1. Unit 1: Intro to Gov’t, Constitution, and Federalism
Johnathan Hrycaj, Paraskevi Constantinides, Journie Harmelink,
Jurnee Holland, Ana Santana, Seema Parsapour

2. Essential Question: How is the Constitution divided and what are the major principles?
Structure: Preamble, Articles, Bill of Rights, Amendments
Preamble:
First line reads, “We The People”
Explains why the Constitution was written
including: “to form a more perfect union”
to “establish justice...tranquility...defense...and secure...liberty”
Major principles of the Constitution:
Popular Sovereignty: rule by the people
Federalism: division of power between states and federal government
Limited government
Checks and Balances
Amendments:
living document that will meet the needs of the people in changing times

3. Essential Question: What did the Articles do and how were they used?
A I-Style
A II-States
A III-Mutual Defense
A IV-Laws of other states
A V- Legislator
A VI-Rights denied to States
A VII- Military officers
A VIII- US to pay defense $
A IX- Rights to Fed. Gov’t
A X-Committee of States
A XI- Canada can join US
A XII-Assumption of Debt
A XIII- Articles are supreme law
Essential Question: What did the Articles do and how were they used?
Created on Nov. 5, 1777
Known as the first Constitution of the United States
Congress felt the need for a stronger union and a gov’t to defeat GB
Six drafts were made
Final draft was approved in 1781 after Maryland ratified it

4. Articles of Confederation
Continental Congress

5. Essential Question: What are the different types of theories that developed with the state?
-Evolutionary Theory-The head of the family was the head of the gov’t
-Force Theory-People are forced to come together under the authority
of one person by the need to survive
-Divine Right Theory- The belief that the gods created the state and chose certain people to run it
-Social Contract Theory: Thomas Hobbes- People should give up some of their rights to the state that way the state is in power and the citizens are protected
-Social Contract Theory: John Locke- People should be able to break away from the social contract if they are not being protected, and they should all have natural rights

6. Essential Question: What is federalism, and how does it divide power between the national government and states?
Political system in which national government shares power with state governments
Expressed powers: specifically granted to national gov’t
Implied powers: suggested by expressed powers (Elastic Clause)
Inherent powers: naturally belonging to gov’t
“Full Faith and Credit”- states recognize one another’s civil laws/official acts
Responsibilities of Fed. Gov’t to States
Obligations of States to National Gov’t
-ensure republican form of gov’t
-protect states from violent acts/natural disasters
-respect states’ territories
-federal grants (categorical & block)
-rules for electing members of congress
-amend Constitution (3/4 majority)

7. The Formal Process The Informal Process
Essential Question: What are the formal and informal ways in which the Constitution can be amended?
The Formal Process
Congress can propose an amendment by ⅔ of each house
State legislatures can ratify an amendment by a vote ¾ of the states
National convention can propose an amendment requested by ⅔ of each state
State conventions can ratify an amendment by a vote of ¾ of the states
The Informal Process
Changes through law: expanded its authority & Executive Branch
Changes through practices: interpretation of constitution has changed over time (high crimes & misdemeanors)
Changes through Presidential changes: requesting legislation, presidential succession, & Executive agreements vs. Treaties

8. Essential Question: What is the purpose of having many different types of Government, why not just have one?
Today’s Governments
1. Direct Democracy
The word "democracy" literally means "rule by the people." In a democracy, the people govern.
2. Theocracy
a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.
3. Monarchy
A monarchy consists of rule by a king or queen. Sometimes a king is called an "emperor," especially if there is a large empire, such as China before There are no large monarchies today. The United Kingdom, which has a queen, is really a republic because the queen has virtually no political power.
4. Single-Party State
s a type of state in which a single political party has the right to form the government, usually based on the existing constitution. All other parties are either outlawed or allowed to take only a limited and controlled participation in elections.
5. Dictatorship
A dictatorship consists of rule by one person or a group of people. Very few dictators admit they are dictators; they almost always claim to be leaders of democracies. The dictator may be one person, such as Castro in Cuba or Hitler in Germany, or a group of people, such as the Communist Party in China.
6. Presidential Democratic
A presidential democracy is a system of government in which also called an executive branch exist but is separate from the legislature.
7. Parliamentary Democratic
form of government in which the party with the greatest representation in the legislature forms the government, its leader becoming prime minister or chancellor.