Principles of Democracy

TEKS/TAKS 8.16 Government. The student understands the American beliefs and principles reflected in the U.S. Constitution and other important historic documents. The student is expected to: 8.16 Government. The student understands the American beliefs and principles reflected in the U.S. Constitution and other important historic documents. The student is expected to: (D) analyze how the U.S. Constitution reflects the principles of limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights. (D) analyze how the U.S. Constitution reflects the principles of limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights.

“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. 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. We made our US Constitution and all of our laws follow these principles. Are the basic rules that the people of the United States live by. We made our US Constitution and all of our laws follow these principles. Are 7 basic principles or rules for all of us to follow in order to peacefully live together as one nation. Are 7 basic principles or rules for all of us to follow in order to peacefully live together as one nation.

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

Organizer on Principles Principles Separation of Powers

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

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.” “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.”

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

Remember – Popular Sovereignty means We, the People control our government! Popular Sovereignty means We, the People control our government! Click here to return to organizer Click here to return to organizer

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

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 …. 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 ….

MADE RULES FOR GOVERNMENT!

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

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

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

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

Limited Government Congress and the state governments are restricted by what the Constitution says. Congress and the state governments are restricted by what the Constitution says. -- Think of the Constitution as the government’s parents! -- Think of the Constitution as the government’s parents!

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

Federalism Compare to a building with 3 floors … Compare to a building with 3 floors … National State Local

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

Sometimes, these responsibilities belong to just one level. For example, national = can declare war, states = can determine driver license requirements or high school diploma requirements Sometimes, these responsibilities belong to just one level. For example, national = can declare war, states = can determine driver license requirements or high school diploma requirements

Federalism Levels of government --- Levels of government --- Remember: you are a resident of Harris County, a resident of the state of Texas and a citizen of the United States Remember: you are a resident of Harris County, a resident of the state of Texas and a citizen of the United States

Federalism National, National, state and local … local … … governments working under one Constitution

Republicanism A form of government where the people vote for representatives to make laws and run the government on their behalf [to look out for the people] A form of government where the people vote for representatives to make laws and run the government on their behalf [to look out for the people]

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 ….Hey, are we starting over? 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 ….Hey, are we starting over?

Yes! Remember: in a Republic, the representatives work for the people Remember: in a Republic, the representatives work for the people

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

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)

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

Separation of Powers o Think: each branch of government not only has different powers but also different buildings! o Capitol = Legislative o White House = Executive o Supreme Court building = Judiciary There’s no way you can walk into all 3 buildings at the same time!

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 number one over the other two.

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

Using the VETO [to refuse to sign and make into law]. Congress thinks the President is wrong. Congress checks the President by …

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

Declare the law or action unconstitutional [using judicial review to compare the law or action to what the Constitution ‘says’].

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

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

More protection is provided by the …

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

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

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

 4 th Amendment – no unreasonable search without a warrant  5 th Amendment – right to not incriminate yourself  6 th Amendment – right to attorney

Wow! What a list?!  Are these the only rights you have?

No!  In case they forgot to list some rights, the 9 th Amendment covers all other rights not listed in Amendments 1-8. Example: right to privacy

Are your rights absolute? Can you exercise your rights at any time?

Sorry, the answer is no.  Your rights are limited by the rights of the person standing next to you.  Think of rights as a bubble that walks around with you. When you go down the hall, your rights bump into someone else’s rights!

Let’s review –  Principles of Democracy are…  the rules our society used to form our government

Principles of Democracy include …  Popular Sovereignty  Limited Government  Individual rights  Federalism  Separation of Powers  Checks and Balances  Republicanism

THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINICIPLES OF DEMOCRACY tutorial was created by Lynda Collins, Government and U.S. teacher at Langham Creek. This tutorial is the property of Cypress- Fairbanks I.S.D.