taking of life liberty, or property. http://www.bl.uk/treasures/magnacarta/shockwave/magna_carta_broadband.htm

  22. The English Bill of Rights • 1688 in Glorious Revolution of William and Mary of Orange • No standing army in peacetime • Free elections • No cruel and unusual punishment

  23. The English Colonies • Royal Colonies: • New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia • Proprietary Colonies: • Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware • The Charter Colonies: • Connecticut and Rhode Island

  24. The Coming of Independence

  25. Growing Colonial Unity • New England Confederation: 1643 • Inter-colonial cooperation in trade, defense, and criminal matters. • The Albany Plan: 1754 • Ben Franklin, congress of delegates • Raise military and navy, make war, trade, tax, collect customs duties. • Denied by colonies and England

  26. Growing Colonial Unity • The Stamp Act Congress: 1765 • “Taxation without representation.” • First time opposing British government

  27. March 5th, 1770 What event is this?

  28. December 16th, 1773 What event is this?

  29. First and Second Continental Congress • First Continental Congress: 1774 • Ordered boycott of British goods following the Intolerable Acts. • Also called for meeting the following May, the Second Continental Congress. • Second Continental Congress: 1775 • Continental army formed, George Washington its leader. • Served as first national government until 1781 • Articles of Confederation

  30. Declaration of Independence • Mostly written by Thomas Jefferson • Finished July 2nd, 1776, but not officially signed until July 4th. • Made the United States official nation.

  31. “We must all hang together, …or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” • Ben Franklin

  32. State Constitutions • Common Features • Popular Sovereignty • Government can exist only with the consent of the governed • Limited government • Civil Rights and Liberties • Separation of Powers • Checks and Balances • Massachusetts Constitution 1780 is the oldest of the present-day State constitutions. • Voting to males only, strict rules including property owning.

  33. Quiz Extra Credit • In what city and state was first meeting to fix the Articles of Confederation? • Annapolis, Maryland

  34. Flag Burning

  35. Flag Saving

  36. Where do you stand? • Chose a spot in the classroom based on if you • Strongly Agree • Agree • Undecided • Disagree • Or Strongly Disagree • That flag burning should be a Constitutional right.

  37. The Critical Period Chapter 2 Section 3

  38. Articles of Confederation • “a firm league of friendship” among the states. • 11 states immediately ratify • Delaware February 1779 • Maryland March 1781

  39. Government Structure • Very Simple • Congress was the sole body created • Unicameral – delegates chosen yearly by states. • One vote per state • NO EXECUTIVE OR JUDICIAL

  40. Powers of Congress • Make war and peace • Send/receive ambassadors • Make treaties • Borrow money • Set up money system • Establish post offices • Build navy • Raise an army • Settle disputes amongst states

  41. Weaknesses • No power to tax • No regulation of trade • No power to enforce • Changes required all 13 states approval

  42. The Critical Period • States fighting amongst each other • Taxing goods in trade, no unity • Shay’s Rebellion (Daniel Shays) • Farmers and small land owners in debt

  43. A Need for Stronger Government • Starts with meeting between Maryland and Virginia • Annapolis in 1786, only 5 states show • Call for another meeting following May • Congress asks for delegates to “fix” Articles

  44. Creating the Constitution Chapter 2 Section 4

  45. The Framers • These are the men who created the Constitution in Philadelphia • 55 men at meeting, 39 served in Congress • 8 had signed Declaration of Independence • Mostly a younger generation of politicians • Ben Franklin, 81 was oldest

  46. Working in Secrecy • Met from May 25th – September 17th • 89 working days out of 116 • James Madison contributed Most • Hence “Father of the Constitution”

  47. The Two Plans • Virginia Plan- May 29th • Legitimacy derived from citizens, based on popular representation • Bicameral legislature • Executive size undetermined, elected and removable by Congress • Judicial life-tenure, able to veto state legislation • Ratification by citizens

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