1. Unit 1 Foundations of American Government
Participation in Government

2. Principles of Government
People in most areas of the world have organized themselves into government units called states.
Four theories explain how states came into being.
The social contract theory has had the most influence on American government.

3. Characteristics of a State
Population
Territory
STATE
Government is an institution that a group of people forms to make and enforce laws. What a government decides to do is called its public policy.
State is a group of people who live together and rule themselves through a government.
Sovereignty is the people having complete power in their territory, they don’t answer to a higher authority.
Government
Sovereignty

4. Theories about How the State Began
Theory
Summary
Force
Strong person or group took control of others.
Evolutionary
State developed after early families chose to settle land and became tribes.
Divine Right
God gave those of royal birth the right to rule.
Social Contract
State exists because people voluntarily organized themselves to improve their lives.

5. The Purposes of Government
The Preamble (introduction) to the Constitution clearly states what the American government will do.
-Treat people fairly
-Keep order
-Help the people
-Protect each person’s freedom.

6. Forms of Government Unitary-all power in one central group.
Where is the power?
Unitary-all power in one central group.
Federal-central gov’t & local gov’t share power
Confederacy-loosely connected group of independent states.
What is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches?
Presidential-the legislative and executive branches are independent of each other. They are equal in power.
Parliamentary-the CEO is a member of the legislature or parliament. The legislature chooses the executive.
Democracy-all political power belongs to the people. There are direct democracies or representative democracies.
Dictatorship-only one person or a small group holds all political power.
Who holds the power?

7. Basic Ideas of Democracy
Every person has fundamental worth and dignity.
The majority should rule with respect for minority rights.
Compromise is necessary.
All people should be treated as equals.
In a democracy every person is important, we must respect other people at all times. Sometimes we make sacrifices for others, example taxes.
Thomas Jefferson felt that every person should have an equal chance for success and treated the same under the law.
The majority of the people will make correct decisions more often than incorrect ones, but must be willing to listen to the minority.
Each side must have people who give and take.
The rights of others limit the rights of each person, complete freedom would result in anarchy
Individual freedoms are very important.

9. Origins of American Government
The founding fathers learned about governments from many sources such as: European ancestors, English documents and their colonial governments.
Americans fought the British to become a new nation in the American Revolution.
When the weak first national government failed, the Framers wrote the Constitution.

10. Our Political Beginnings
British Government
English
Bill of Rights
Magna Carta
Petition
of Right
ORDERED GOVERNMENT
Our Political Beginnings
LIMITED GOVERNMENT
A government’s rules should help people get along
Government only has certain powers because the people have rights too
The people tell the government what it can and can’t do
Magna Carta said the king did not have total power.
Petition of Right introduced trial by jury.
Bill of Rights didn’t allow an army during peacetime, guaranteed a fair and speedy trial and free elections.
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

11. Creating the United States (1765-1790)
*1765 Stamp Act Congress
*1770 Committees of Correspondence
*1774 First Continental Congress
* Second Continental Congress
* War for Independence
*1776 Declaration of Independence
*1781 Articles of Confederation Adopted
* Confederation Government
*1783 Treaty of Paris
*1785 Mount Vernon Convention
*1786 Annapolis Convention
*1787 Constitutional Convention
* Ratification of Constitution
*1788 9th State (New Hampshire) ratifies Constitution
*1789 Constitution becomes effective
* th State (Rhode Island) ratifies Constitution

12. The Critical Period
States approved the Articles in 1781 and tied the states together in a loose union. The national government had very little power. The government only had one branch-legislative and each state had one vote.

13. Bundle of Compromises Connecticut Representation in Congress
Issue
Solution
Connecticut
Representation in Congress
Bicameral legislature; States have equal representation in Senate; House is based on State’s population.
Three-Fifths
Counting slaves within population to determine representation
Slaves were counted as if 3/5 of one person both for representation and taxation.
Commerce & Slave Trade
Granting Congress the power to regulate foreign and interstate trade
Congress was forbidden to tax a State’s exports or take action against the slave trade for 20 years.

14. The Debate over Ratification
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
Favored Constitution
Opposed Constitution
Believed Constitution was strong enough to solve country’s problems
Believed Constitution was too strong, wanted a bill of rights added to protect individual freedoms
Led by Alexander Hamilton & James Madison
Led by Patrick Henry & John Hancock

16. The Constitution Basic law of American Government.
Built on six basic principles of democracy.
Framers wanted to be sure the Constitution could be changed over time.
There have been 10,000 proposed amendments and only 27 have been approved.

17. Six Constitutional Principles
Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Separation of powers
Checks & Balances
Principles of the
U.S. Constitution
Judicial Review
Federalism

18. Checks & Balances

20. The Results of Informal Amendments
Constitution 1787
Constitution Today
Laws
Customs
Executive
Actions
Court
Decisions
Party Practices
Informal
Amendments

22. Federalism
The Constitution guarantees the U.S. will have a federal form of government.
Sharing of power equals limited government.
Constitution explains the nation’s duties to the States and the States’ duties to the nation.

23. Acts of Congress (Treaties) City & County Charters & Ordinances
The Supremacy Clause
U.S. Constitution
Acts of Congress (Treaties)
State Constitutions
Supremacy clause makes the Constitution the “supreme law of the land”. This clause ranks the Constitution on top, above state and local Constitutions.
State Statutes (Laws)
City & County Charters & Ordinances

24. Powers of the National Government
Delegated Powers
Delegated Powers
Implied
Powers
Inherent Powers
Written in the Constitution
Elastic Clause: Necessary & Proper
Just because it’s a nation
Example:
*Congress coins money
Example:
Congress builds interstate highway system
Example:
*Congress regulates immigration & acquires territory

26. Steps in Becoming a State
President Signs
Congress Passes Act of Admission
Residents Approve Constitution
Residents Write Constitution
The Constitution addresses the relationship between the National Government and the States. Article 4 lists ways the government must help the states.
Congress Passes Enabling Act
Residents Petition Congress for Admission
Residents Approve the Idea of Becoming A State