How does government secure natural rights? “We the People” lesson 2

Homework assignment  Use this book or the internet to write at least one sentence for each Term in the “Terms to Know” section  Many of these terms will be tested so you need to understand them  More importantly, this will teach you about the kind of government we should have.  Use this book or the internet to write at least one sentence for each Term in the “Terms to Know” section  Many of these terms will be tested so you need to understand them  More importantly, this will teach you about the kind of government we should have.

What kind of government?  We agree with the principles of the social contract:  Natural rights  Rule of law  Consent of the governed  Government’s role as rights protector  We agree with the principles of the social contract:  Natural rights  Rule of law  Consent of the governed  Government’s role as rights protector

What kind of government?  Goals of this new government?  Rights protection  Equal protection (rule of law)  People choose their leaders  Answer questions on page 7  Goals of this new government?  Rights protection  Equal protection (rule of law)  People choose their leaders  Answer questions on page 7

How do people grant consent?  Explicitly  People formally agree by ratifying a constitution  One moves to country voluntarily  Explicitly  People formally agree by ratifying a constitution  One moves to country voluntarily  Implicitly  Taking part in political process  Accepting the laws  Staying in the country  Saying the pledge  Implicitly  Taking part in political process  Accepting the laws  Staying in the country  Saying the pledge

Who decides if a government has failed?  The citizens decide  This is the right to revolution  We exercise this right when government abuse our rights  This is the purpose of the Second Amendment (right to bear arms)  The citizens decide  This is the right to revolution  We exercise this right when government abuse our rights  This is the purpose of the Second Amendment (right to bear arms)

What is constitutional government?  Some characteristics:  Limited government: must follow rules  These rules are created in a constitution  Power is separated  People choose their leaders  Respects and protects rights  Some characteristics:  Limited government: must follow rules  These rules are created in a constitution  Power is separated  People choose their leaders  Respects and protects rights

What is a Constitution?  A document that defines the organization of government  Set of rules that restrict government  Imagine a set of huge chains  A constitution alone does not guarantee liberty  A document that defines the organization of government  Set of rules that restrict government  Imagine a set of huge chains  A constitution alone does not guarantee liberty

Chains Picture

How did the founders characterize “Higher Law”  It states that the citizens’ basic rights are life, liberty, and property  It sets the purpose of government as rights protection  Establishes “Private Domain”: areas where govt. has no business  Changes MUST be approved by the people  It states that the citizens’ basic rights are life, liberty, and property  It sets the purpose of government as rights protection  Establishes “Private Domain”: areas where govt. has no business  Changes MUST be approved by the people

How does a constitutional government protect rights?  Separated Power  Different branches have different powers  Executive  Legislative  Judicial  Separated Power  Different branches have different powers  Executive  Legislative  Judicial  Decentralized Power  States have their own powers  Tenth Amendment  Competing governments  Decentralized Power  States have their own powers  Tenth Amendment  Competing governments

Madison Quote (learn this) If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.  First governments protect us from each other  Then we must protect ourselves from government If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.  First governments protect us from each other  Then we must protect ourselves from government

Washington Quote  “ Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force.Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. ”  We must organize government so that it does not get out of control  “ Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force.Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. ”  We must organize government so that it does not get out of control

Republic or Democrocy  Republic:  Elect representatives to rule  Minority rights  Limits to government  Republic:  Elect representatives to rule  Minority rights  Limits to government  Democracy:  Direct rule of the people  Tyranny of the majority  No inherent limits  Mobocracy  Democracy:  Direct rule of the people  Tyranny of the majority  No inherent limits  Mobocracy

How do we organize a government to prevent abuse?  Create a government with separated powers:  Executive, legislative, and judicial  Create checks and balances  Give some power over each to branch to each branch  Enumerate the powers a government has. (Be specific) (Article 1, section 8)  Create a government with separated powers:  Executive, legislative, and judicial  Create checks and balances  Give some power over each to branch to each branch  Enumerate the powers a government has. (Be specific) (Article 1, section 8)

Review: Do you know  Social Contract  Constitution  Constitutional government  Right to revolution  Enumerated powers  Ways to control government  Social Contract  Constitution  Constitutional government  Right to revolution  Enumerated powers  Ways to control government  Checks and balances  Federalism  Private domain  Explicit consent  Key quotes  Democracy  republic  Checks and balances  Federalism  Private domain  Explicit consent  Key quotes  Democracy  republic

Assignment Ideas  Questions on page 12  Read and reflect on Federalist 51  Examine Hugo Chavez’s attempt to take total power from the Venezuelan people  Questions on page 12  Read and reflect on Federalist 51  Examine Hugo Chavez’s attempt to take total power from the Venezuelan people

Articles to read  Williams: Rights vs. wishesRights vs. wishes  Rule of Law:Scott Ritsema | May LINKScott Ritsema | May LINK  Tibor Michan: Positive Rights are bogus Tibor Michan: Positive Rights are bogus  PDF PDF  Williams: Rights vs. wishesRights vs. wishes  Rule of Law:Scott Ritsema | May LINKScott Ritsema | May LINK  Tibor Michan: Positive Rights are bogus Tibor Michan: Positive Rights are bogus  PDF PDF