1. Origins and Functions of U.S. Government

2. Essential feature of a state
Population
Fixed boundaries
Sovereignty or absolute authority, within territorial boundaries
Order, public services, enforcement, obedience
Why do you think many people claim the government has too much power and control over their lives?

3. Purposes of government
Maintain social order (laws)
Provide essential services (health, safety)
Protect from external attack (other countries) and internal attack (terrorism)
Shape and control the economy
Do you think the government has too much or too little control over the economy of the U.S. ?

4. Government systems
Federal – divides power between national and state government
Ours is a federal system of government
Unitary – all key powers to national government
Totalitarianism is a form of government in which the state’s power is unlimited and is used to control virtually all aspects of public and private life. This control extends to all political and financial matters, as well as the attitudes, morals, and beliefs of the people. (Germany, North Korea
Authoritarian is characterized by a strong central government that allows the people a limited degree of political freedom. However, the political process, as well as all individual freedoms, is controlled by the government without any constitutional accountability (China, Iran)
What are the major advantages of a federal system of government?

5. Constitutions, government and politics
CONSTITUTION: Plan that provides rules for government
Organizes structure and way it operates
Sets out goals and purposes
Provides the supreme law
Politics is the effort to control or influence govt policy and action
Why do you think some citizens consider politics as negative?

6. Strength of democracy
Environments that favor the development of democratic sys of government
Citizen participation in civic life
Stable, growing economy; large middle class
Public school system
Strong civil society with network of volunteer organizations
Citizen acceptance of democratic values (liberty, equality)

7. Political heritage
English colonist brought European principles with them that shaped our government.
Magna Carta: limited government for first time in England
Colonists fully believed in representative form of government
John Locke had heavy influence
House of Burgesses – representative form of govt in Virginia

8. Colonial unity and independence
Britain allowed colonist limited self-government due to distance
Tightened control after French and Indian War; levied harsh taxes to pay for French and Indian War.
Colonists sent petitions to king and he ignored
Organized a Continental Congress for Revolution
Declaration of Independence; Thomas Jefferson
Continental Army; George Washington

9. Articles of confederation
Single chamber Congress with limited powers
Each state one vote; no executive branch; no court system’
No power to collect taxes, regulate trade, enforce laws
Amendments required approval of ALL states
Fair policy for developing Western land
Set up departments which later led to cabinet members
Establish post office
Which of the above do you see as strengths? Weaknesses?
In 1787, poor farmers from western Massachusetts fighting against high taxes followed Daniel Shay in an attempt to seize the arms stockpiled at the Springfield Armory.
Shay's Rebellion showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. When the central government couldn't put down the rebellion, the first stirrings of federalism began to gather strength. ... The government gave most powers to the states, and the central government consisted only of a legislature.

10. Constitutional convention
Secret meetings; each state one vote; decisions by majority vote
Delegates did not agree on everything but could work together because they had strong leadership and common purpose
Virginia Plan: strong executive, 2 house legislature (lower house chosen by people; upper house chosen by lower), favored large states
New Jersey Plan: weak executive; one house legislature; one vote each state; favored small states

11. Constitutional convention
Connecticut Compromise: 2 house legislature; House of Representatives based on population; Senate two per state regardless of size (satisfied both large and small states)
Federalist wanted strong national government; Anti-Federalists wanted more power for the states and refused to ratify without a Bill of Rights (Individual Citizen Rights).
Once a Bill of Rights was added, it was ratified and George Washington became President of the United States.