Chapter 8 Government

Goals and Principles of the Constitution Section 1 Goals and Principles of the Constitution

Parts of the Constitution Divided into 3 Parts Preamble: Introduction to the Constitution; it lists the six basic goals for our government Articles: The articles laying out the framework for our government (seven) Amendments: Changes made to the Constitution after the initial ratification

6 Functions of Government These six functions are the ideas and standards that our government is based on and functions according to. To form a more perfect Union To establish justice To insure domestic tranquility To provide for the common defense To promote General welfare To secure the blessings of liberty

Amending the Constitution Article V provided four methods to amend the Constitution An amendment is a change to the Constitution or clarification of something in the Constitution

The Four Methods Method 1: Proposed by a 2/3 vote in each house of Congress Ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures Method 2 Ratified by conventions in ¾ of the states Method 3: Proposed by a national convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of the states Ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures Method 4: Proposed by national convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of the states Ratified by conventions in ¾ of the states

Amendments, continued The amendments are divided into three groups BILL OF RIGHTS – Amendments 1 through 10 CIVIL WAR AMENDMENTS – Amendments 13 through 15 LATER AMENDMENTS – Amendments 16 through 27 (Amendments 11 and 12 are generally considered to be an extension of the Bill of Rights, and therefore not included in any of the three groups)

Civil War Amendments The Civil War Amendments were passed as a direct response to the outcome of The Civil war. They all deal with slavery in one way or another. 13th Amendment – Outlawed slavery and Involuntary servitude in the United States of America 14th Amendment – Helped make former slaves citizens of the U.S. and gave them all the rights that being a citizen entails 15th Amendment – Written to give former slaves the right to vote, however was not entirely successful in doing so for nearly 100 years

Bill of Rights The purpose of the Bill of Rights was to list out the basic rights of all Americans so these rights could not be violated as they were in the years of British rule under King George III Amendment 1: Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion, Assembly, and Petition Amendment 2: The right to bear arms Amendment 3: Protects against the Quartering of Troops Amendment 4: Protects against illegal search and seizure of personal property Amendment 5: Insures due process, protects against eminent domain, provides rules for criminal hearings, and protects against self-incrimination Amendment 6: Right to a speedy and public trial and right to trial by jury Amendment 7: Provides stipulations for civil trials Amendment 8: Protects against excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment Amendment 9: States that the rights listed in the Constitution are not all the rights given to the American people Amendment 10: States that all powers not granted to the National government or forbidden to the states, belong to the states

The Articles There are 7 articles in the second section of the Constitution, each accomplishing different things Article 1: The legislative article lays out the structure and powers of the legislative branch Article 2: The executive article lays out the structure and powers of the executive branch Article 3: The judicial article establishes a national judiciary and gives Congress the power to create additional court systems Article 4: Deals with the relationships between states Article 5: Provides methods for amending the Constitution Article 6: Deals with the National Debt Article 7: Provides provisions for ratification of the Constitution

Seven Basic Principles Ideas and standards that our government is based on and functions according to. Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Federalism Republicanism Individual Rights

Popular Sovereignty People are the ONLY source of government’s power “We the People…do ordain and establish” Government’s power comes from the people, and the people have given government permission to govern by the constitution

Limited Government The idea that government is not all powerful and can be limited Government can do only those things the PEOPLE have given it the power to do States that government must obey the law The entire Constitution is a statement of Limited Government

Separation of Power Further limit government power. Divided the government into three branches. Legislative Executive Judicial

Checks and Balances Checks and balances is a way for the government to give each branch power over the other two The idea is to keep one branch from becoming more powerful than the others and controlling government Why would the framers want to ensure one branch did not become too powerful?

Federalism Division of power between the federal and state government. Federal government coin money Declare war Regulate trade between states State government Regulate trade within its own border Make rules for state elections Establish schools Powers not exclusively given to federal government belong to state.

Republicanism Allowing representatives to carry out the will of the people. Representatives vote with their own mind once elected. Must be willing to listen to the people if have concerns. Hold offices in their home districts

Individual Rights The rights that no one can take away from you. Protected by Constitution Freedom of speech Freedom of religion Right to bear arms

Quiz 1 1. What are the 6 basic principles of the government? To form a more perfect Union To establish justice To insure domestic tranquility To provide for the common defense To promote General welfare To secure the blessings of liberty 2. The Constitution is divided into how many parts? What are those parts? Preamble Articles Amendments

Quiz 1 3. What groups are the amendments divided into? BILL OF RIGHTS – Amendments 1 through 10 CIVIL WAR AMENDMENTS – Amendments 13 through 15 LATER AMENDMENTS – Amendments 16 through 27 This amendment gives all citizens the right to bear arms 2nd Amendment What is the Bill of Rights? list out the basic rights of all Americans

Section 2 How Government works

Legislative Branch House of representatives Larger of both houses currently has 435 members Based off population Elected by people in their districts for 2 year terms Run for reelection as many times as they want Leader of the House is the Speaker The speaker regulates debates and controls the agenda. Speaker is third in line if president and vice president die

Mississippi Represenatives District 1 (ours) Alan Nunnelee District 2 Bennie Thompson District 3 Gregg Harper District 4 Steven Palazzo

Legislative Branch Senate Equal representation 2 senators per state Elected to 6 year term which overlap. Every two years 1/3 of members come up for election. Chosen by state legislatures at first but now the public elects the members. Vice President is the Leader of the Senate. Casts a vote in a tie

Mississippi Senate members Thad Cochran Rodger Wicker

Legislative Branch Powers of Congress (laws) Makes the laws for the country Laws start as bills Can start in either Senate or House After introduction the bill is debated If both houses agree then the president must sign it Both houses have standing Committees that deal with different bills Elastic Clause- allows Congress to extent its power to handle situation in the changing country

Executive Branch Article 2 set up this branch to carry out the laws and run the affairs of the national government. President is head of the Executive Branch Other members of this branch are Vice president Cabinet members Departments and agencies that help them do their job( FBI, CIA, NSA…. Etc. )

Roles of President Commander and Chief of all armed forces. Carries out the Laws Directs foreign affairs and has power to make treaties and to appoint ambassadors.

Electing the president President is elected for a 4-year term and may only be elected twice. Electoral college is used to elect the president. When a person votes they do not vote for the person directly. Mississippi has 6 President can lose the popular vote but can still become president

Judicial Branch Supreme Court Lower Courts Congress established the Supreme Court in 1789, as well as lower courts as they are needed . Supreme Court Lower Courts Made up of a Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices that server for life Supreme Court serves as the final appeals court. Decides less than 100 cases every year. After the case is heard the judges vote, decision rest on Majority vote of at least 5 The biggest power The Supreme Court has is to decide if law are unconstitutional Unconstitutional- not allowed under the Constitution Most federal cases begin in district courts Once all evidence is seen and a decision is made and appeal may be made Appeal- ask that the decision be reviewed by higher court Next court is the appeal court where decision is reviewed and make sure the decision was fair

State and Local Governments Section 4 State and Local Governments

All 50 states have a state Constitution that sets forth principals and a framework Includes provisions on finance, education and other matters. State constitutions can be changed by amendments voted on by citizens( ex prop 8 California) half of the states citizens can change the constitution by constitutional initiative. Constitutional Initiative- sponsors of an amendment gather signatures on a petition. States can rewrite constitution by calling a constitutional convention (ex Mississippi after Civil War)

State Provided Services Maintain law and order Enforce criminal law Protect property Regulate business Supervise public education Provide public health and welfare programs (ex: Health Dept, Food Stamps) Maintain and build the infrastructure Infrastructure-system of roads, bridges, and tunnels

Local Government Government on the county, parish, city, town, village, or district level. Created by the states and only have the powers the state gives them One service local governments control is education. Build schools Hire teachers and staff Have a say in what curriculum is taught Voters have more of a say in local government than federal or state. Other services are police, firemen, garbage pick up, water, hospitals, libraries, parks……..