U.S. Government Chapter 1-4

Principles of Government Chapter 1

What is government? Government is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies. Public polices include taxation, national defense, education, crime, etc.

Earliest Forms of Government Ancient Egypt

The State Body of people Living in a defined territory Organized politically Power to make and enforce law without a higher authority

Four Characteristics of a State Population Territory Sovereignty Sovereign: state’s supreme and absolute power within its territory Government

Origins of the State Force Theory-one person or group claimed control Evolutionary Theory-developed naturally from family Divine Right Theory-God gave those of royal birth divine authority Social Contract Theory-agreement of people for mutual protection

Forms of Government Unitary-centralized govt., all powers belong to a single agency Federal-powers divided between a central govt. and local govt. Confederate-alliance of independent states, weak central government *

Relationship between Lawmakers and Administrators Presidential-separation of powers between executive and legislative branches, branches are independent and equal, chief executive is president Parliamentary-executive is made up of the prime minister and his/her cabinet, they are member of the legislature, leader is chosen by the dominant party in parliament

The Number Who Can Participate Dictatorship-person or group has complete power over its people, people have no choice Democracy-people hold the power Direct Democracy: policy is decided by the people in mass meetings Representative Democracy: small group of people chosen by the people create policies (elected officials)

Economic Capitalism-business and resources are privately owned, promotes competition, free enterprise Socialism-business and resources are owned by the government, wealth is distributed equally

Basic Concepts of Democracy Foundations of Democracy Recognition of worth and dignity of every person Respect for equality of all people Majority rule and minority rights Acceptance of the necessity of compromise Individual freedom Anarchy-total absence of government *

Origins of American Government Chapter 2

Basic Concepts of U.S. Government Came with the English Settlers Ordered Government-creation of local governments Limited Government-individuals have rights that cannot be taken away Representative Government-serve the will of the people (“of, by, and for the people”)

English Documents Magna Carta (1215)- guaranteed trial by jury, due process of the law (protection from the taking of life, liberty, or property) Petition of Right (1628)-limited the power of the king, political critics must receive trial by jury, not allow the military to rule during peacetime, not require people to shelter troops, no tax without consent of parliament

English Documents English Bill of Rights-free parliamentary elections, no standing army during peacetime, right to petition the king, right to a fair and speedy trial, no excessive bail, no cruel and unusual punishment

Government in the Colonies Each had its own charter Charter: written grant of authority from the king Royal Colonies-direct control of the Crown Bicameral: two house legislature Council appointed by the King Laws had to be approved by the Crown Governor appointed by the King

Government in the Colonies Proprietary Colonies-owned by people given a land grant by the king Unicameral: one house legislature Governor appointed by the King Charter Colonies-self-governing Governors elected by white males who owned property

Independence from England King George III taxed colonists Had no representation in Parliament Boycott of taxed English goods Boston Tea Party

First Continental Congress Held in response to the Intolerable Acts Punishment for the Boston Tea Party Met in Philadelphia in 1774 Sent a Declaration of Rights to King George III refusing trade with England until taxes were repealed King George III ignored the colonists

Second Continental Congress Met in Philadelphia in 1775 13 colonies sent representatives Continental Army was formed General George Washington Ben Franklin and John Hancock attended First national government Declaration of Independence Articles of Confederation

*Declaration of Independence* Adopted on July 4, 1776 Declared Independence from England Revolutionary War began

Articles of Confederation Structure Congress was sole governing body (unicameral) Each state had one vote No executive or judicial branch Powers of Congress Make war, raise an army and navy Send and receive foreign ambassadors Make treaties Borrow money, set up a monetary system Settle disputes among states

Articles of Confederation Power of States Provide funds for troops Treat citizens of other states fairly Give credit to policies in other states Allow trade and travel between states Surrender fugitives to other states

Weaknesses One vote for each state, regardless of size Congress had no power to collect money Congress could not regulate interstate travel and commerce Only one branch of government

Creating the Constitution Framers-representatives sent to Philadelphia to write a new constitution.

The Virginia Plan New government with three branches Legislative, Executive, Judicial Bicameral Congress Chosen by a state’s population Congress would choose the executive and judicial Strong national government

Connecticut Compromise Congress would be bicameral (two houses) Senate all states would be equal House of Representatives would be based on population Sometimes called the Great Compromise

The Three-Fifths Compromise State populations All free people counted Three-fifths of slaves would be counted

Ratifying the Constitution Federalists Felt the Articles were too weak Favored a strong central government Anti-Federalists State’s rights New Congress met in 1789 New York temporary capital George Washington became the first president *

The Constitution Chapter 3

The Six Principles *Popular Sovereignty- people are the only source of government power *Limited Government-government only does those things that the people have given it power to do Constitutionalism: government must be conducted according to the constitutional principles * Judicial Review * Federalism

The Six Principles *Separation of Powers-powers are divided among three separate branches of government *Checks and Balances-each branch works together and have certain powers over other branches

Amending the Constitution Formal Amendment-changes the written words of the constitution Two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House of Representatives , ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures Proposed by Congress and ratified by conventions in three-fourths of the states

Amending the Constitution Bill of Rights First 10 amendments to the Constitution

Amending the Constitution Informal Amendment-changes in the Constitution that do not change the document’s written words Laws passed by Congress Actions taken by the President Decisions of the Supreme Court Activities of Political Parties

Federalism Chapter 4

What is Federalism? System of government in which a written constitution divides the powers of government on a territorial basis Central (or national) government and several regional governments

Division of Power Defined in the 10th amendment Dual system of government Each has a set of responsibilities Each governs the same people and territory at the same time Encourages local choice in many matters

Delegated Powers National government only has the powers granted to it in the Constitution Expressed Powers: spelled out in the Constitution Implied Powers: not written but implied Inherent Powers: powers national governments have historically possessed *

Powers Denied to the National Government Tax imports Deny freedom of religion, speech, press, or assembly Conduct illegal searches and seizures Deny speedy trial or trial by jury Create a national public school system Marriage and Divorce laws Set up local governments

Reserved Powers-States Marriage laws Drinking Age Professional Licenses Public Schools Local governments

Powers Denied to States Cannot enter into a treaty or alliance or confederation Cannot print or coin money Cannot tax the National Government ***

The Federal System and Local Governments Can only do what is allowed in their state government

Exclusive Powers Can be exercised only by the National Government Coin money Levy taxes on imports Make treaties

Concurrent Powers Shared between State and National Government Taxes Define crime and punishment Condemn private property for public use

National Government’s Obligations to the States Guarantee of a Republican form of government Representative government Protection against Invasion and Domestic Violence Respect for Territorial Integrity Existence and boundaries of each state

Admitting New States Congress New state cannot be made by taking territory away from an existing state without the consent of that state’s legislature Conditions can be set