Government High School Assessment Units 1 & 2 Government

Units 1 & 2 Government Principles of Government slides #3-#23 Forms of Government & Government Systems slides #24-#35 Historical Documents slides #36-#46

Principles of Government

Principles of Government Popular Sovereignty “The right of citizens…to vote shall not be denied…on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” 15th Amendment

Consent of the Governed Principles of Government Consent of the Governed “That all Government of right originates from the People they have an inalienable right to alter reform or abolish it.” -Constitution of Maryland

Principles of Government Popular sovereignty Consent of the Governed: the people agree to be governed in return for fair treatment.

Principles of Government John Locke Believed in Consent of the government because citizens can change the government if it doesn’t honor its side of the agreement.

Principles of Government Republicanism Leaders are freely and democratically elected by the people to govern Representative Democracy also is called indirect democracy

Representative Democracy: Principles of Government Representative Democracy: “The Government of the United States, then, is…truly a government of the people…its powers are granted for their benefit.” John Marshall, 1810

Principles of Government Federalism Powers of the government are divided between the national and state governments

Principles of Government Federalism The powers not delegated to the United States are reserved to the States, or to the people thereof.” Article 3, Declaration of Rights, Constitution of Maryland

Federalism Principles of Government

Principles of Government Separation of Powers: Government is divided into three branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch

Separation of Powers Limits the power of each branch of government Principles of Government Separation of Powers Limits the power of each branch of government

Principles of Government Checks and Balances Each of the three branches of government can limit the powers of the others. This way, no one branch becomes too powerful. Each branch “checks” the power of the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between them.

Checks and Balances State Level Principles of Government The Governor of Maryland vetoes a bill created by Maryland’s General Assembly

Checks and Balances National Level Principles of Government A treaty signed by the President must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate before it can go into effect

Principles of Government Limited Government: The government’s powers are restricted in order to protect individual rights of the citizens

Limited Government Rule of Law: no one is above the law Principles of Government Limited Government Rule of Law: no one is above the law Even government officials have to obey the law

Principles of Government Individual Rights Creating an amendment proposing a ban on flag burning would violate a citizens individual rights Protections that everyone is entitled to

Forms of Government & Government Systems

Forms of Government & Government Systems Democracy A form of government Abraham Lincoln was describing in the following quote: “…government of the people, by the people, for the people…”

Forms of Government & Government Systems Direct Democracy Direct democracy: type of government which allows citizens to have the greatest amount of political influence

Forms of Government & Government Systems Democracy Direct Democracy: All the citizens in a community take an equal role in local government by meeting to debate and vote on every law and political issue

Forms of Government & Government Systems Democracy Representative Democracy: citizens elect others to govern them Example: an elected official proposes a bill in the state legislature

Authoritarian government: (Totalitarian system) Forms of Government & Government Systems Restrictions of personal freedoms Freedom of speech is usually censored and controlled by the government Government leaders decide what jobs people may have Government leaders dictate what will be taught in schools Local political officials take orders from national officials Leaders do not follow rule of law Political parties do not exist Leaders are not chosen in open and fair elections

Forms of Government & Government Systems Dictatorship Government leaders rule with absolute authority Unitary Government Countries with a strong central government and limits the power of local governments. Examples: Great Britain & Japan

Forms of Government & Government Systems Federal The national and state governments share responsibilities Examples: United States & Mexico

Historical Documents

Of the Spirit of the Laws Historical Documents Of the Spirit of the Laws “There is no liberty when the legislative power and the executive power are united in the same person or in the same body.” Baron de Montesquieu, The principle of Separation of Powers…

Historical Documents Magna Carta “No freeman shall be taken or imprisoned,…or outlawed, or banished, or in any way destroyed, unless by the lawful judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land…” Magna Carta 1215 The principle of Due Process

Historical Documents Magna Carta Magna Carta is important today because it established the idea that people have rights that the government cannot take away

Articles of Confederation Historical Documents Articles of Confederation First plan of government for the United States, created a weak national government with little power over the states

Articles of Confederation Historical Documents Articles of Confederation A weakness of the Articles of Confederation corrected by the US Constitution was allowing the national government the power to collect taxes

Declaration of Independence & U.S. Constitution Historical Documents Declaration of Independence & U.S. Constitution A similarity between the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence is that they both state that government gain authority from the people

Historical Documents Bill of Rights A list of freedoms that a government promises to protect

Historical Documents Bill of Rights Limits the power of the government