1. European influences and Constitutional principles
Chapter 7, section 3a
European influences
and
Constitutional principles

2. Content Vocabulary
An example of an amendment to the Constitution is the Bill of Rights.
The branch of the government that establishes laws is the Legislative Branch.
The political feature of the United States government whereby power is shared between the federal and the state governments is called federalism.

3. The checks and balance system was established so that no single branch can dominate the government.
The branch of the government headed by the President is the Executive Branch.
The Supreme Court is a part of the Judicial Branch of the government.
The President and Vice-President are elected by a group of presidential electors called the Electoral College.

4. 8. Name 2 of the Enlightenment thinkers and explain each’s important ideas.
John Locke =
All people have natural rights (Life, Liberty, and property)
Government is a contract between the people and their government
The government’s power should be limited

5. Baron de Montesquieu =
Powers in the government should be separated and balanced.
This would prevent any single person or group from gaining too much power
Powers should be clearly defined and limited.

6. 9. 5 Principles of the Government
FEDERALISM
Calls for the division and sharing of powers between the federal (national) government and the state governments:
Federal powers: State powers:
Maintain an army / navy establish schools
Foreign affairs laws regarding marriage and divorce
Postal routes
Coin money Shared powers:
Punish counterfeiting Taxes punish piracy General welfare
Build roads

7. B. Separation of Powers
The division of the operations of the national government into 3 branches, each with its own powers and responsibilities
Legislative Branch (Congress) makes the laws
Collect taxes
Regulate foreign and interstate trade
Raise and support a military
Establish post offices
Establish a federal court system

8. Executive Branch (President) carries out the laws
Commander-in-chief of the armed forces
Directs foreign relations
Grants pardons and reprieves
Appoints Supreme Ct. Justices (with 2/3 consent of the Senate)
Makes treaties (with 2/3 consent of the Senate)

9. Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) settles arguments
Constitutional cases
Disputes between states
Disputes with a foreign country
Maritime cases
Disputes between a person and a foreign country

10. c. Checks and Balance System
The means by which each branch of the national government is able to check, or control, the power of the other 2 branches
The framers of the Constitution hoped to keep any one branch from gaining too much power
The President can check Congress by vetoing a bill
The Supreme Court can check the President and Congress by declaring a law unconstitutional

11. The Senate must approve treaties signed by the President
The Senate must approve Supreme Court Justices
Congress can override a Presidential veto
Congress can impeach and convict high officers in the government.
Congress can amend the Constitution to over-rule the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court can declare Executive actions unconstitutional
The President can grant pardons and reprieves which limits the Judicial Branch
Congress must ratify the President’s treaties with a 2/3 vote.

12. d. Popular Sovereignty
Popular sovereignty means that the people hold the final authority, or ruling power
The framers of the Constitution believed that a contract exists between the people and the government.
The government receives the power to rule from the people.

13. 4. The people exercise their power by voting.
In 1789, only white men over age 21 and owned property could vote.
In 1870, Amendment 15 was passed giving Black men the right to vote, and
In 1920, Amendment 19 gave women the right to vote.

14. Examples of issues “We the people” can vote on are:
Governorships
Representatives
Senators
Electors who choose the President/Vice-President
Re-call petitions

15. e. Limited Government
The Principle that the government is not all powerful but can do only what the people say it can do
The most important limits on government are set out in the Bill of Rights
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
The right to keep and bear arms

16. The right not to have troops quartered in our homes in peacetime
The right not to have unreasonable search and seizure
The right not to have double jeopardy, be a witness against ourselves, and have due process of law
The right to a speedy and public trial, be informed of the offense, be confronted with the witnesses against us, and to have a lawyer

17. The right to a trial by jury
The right not to have excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishments