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Principles of Democracy

Principles of Democracy. Unit 1, Ch1 Intro. “Supreme Law of the Land”. In the United States, the US Constitution is the Supreme Law. No law and no person can override the Constitution. The Principles of Democracy. …are the basic rules that the people of the United States live by.

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Principles of Democracy

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  1. Principles of Democracy Unit 1, Ch1 Intro

  2. “Supreme Law of the Land” • In the United States, the US Constitution is the Supreme Law. • No law and no person can override the Constitution.

  3. The Principles of Democracy • …are the basic rules that the people of the United States live by. • Are 7 basic principles or rules for all of us to follow in order to peacefully live together as one nation.

  4. Principles of Democracy • POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY • Limited Government • FEDERALISM • Republicanism • SEPARATION OF POWERS • Checks and Balances • INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

  5. Click on the Principles below to continue Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Federalism Republicanism Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Individual Rights Finished ALL of the above? Then click here for review

  6. Popular Sovereignty • Political power rests with the people who can create, alter and abolish their government. • In our country, this principle is found in the Constitution’s __________

  7. Preamble • “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, …. do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

  8. We, the People can … • Amend the Constitution to keep up with today’s generation • Elect our representatives to go to Congress to express our wishes • Petition the government to do something we want • And lots more!!

  9. Remember – • Popular Sovereignty means We, the People control our government! Return to “Principles”

  10. Limited Government • Does this mean we can tell our government what to do or what not to do?

  11. YES!!! • In the Constitution, the people established the government to serve us. We were tired of the abusive King and fought for independence. We did not want to be abused by another king or government so we ….

  12. MADE RULES FOR GOVERNMENT!

  13. Powers granted • Government can only do certain things like • Pass new laws or taxes if a majority of our representatives in Congress agrees • Coin money • Make treaties with foreign nations • Raise an army and navy • Regulate trade between the states [interstate commerce] • And more.

  14. Powers denied • Government can NOT do certain things • Why is First Lady Michelle Obama not called a Queen? • We have no titles of nobility in the United States • Can Congress pass a law today that says what we did yesterday was wrong?

  15. NO WAY! • These types of laws are called ex post factolaws. The Constitution prohibits Congress and state governments from passing such unfair laws. • Can a state declare war on another country?

  16. NO. • The Constitution only gives the national government the power to declare war. Think of the mess we would be in if 50 different states could declare war!

  17. Limited Government • Congress and the state governments are restricted by what the Constitution says. -- Think of the Constitution as the government’s parents! Click to return to “Principles”

  18. Federalism • Is the distribution of power between the national government, the states’ governments and local governments. • Refers to the different levels within our government.

  19. Federalism • Compare to a building with 3 floors …

  20. Federalism, cont’d. • Each level of government has its own responsibilities. • Sometimes, these responsibilities are shared or overlap [known as concurrent powers] . For example, taxes: national = income tax, state = sales tax, local = property tax

  21. Sometimes, these responsibilities belong to just one level. For example, National = can declare war, States = can determine driver’s license requirements or high school diploma requirements

  22. Federalism • Levels of government --- 3 layers • Remember: • you are a resident of Alachua County, • a resident of the State of Florida, and • a citizen of the United States

  23. Federalism • National, state and local … … governments working under one Constitution Click here to return to “Principles” 

  24. Republicanism • A form of government where the people vote for representatives to make laws and run the government on their behalf [to take care of the people]

  25. Republicanism’s tie to Popular Sovereignty? • The People control the government by voting for elected representatives  the representatives meet with other representatives to make laws for the public good  if the representatives abuse the people, the people take back their “consent” and vote them out of office  then the people vote for elected representatives …. THE CYCLE PERPETUATES ITSELF!

  26. Separation of Powers • Each branch of government is given an equal, but different, set of powers • The US Constitution is divided into different Articles (like chapters in your book)

  27. Each of the first 3 articles deals with a different branch of government… • Article I  Legislature (Congress) • Article II  Executive (President) • Article III  Judiciary (Supreme Court and other courts)

  28. Responsibilities Each branch has a different responsibility in our government --- • Legislative branch -- makes our laws • Executive branch – enforces our laws • Judicial branch – interprets our laws

  29. This diagram illustrates the separation of powers

  30. Separation of Powers • Think: each branch of government not only has different powers but also different buildings! • Capitol = Legislative • White House = Executive • Supreme Court building = Judiciary

  31. There’s no way you can walk into all 3 buildings at the same time! Return to “Principles” 

  32. Checks and Balances The ability of each branch of government to oversee the other branches, to prevent abuse and to keep everything in “balance” or… No branch is superior over the other two.*****

  33. Example: Congress passes a law the President thinks is wrong. The President checks Congress by …

  34. Using the VETO [to refuse to sign and make into law].

  35. Congress thinks the President is wrong. Congress checks the President by …

  36. Re-passing the law with a 2/3 vote or override. The Supreme Court thinks Congress or the President is wrong. The Court can …

  37. Declare the law or action unconstitutional by using judicial review to compare the law or action to what the Constitution ‘says’. Return to TAKS question 2

  38. Checks and Balances  Return to “Principles” Keeps our system even

  39. Surprise!: Essay Prompt (14pts) • Identify and describe what you believe the purpose of government should be and why that purpose is most significant. • Explain six (6) means by which that purpose ought to be fulfilled through the application of laws, social programs or economic incentives.

  40. Individual Rights • Each person in the United States has rights The Declaration of Independence spoke of these as being “unalienable” or not separate from you

  41. By limiting government and separating powers the Constitution provides …. For your Rights! Protection

  42. More protection is provided by the … ah, let me think, the…

  43. Bill of Rights! • The First 10 amendments to the Constitution • Prohibits Congress or the national government from taking away your basic rights

  44. Can you list some examples of your rights found in the Bill of Rights?

  45. 1st Amendment – • Freedom of Speech • Freedom of the Press • Freedom of Assembly • Freedom to Petition • Free Exercise of Religion • No Government Established Religion

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