The Basics of Democracy & Origins of American Government Ch Even in America, the rights of the individual are not absolute. “ The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins” Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Please sit where you like. You will be working in groups today. 1

Standards USG.2.1 Summarize the colonial, revolutionary, and Founding-Era experiences and events that led to the writing, ratification, and implementation of the United States Constitution (1787) and Bill of Rights (1791). USG.2.2 Understand the concept of compromise and evaluate its application during the Constitutional Convention. USG.2.3 Analyze and interpret central ideas on government, individual rights, and the common good in founding documents of the United States. USG.2.4 Explain the history and provide examples of foundational ideas of American government embedded in the Founding-Era documents such as: natural rights philosophy, social contract, popular sovereignty, constitutionalism, representative democracy, political factions, federalism, and individual rights. USG.2.5 Identify and explain elements of the social contract and natural rights theories in United States founding-era documents. USG.2.6 Explain how a shared American civic identity is based on commitment to foundational ideas in Founding-Era documents and in core documents of subsequent periods of United States history. USG.2.7 Using primary documents compare and contrast the ideas of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists regarding the respective roles of state and national government on ratification of the United States Constitution (1787–1788). USG.2.8 Explain the history and provide historical and contemporary examples of fundamental principles and values of American political and civic life, including liberty, security, the common good, justice, equality, law and order, rights of individuals, diversity, popular sovereignty, and representative democracy. 2

Vocabulary – Unit 1 (Chs. 1.3 & 2.1) Ch. 1.3 Citizen Compromise Democracy Majority Rule & Minority Right Compromise Free Enterprise System Ch. 2.1 Colonist Limited Government Representative Government Magna Carta Due Process Petition of Right English Bill of Rights Charter (Colony) Proprietary (Colony) Royal (Colony) 3

Entrance Ticket (Working in a group please define each of the following terms in your own words.) Citizen Majority Rule & Minority Right Compromise Free Enterprise System Limited Government Representative Government 4

Citizen What is a “Citizen”? Should the rights of “Citizens” be extended to non-citizens? Why? Why not? Citizen – A person who holds certain rights, duties, and responsibilities in a state. In the U.S., the government draws its power from its Citizens. A Citizen of the U.S. is protected by the laws of the U.S. 5

Basic Concepts of Democracy (Ch. 1.3) See Day 2 Standards Learning Targets: 1.I can define the term “democracy”. 2.I can describe how the USC establishes majority rule while protecting minority rights and balances the common good with individual liberties. 3.I can describe why “Free Enterprise” is a key element of Democracy. 6

Democracy (Review) Define “Democracy”. A form of government in which people hold the power. Types of Democracy: Direct Democracy Will of the people becomes public policy in mass meetings Indirect Democracy (A Republic) Small groups of elected representatives chosen to make decisions for the society (US) 7

Basis of Democracy Basis of Democracy (Colbert 6:49) Recognition of worth of all CITIZENS Respect for equality of all CITIZENS Majority rule and minority rights Acceptance of COMPROMISE for Community Good Insistence on the widest possible degree of individual rights of all CITIZENS Free Enterprise for all CITIZENS 8

Duties and Responsibilities of Citizenship (Review) Citizens have certain rights and responsibilities in the state. DUTIES: Obey laws Attend School Pay Taxes Register for draft Serve on Jury Respect rights of others RESPONSIBILITIES: Voting Volunteering Participating Understanding Government 9

Majority Rule: A belief that a majority will be just more often than it will be unjust. OK… But what about Minority Groups? Majority rule and minority rights The concept that the largest group will be right more often than it is wrong The belief that the rights of minorities must be protected regardless. What is Majority Rule? 10

So… Democracy is made by blending competing views and interests. This is called “Compromise”. Compromise: A settlement of differences in which each side gives up some of its demands. 11

“Free Enterprise System” = Capitalism Free Enterprise System – System in which businesses are privately owned and operated with little government involvement. So how does it really work? (2:00) So how does it really work? Free Enterprise is driven by Competition Competition for Jobs Competition for Sales It amounts to the free exchange of $$$ for services or product. 12

However, The U.S is not all “Free Enterprise”… Some business activities are funded by the U.S. Government: Road construction The growing of some crops Postal System And, some business activities are run by the government in the U.S. Public Education Public Transportation Systems (busing) Local Fire Departments WHY??????? Simply put, some things are too expensive (or too unprofitable) for individual investors – The Government steps in to make sure things get done. Or, you just don’t want private individuals doing the task… 13

Why the government needs to do certain jobs – like making sure water stays “clean-ish”… The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) helps keep the environment clean. It is a Government agency. Why wouldn’t you want a company that also sells OIL for example running the EPA? 14 Total cost to clean up BP oil spill in the Gulf: Over $40 Billion

Activity Working in a group of 2 or 3 develop in your class notes lists of: 1.Business activities conducted by the government at the taxpayer’s expense. Be prepared to explain why the government participates in these activities. 2.Products (and/or improvements to products) that are the result of a “Free-Enterprise” system. 3.Does Capitalism still work? Why? Why not? 10 Minutes 15

Origins of American Government (Ch. 2.1) Learning Targets: I can identify and describe the important historical influences on the USC. 16

“Government of, by, and for the people.” Two important concepts brought to America by English Colonists. 1.Limited Government: A government that has certain restrictions and gives certain rights to individuals. 2.Representative government: A government in which people have a say. Compare to “Unlimited Government”: A government in which no limits are imposed on the ruler's authority. The leaders don't have to follow the same laws as everyone else. 17

Unlimited Government Causes Problems if the people being Governed want a Say… The following historical influences led to the creation of “American Representative Democracy”. 18

Important Historical Influences (1): Stressing Limited Government Magna Carta (1215) Trial by Jury Due Process of Law - protection against the arbitrary taking of life, liberty, or property Power of monarchy is not absolute  Elected Parliament Video Clip – Magna Carta Video Clip – Magna Carta (2:30) 19

Important Historical Influences (2): Stressing Limited Government Petition of Right (1628) Listed the actions that the king could not take without Due Process of Law No arbitrary imprisonment or punishment without lawful judgment of his/her peers No unapproved taxes Trial by Jury Challenged Divine right of kings 20

Important Historical Influences (3): Stressing Limited Government English Bill of Rights (1689)  Agreed to by King William and Queen Mary of Orange Parliament can tell the king what to do. Parliament had to approve all taxes Parliament could not be suspended by King People accused of crimes had the right to: Fair trial by jury (Due Process of Law), Freedom from excessive bail, Cruel and unusual punishment 21

Important Historical Influences (4) Colonists lived in 3 kinds of Colonies: Proprietary colonies (PA., DE., MD. Organized and run by a person who was given land by the king (most freedom) Charter colonies (Conn. RI.) Organized and run by a written agreement with the king (some freedom) Royal colonies (All others) Organized and run by the king (no freedom) 22

Activity Working in a group of 3-4, complete a “Multi Flow Cause & Effect Thinking Map” that shows the historical influences on American Government and their effects on American Democracy. Rubric: Neatness 10 points Content 20 points 15 minutes 23

Review Chs. 1.3 & 2.1 Write IDs for Vocabulary Define the term “democracy”. Describe how the USC establishes majority rule while protecting minority rights and balances the common good with individual liberties. Describe why “Free Enterprise” is a key element of Democracy. Identify and describe the important historical influences on the USC. 24

Exit Ticket Take 5 minutes to revise the definition on your Entrance Ticket. Assignment: Read and take notes on Chs (pp ) 25