Foundations of Civics and American Government ● Principles of Government ● Types of Government ● The Constitutional Principles ● Federalism ● Separation of Powers

Principles of Government ● Government is the institution through which a society makes and enforces public policy. Government is made up of those people who exercise government powers, those who have the authority and control over the people. ● Public policy is the thing a government decides to do( imposing income tax, minimum wage, protecting the environment)

State ● Also known as a nation or country. ● It is a body living in a defined territory organized politically. It has the power to make and enforce law without consent of higher authority. ● Characteristics: – Population: Must have people – Territory: Must have land – Sovereignty: Must have supreme and absolute power – Government: Society enforces public policy

Origins of the state ● Force Theory: One person or group claimed control. ● Evolutionary Theory: Developed out of the early family. ● Divine Right Theory: God created each state, rulers had the divine power to rule. ● Social Contract Theory: Arose out of the voluntary act of free people.

Purposes of Government ● To form a perfect union ● To establish justice ● To ensure domestic tranquility ● To provide for the common defense ● To promote general welfare ● To secure freedom and liberty

Forms of Government/Structures ● Anarchy: The absences of government ● Military Junta: government rule by a committee of military leaders. It originally referred to an executive body that came to power after a military coup in 20 th century Latin America. – Government Junta of Chile – Greek Military Junta ● Aristocracy: Ruled by aristocrats. Many monarchy's have been ruled by aristocrats (educated and well off).

Types of Government Cont. ● Monarchy: Rule by a king or queen, the U.K. Today has a queen, but it is really a republic. China before ● Dictatorship: Consists of Rule by one person or group of people. Very few dictators admit they are dictators. They almost always claim to lead democracies. Cuba/Castro/ or Hitler/Nazi Germany. ● Republic: People elect representatives to make and enforce laws. All Democracies are republics.

Types Cont. ● Constitutional Republic: Led by representatives of the voters and has a constitution as the supreme law of the land. ● Theocracy: Ruling on behalf of religious beliefs, and as direct agents of a deity (Iran). ● Parliamentary: Led by representatives of the people. Each is chosen a member of a political party and remains in power as long as his/her party does (Israel). ● Socialism: System that advocates ownership and control of industry by the government (all have health care).

Types ● Fascist: government where nation or race is put above the individual and stands for a centralized autocratic government. ● Communism: Stateless, classless society based on common ownership of property.

Democracy ● People hold the sovereign power and govt. is conducted by the consent of the people. – Direct Democracy: Can only work in small communities. New England town meeting. – Representative Democracy: Small group of people chosen by the people to act as their representative and express the popular will.

Concepts of Democracy ● Fundamental worth and dignity of every person. ● Respect and the equality of all persons. ● Majority rule, minority rights. ● Necessity of compromise. ● Widest possible degree of individual freedom

Origins of American Govt. ● Landmark Documents: – Magna Carta – Petition of Right – English Bill of Rights

Creating a Constitution ● First, Articles of Confederation ● New Constitution – Virginia Plan – New Jersey Plan – Connecticut Compromise – 3/5 th Compromise

Constitutional Principles ● Popular Sovereignty: People are the only source of government power. ● Limited Government:Holds government not all powerful, it may do only things that people have given it the power to do. ● Separation of Powers: Three separate co-equal branches of government ● Checks and Balances:Each branch is subject to any number of restraints by other branches. ● Judicial Review:The power to decide whether what govt. does in accord with what the constitution provides.

Principles Cont. ● Federalism: The division of power among central government and regional government.

Amending the Constitution ● Formal Amendments: 27 ● First 10 “Bill of Rights” ● Four methods to amend constitution ● Informal Amendment: Change through passage of legislation, actions taken by congress or the president, decision of the supreme court or custom.

Other Important Amemendments ● Civil War Amendments: 13, 14, 15 Ratified after the civil war. Ended slavery, made ex-slaves citizens and gave them the right to vote. ● 19 th Amendment: Grant equal suffrage to women. ● 26 th Amendment: Give 18 year olds and above the right to vote.

Executive Branch ● Made of of pres/.v.p./and cabinet – Executes the Law – Can serve 2-4yr terms – Can veto bills – Can grant pardons and reprieves – Can appoint Justices – Can propose bills and call special sessions of Congress – Control patronage

Judicial Branch ● Supreme Court and other Fed. Courts ● Interprets the Law – May declare executive acts unconst. – May declare legislative acts unconst. – Justices appointed for life.

Legislative Branch ● House of Reps: 435 members, based on population of each state. ● Senate: 100 members based on equal representation. ● Major job: Propose bills and make laws. – May override a veto – May disapprove a presidential appointment – May impeach a president or justice – May refuse to ratify a treaty

Division of Powers ● Implied Powers: they are not stated in the constitution, but are suggested (necessary and proper clause). ● Inherent Powers: Belong to the National Govt. because it is the govt. of the sovereign state (regulate trade, immigration). ● Reserved Powers: Are those powers not granted to the federal govt. by the Constitution (permit forms of gambling, establish public schools).

Division Cont. ● Exclusive Powers: These are powers exercised by the national government alone (coin money, declare war). ● Concurrent Powers: Delegated to both the national and state governments (borrow money, levy taxes).