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Explore the formation of the USA as a federal republic of 50 states, from the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to the adoption of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Learn about the structure of Congress and the powers of the President in this comprehensive guide.
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The USA • The United States of America is a federal republic composed of 50 states • The former British colonies (13) broke with Great Britain in 1776 and were recognized as a new nation following the Treaty of Paris in 1783 • During the 19th and 20th centuries 37 new states were added to the original 13
The United States • A new nation: • In 1776 there were 13 weak British colonies in America (Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina New Hampshire, Rhode Island)
The Declaration of Independence, 1776 • The Declaration of Independence, 1776 • “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” • Mainly written by Thomas Jefferson • American colonists acted to win rights they felt had been denied them as English subjects
Articles of Confederation • November 15, 1777 -Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation as the government of the new United States of America, pending ratification by the individual states. Under the Articles, Congress is the sole authority of the new national government.
The end of war • The Treaty of Paris of 1783, negotiated between the United States and Great Britain, ended the revolutionary war and recognized American independence.
The Constitutional Convention • Under The Articles of Confederation it was a loose union of 13 states; the central government was too weak with too few powers • In 1787, at the initiative of Virginia, 55 delegates from the States met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles
The Constitution • The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan • ‘The Great Compromise’ • Instead they wrote a completely new document, the Constitution • Adopted by the thirteen states by 1790
The Virginia Plan • Drafted by James Madison, and presented by Edmund Randolph to the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787, the Virginia Plan proposed a strong central government composed of three branches: legislative (bicameral, proportional representation), executive and judicial (appointed by the legislature)
The New Jersey Plan • After two weeks of debating the Virginia Plan, a counterproposal was put forth by William Patterson, which has become known as the New Jersey Plan (or the Small State Plan or the Patterson Plan). Patterson's ideas amounted to no more than a simple reshaping of the Articles of Confederation. • The plan once again offered the idea of a unicameral (one house) legislature in which all states would have an equal number of votes.
The Constitution • The oldest Constitution still in force (written in 1787, came into force in 1789) • To date there have been 27 amendments • Sets the basic form of government: three separate branches, each one having powers (“checks and balances”) over the others • Specifies the powers and duties of each federal branch of government • Guarantees basic rights for the citizens • The ultimate power is given to the people
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.”
The Bill of Rights • The first ten Constitutional Amendments • Fundamental rights of any American • The freedom of religion, speech, press, the rights of peaceful assembly, the right of trial by jury • These rights cannot be taken away by any government or court • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQNiBQehwp8
Congress • The legislative branch of the federal government • Article I of the Constitution: “All legislative power herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” • The Senate (100 Senators, two from each state) and the House of Representatives (435 elected members who represent the population of “congressional districts”)
Powers of the Congress • Section 8 of Article I • Congress makes all laws, decides about taxes and how money is spent • It regulates commerce among the states and with foreign countries • It sets rules for the naturalization of foreign citizens
The President • Article II provides that executive power shall be vested ina president of the United States • Elected every four years to a four-year term of office • Powers of the President: in the executive sphere - Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, the effective source of administrative power, directs the negotiation of treaties, nominates all important executive officers
Powers of the President • In the legislative sphere: proposes legislation to Congress, can veto legislation already passed by Congress, can call it for special sessions and adress it by message or in person • In the judicial sphere: nominates to all the more important offices in the judicial branch, inclusing the Supreme Court
The Federal Judiciary • The main instrument – the Supreme Court, which watches over the executive and legislative branch • It determines whether their laws and acts are in accordance with the Constitution • Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices • The Supreme Court is the final level of appeal • 13 federal courts of appeal • 94 federal district courts
Federalism • A form of political organization in which the exercise of power is divided between two levels of government: the nation and the states • Exclusively national powers: determining foreign policy (declaring wars, making treaties, controlling imports and exports); protecting a uniform monetary system - control of the power to coin money
The Tenth Amendment • State powers: all powers not delegated to the federal government (the Tenth Amendment) • States are empowered to pass, enforce and interpret laws, as long as they do not violate the Constitution
Concurrent powers • Concurrent powers: powers shared by both levels, such as taxation, business regulation, environmental protection and civil rights
Checks and balances • The Constitution’s Framers set out a government in which no person or branch of government could become all-powerful • They divided the powers among lawmakers, judges and a chief executive • Each group can balance and check other’s powers
The three branches of government • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0XNgH1RmIU • Complete the following: The legislative branch _________ the law. The executive branch _________ the law. The judicial branch __________ the law. Which are powers of the Senate? Who can become a Senator?
Match the verbs in the left column with the nouns in the right column.
Write the correct form of the verbs in the brackets. • Federalism _______ (be) a compromise meant _____________ (eliminate) the disadvantages of a unitary system of government and a confederation. In a federal system, power _____________ (share) by the national and state governments. The Constitution _______________ (designate) certain powers to be the domain of a central government, and others __________ (reserve) for the state governments.
Insert appropriate words: government,federal, states, powers, constitution, elective, cities, laws • The United States of America is a ___________ union of 50 states. The ____________ outlines the structure of the national ______________ and specifies its ______________ and activities. Other governmental activities are the responsibility of the individual ________________, which have their own constitutions and _____________. Within each state are counties, townships, ___________ and villages, each of which has its own _________________ government.
Answer key • The United States of America is a FEDERAL union of 50 states. The CONSTITUTION outlines the structure of the national GOVERNMENT and specifies its POWERS and activities. Other governmental activities are the responsibility of the individual STATES, which have their own constitutions and LAWS. Within each state are counties, townships, CITIES and villages, each of which has its own ELECTIVE government.
Translate the following: American federalism is the result of the voluntary association of thirteen independent former British colonies, each with a degree of individual sovereignty. Under the American Constitution, state governments have plenary power; the federal government has only the powers enumerated in the Constitution.
