Chapter 3 Notes The United States Government AHSGE Social Studies Review

Vocabulary/ Terms  Federalism- practice of dividing power  Constitutionalism- power is divided among various groups, but all groups obey a system of laws called a Constitution

Vocabulary/ Terms  Checks and balances- the three branches of government have specific powers (separation of powers) and can keep the other branches from having too much influence or power  Amendments- changes in the Constitution  Ratified- approved

Vocabulary/ Terms  Electoral college- a group of people representing each state  Elastic clause- gives Congress the power to pass legislation necessary and proper to carrying out its responsibilities

Main Influences/ Foundation of the US Government  Magna Carta- protected the rights of English nobles (the king’s power was not absolute)  John Locke- English philosopher/ believed the government should derive its power from the people it governed

Main Influences/ Foundation of the US Government  Jacques Rousseau-  French philosopher  Wrote The Social Contract  Believed the right to rule should come from the people- not the king  Thomas Jefferson agreed and expressed this idea in the Declaration of Independence

Main Influences/ Foundation of the US Government  Baron de Montesquieu  Published The Spirit of the Laws  Said government should possess legislative, executive, and judicial authority to make, interpret, and enforce the laws of the land.  The functions should be divided to keep one from being too powerful.

Main Influences/ Foundation of the US Government  Great Awakening-  revival of evangelical Christianity in American colonies  Contributed to a sense of American nationality before the Revolutionary War  Life on frontier- taught the value of independence and self- reliance

Main Influences/ Foundation of the US Government  Freedom of religion- people came to the colonies seeking freedom of religion  House of Burgess- first colonial assembly; symbolized the authority of the people to limit the power of the king, and was critical in developing state and national governments.

Main Influences/ Foundation of the US Government  First and Second Continental Congress- brought together delegates from the 13 colonies (except Georgia)  First Continental Congress- first time state representatives met together  Both were a model for forming the US government

Main Influences/ Foundation of the US Government  Declaration of Independence-  established general principles of human rights  Laid a foundation for the US government to establish equal rights for all people

Articles of Confederation  Proposed an alliance between the 13 independent states  Powers of the government-  Congress could  Declare war  Raise an army and navy  Make foreign treaties and alliances

Articles of Confederation  Powers of the government cont.  Congress could  Coin and borrow money  Regulate weights and measures  Establish a post office  Regulate Indian affairs  Pass laws by 9 of the 13 states  Make amendments with a unanimous vote of all states

Articles of Confederation  Powers of Congress cont.  Congress could not  Levy taxes  Regulate foreign or domestic trade  Settle disputes among states  Collect state debts owed to central government  Enforce any of it powers

Articles of Confederation  Strengths  States retained rights  Central government established a post office  Weaknesses  Loose bonds between independent states

Articles of Confederation  Weaknesses cont.  One vote in Congress for each state  There was no executive or judicial power  Amendments required a unanimous vote

Constitutional Convention  Constitutional Convention- meeting of delegates from each state to revise the Articles of Confederation  Virginia Plan- representation in Congress would be based on state population  New Jersey Plan- each state would have one vote in Congress

Constitutional Convention  Great Compromise- divided Congress into two houses  Senate- each state represented by two senators  House of Representatives- each state had representatives in proportion to its population  Three-fifths Compromise- slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person in population count  Slavery issue would not be addressed for 20 years

United States Constitution  Written by James Madison  Power was divided between the states and the federal government  Preamble- states the purpose of establishing a new government under the Constitution  Article 1: establishes the Legislative branch

United States Constitution  Article 2: outlines the Executive branch (President of the US)  Article 3: explains the Judicial branch (Supreme Court)  Article 4: gives the relations among states and between states and the federal government

United States Constitution  Article 5: provides for amendments to the Constitution  Article 6: covers other miscellaneous provisions like public debts, supreme law of the land, and oaths to support the Constitution  Article 7: explains ratification of the Constitution (9 out of 13 states required)

Branches of the Government  Legislative- Congress (Senate and House) makes the laws  Executive- the President carries out and enforces the laws passed by Congress  Judicial- the Supreme Court and other courts interpret or explain the laws

Federalists  Supported the ratification of the Constitution  Wanted a strong central government  Federalist Papers- newspaper articles written to persuade people to support the Constitution

Anti-Federalists  Did not support the proposed Constitution  Wanted states to retain more power and limit the power of central government  The Constitution lacked a bill of rights that would protect the people

The Bill of Rights  1. Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition  2. Right to keep and bear arms  3. Quartering of troops in people’s homes only allowed with people’s permission  4. Search and seizure- police need to get a warrant to search your home

The Bill of Rights  5. Rights of the accused person (right to remain silent and to have a lawyer)  6. Right to a speedy trial  7. Right to a jury trial in civil cases  8. Rights concerning bail, fines, and punishments (no cruel or unusual punishment)

The Bill of Rights  9. Powers reserved to the people  10. Powers reserved to the states

Amendments to the Constitution  13 th - abolished slavery  14 th - Civil Rights of all people born or naturalized in the US are guaranteed  15 th - all male citizens have the right to vote regardless of race or color  16 th - income tax

Amendments to the Constitution  17 th - people elect senators  18 th - prohibition (alcohol)  19 th - women are guaranteed the right to vote  21 st - repealed 18 th amendment (people could have alcohol again)

George Washington’s Farewell Address  Served as President for 8 years  Emphasized that the US should stay neutral and avoid permanent alliances with other nations  Warned against the formation of political parties (they would divide the nation, work for special interests, and no longer work for the good of the people)  Believed good government is based on religion and morality

America’s First Two Political Parties  Federalists  Supported the Constitution  Supported strong central government  Interpreted the Constitution loosely (giving powers not specifically stated)  James Madison/ Alexander Hamilton/ John Jay

America’s First Two Political Parties  Democrat-Republicans  Favored states retaining authority  Wanted power in the hands of the people  Interpreted the Constitution strictly (giving powers only as stated)  Thomas Jefferson

John Marshall  Chief Justice of the Supreme Court  Marbury v Madison- established the Supreme Court’s right of Judicial Review (had the right to declare whether laws passed by Congress were constitutional or not)  Gibbons v Ogden- ruled that Congress alone had the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce