1. DBQ – How the Constitution Guards Against Tyranny

2. Tyranny – Too much or absolute power in the hands of just one person or group

3. The Constitution – plan of government for the U.S., supreme law

4. Illustration: Tyranny vs. Constitution

5. How does the Constitution fight tyranny?
Lets create a new government for the nation but keep the state governments too. That way they can limit each other’s powers. We’ll call the national or central government the FEDERAL government. So we can call this system FEDERALISM.

6. 1. Federalism – Divides government into two levels
The U.S. government (a national, central or federal government)
POWER
Examples of their powers: declare war, post office, print and coin money, make immigration laws, etc…
State governments (50 of them today!)
Examples of their powers: hold elections, establish schools, set up local governments, etc…

7. How does the Constitution fight tyranny?
Let’s split the federal government into three branches like the states. That way no branch has all the power – they split the job of ruling the people between them. (Articles I, II and III of the Constitution)

8. National, central or federal government
2. Separation of powers – Divides each level of government into three branches
National, central or federal government
Legislative
Powers (make laws)
Executive
Powers (enforce laws)
Judicial
Powers (judge laws)
POWER
Supreme & other courts
U.S.Congress
President
State governments
State Supreme Court & other state courts
State legislature
Governor

9. Separation of powers – Divides each level of government into three branches

10. How does the Constitution fight tyranny?
Hmmm…but one of the branches might still dominate the others. How do we keep one from becoming too powerful?
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Ah ha! I have more power now!

11. National, central or federal government
3. Checks and balances – Each of the three branches can limit the power of the others.
National, central or federal government
Oh no…now I can’t get more powerful! These “checks” are keeping me down!
Legislative
Powers (make laws)
U.S.Congress
Executive
Powers (enforce laws)
President
Judicial
Powers (judge laws)
Supreme & other courts
Can veto a bill
Can declare an act unconstitutional
Can override a vetol
Nominates judges

12. Checks and balances – Each of the three branches can limit or “check” the power of the others.
Other ways each branch can “check” the power of the others and keep a “balance” of equal power for the three branches.

13. Checks and balances – Each of the three branches can limit or “check” the power of the others.
Think of checking like when a basketball player is checking or guarding another player to prevent them from scoring…they limit the other player’s movement and ability.

14. Checks and balances – Each of the three branches can limit or “check” the power of the others.
Do you remember one way the Executive Branch (White House) can check the power of the Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)?

15. How does the Constitution fight tyranny?
Hmmm…but what if the (legislative branch) Congress is dominated by the large states because they have more representatives? Let’s split Congress into two houses – Senate and House of Representatives

16. 4. Representation in Congress: Big States vs. Small States
If you remember, the government was separated into three branches… The legislative power (power to make laws) was given to Congress.

17. Representation in Congress – The “Great Compromise” of the Constitutional Convention
Virginia said, “It’s not fair if New Jersey gets the same number of representatives as us because we have more people! We deserve more representatives.”
How about a compromise solution: one “house” of Congress will be based on population…the House of Representatives.
New Jersey said, “It’s not fair if Virginia gets more representatives, then the states are not equal…and the big ones will dominate us.”
Senate
House of representatives
Another house, called the Senate will be based on 2 senators per state – Equal Representation per state.

18. Representation in Congress House of Representatives
The house of Congress based on population…is the House of Representatives.

19. Representation in Congress House of Representatives
When we count the population every 10 years – take a census – the numbers of representatives per state can go up or down.

20. Representation in Congress Senate