1. U.S. Government
Chapter 1-4

2. Principles of Government
Chapter 1

3. What is government?
Government is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.
Public polices include taxation, national defense, education, crime, etc.

4. Earliest Forms of Government
Ancient Egypt

5. The State Body of people Living in a defined territory
Organized politically
Power to make and enforce law without a higher authority

6. Four Characteristics of a State
Population
Territory
Sovereignty
Sovereign: state’s supreme and absolute power within its territory
Government

7. Origins of the State Force Theory-one person or group claimed control
Evolutionary Theory-developed naturally from family
Divine Right Theory-God gave those of royal birth divine authority
Social Contract Theory-agreement of people for mutual protection

8. Forms of Government
Unitary-centralized govt., all powers belong to a single agency
Federal-powers divided between a central govt. and local govt.
Confederate-alliance of independent states, weak central government *

9. Relationship between Lawmakers and Administrators
Presidential-separation of powers between executive and legislative branches, branches are independent and equal, chief executive is president
Parliamentary-executive is made up of the prime minister and his/her cabinet, they are member of the legislature, leader is chosen by the dominant party in parliament

10. The Number Who Can Participate
Dictatorship-person or group has complete power over its people, people have no choice
Democracy-people hold the power
Direct Democracy: policy is decided by the people in mass meetings
Representative Democracy: small group of people chosen by the people create policies (elected officials)

11. Economic
Capitalism-business and resources are privately owned, promotes competition, free enterprise
Socialism-business and resources are owned by the government, wealth is distributed equally

12. Basic Concepts of Democracy
Foundations of Democracy
Recognition of worth and dignity of every person
Respect for equality of all people
Majority rule and minority rights
Acceptance of the necessity of compromise
Individual freedom
Anarchy-total absence of government *

13. Origins of American Government
Chapter 2

14. Basic Concepts of U.S. Government
Came with the English Settlers
Ordered Government-creation of local governments
Limited Government-individuals have rights that cannot be taken away
Representative Government-serve the will of the people (“of, by, and for the people”)

15. English Documents
Magna Carta (1215)- guaranteed trial by jury, due process of the law (protection from the taking of life, liberty, or property)
Petition of Right (1628)-limited the power of the king, political critics must receive trial by jury, not allow the military to rule during peacetime, not require people to shelter troops, no tax without consent of parliament

16. English Documents
English Bill of Rights-free parliamentary elections, no standing army during peacetime, right to petition the king, right to a fair and speedy trial, no excessive bail, no cruel and unusual punishment

17. Government in the Colonies
Each had its own charter
Charter: written grant of authority from the king
Royal Colonies-direct control of the Crown
Bicameral: two house legislature
Council appointed by the King
Laws had to be approved by the Crown
Governor appointed by the King

18. Government in the Colonies
Proprietary Colonies-owned by people given a land grant by the king
Unicameral: one house legislature
Governor appointed by the King
Charter Colonies-self-governing
Governors elected by white males who owned property

19. Independence from England
King George III taxed colonists
Had no representation in Parliament
Boycott of taxed English goods
Boston Tea Party

20. First Continental Congress
Held in response to the Intolerable Acts
Punishment for the Boston Tea Party
Met in Philadelphia in 1774
Sent a Declaration of Rights to King George III refusing trade with England until taxes were repealed
King George III ignored the colonists

21. Second Continental Congress
Met in Philadelphia in 1775
13 colonies sent representatives
Continental Army was formed
General George Washington
Ben Franklin and John Hancock attended
First national government
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation

22. *Declaration of Independence*
Adopted on July 4, 1776
Declared Independence from England
Revolutionary War began

23. Articles of Confederation
Structure
Congress was sole governing body (unicameral)
Each state had one vote
No executive or judicial branch
Powers of Congress
Make war, raise an army and navy
Send and receive foreign ambassadors
Make treaties
Borrow money, set up a monetary system
Settle disputes among states

24. Articles of Confederation
Power of States
Provide funds for troops
Treat citizens of other states fairly
Give credit to policies in other states
Allow trade and travel between states
Surrender fugitives to other states

25. Weaknesses One vote for each state, regardless of size
Congress had no power to collect money
Congress could not regulate interstate travel and commerce
Only one branch of government

26. Creating the Constitution
Framers-representatives sent to Philadelphia to write a new constitution.

27. The Virginia Plan New government with three branches
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
Bicameral Congress
Chosen by a state’s population
Congress would choose the executive and judicial
Strong national government

28. Connecticut Compromise
Congress would be bicameral (two houses)
Senate all states would be equal
House of Representatives would be based on population
Sometimes called the Great Compromise

29. The Three-Fifths Compromise
State populations
All free people counted
Three-fifths of slaves would be counted

30. Ratifying the Constitution
Federalists
Felt the Articles were too weak
Favored a strong central government
Anti-Federalists
State’s rights
New Congress met in 1789
New York temporary capital
George Washington became the first president *

31. The Constitution
Chapter 3

32. The Six Principles
*Popular Sovereignty- people are the only source of government power
*Limited Government-government only does those things that the people have given it power to do
Constitutionalism: government must be conducted according to the constitutional principles
* Judicial Review
* Federalism

33. The Six Principles
*Separation of Powers-powers are divided among three separate branches of government
*Checks and Balances-each branch works together and have certain powers over other branches

34. Amending the Constitution
Formal Amendment-changes the written words of the constitution
Two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House of Representatives , ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures
Proposed by Congress and ratified by conventions in three-fourths of the states

35. Amending the Constitution
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments to the Constitution

36. Amending the Constitution
Informal Amendment-changes in the Constitution that do not change the document’s written words
Laws passed by Congress
Actions taken by the President
Decisions of the Supreme Court
Activities of Political Parties

37. Federalism
Chapter 4

38. What is Federalism?
System of government in which a written constitution divides the powers of government on a territorial basis
Central (or national) government and several regional governments

39. Division of Power Defined in the 10th amendment
Dual system of government
Each has a set of responsibilities
Each governs the same people and territory at the same time
Encourages local choice in many matters

40. Delegated Powers
National government only has the powers granted to it in the Constitution
Expressed Powers: spelled out in the Constitution
Implied Powers: not written but implied
Inherent Powers: powers national governments have historically possessed *

41. Powers Denied to the National Government
Tax imports
Deny freedom of religion, speech, press, or assembly
Conduct illegal searches and seizures
Deny speedy trial or trial by jury
Create a national public school system
Marriage and Divorce laws
Set up local governments

42. Reserved Powers-States
Marriage laws
Drinking Age
Professional Licenses
Public Schools
Local governments

43. Powers Denied to States
Cannot enter into a treaty or alliance or confederation
Cannot print or coin money
Cannot tax the National Government
***

44. The Federal System and Local Governments
Can only do what is allowed in their state government

45. Exclusive Powers Can be exercised only by the National Government
Coin money
Levy taxes on imports
Make treaties

46. Concurrent Powers Shared between State and National Government Taxes
Define crime and punishment
Condemn private property for public use

47. National Government’s Obligations to the States
Guarantee of a Republican form of government
Representative government
Protection against Invasion and Domestic Violence
Respect for Territorial Integrity
Existence and boundaries of each state

48. Admitting New States Congress
New state cannot be made by taking territory away from an existing state without the consent of that state’s legislature
Conditions can be set