1. Limiting Government

2. President Fujimori of Peru is an example of what can happen when a government has nothing to limit its power.

3. There are many ways that governments are kept in “check” (limited) so they won’t have too much power.

4. Consent of the Governed
Constitution
Minority Rights
Rule of Law
Checks on Government
Consent of the Governed
Separation of Power

5. Constitution
A constitution is the rulebook for a country’s government.
Here’s how a constitution limits government:
Tells how laws are made
Sets rules for how the government functions
Lists the rights and responsibilities of citizens
Most countries have written constitutions

6. Constitution
When President Fujimori took control of Peru’s government, what did he do to Peru’s constitution?

7. Constitutions limit government by:
Quick Review!
 Telling how ________ are made
laws
 Setting ________ for the government
rules
 Listing the _________ and the _______________ of citizens
rights
responsibilities

8. Rule of law means that nobody is above the law.
Here’s how the rule of law limits government:
The law applies to everyone
Even the president must follow the law
The government can’t take illegal actions

9. Rule of Law Check this out:
The rule of law is stronger in some countries than it is in others.
Strongest (90-100%)
Strong (75-90%)
Average (50-75%)
Weak (25-50%)
Weaker (10-25%)
Weakest/None(0-10%)
2005 – Worldwide Governance Indicators

10. Rule of Law
When President Fujimori took control of the government, did he follow the law?

11. The rule of law limits government because:
Quick Review!
 The law applies to ____________
everyone
 Even the ___________ must follow the law
President
 The government cannot take actions that are _________
illegal

12. Here’s how separation of power limits government:
Separation of power divides power among different branches of government.
Here’s how separation of power limits government:
No branch has all the power
Each branch can “check” (limit) what the other branches do
Responsibilities are balanced among the branches

13. Lots of countries around the world separate power into branches!
Check this out:
Iceland
France
Hungary
AND MORE!
Canada
Greece
United States
Japan
Mexico
Indonesia
Jamaica
Fiji
Panama
Pakistan
Chile
Morocco
Egypt
Iran

14. Which branch did President Fujimori get rid of when he took control of Peru’s government?

15. Separation of power limits government because:
Quick Review!
 No branch has all the _______
power
 Each branch can “________” what the other branches do
check
 Responsibilities are ___________ among all the branches
balanced

16. Here’s how consent of the governed limits government:
Consent of the governed means that the citizens give their permission for the government to operate.
Here’s how consent of the governed limits government:
Citizens have the right to vote
Citizens can use their vote to change how the government is run
By voting, citizens could even change the constitution

17. Citizens in many countries around the world have the right to vote.
Check this out:
Election Posters from Around the World

18. When President Fujimori took control of the government, did the majority of Peru’s citizens support him?

19. Consent of the governed limits government because:
Quick Review!
 Citizens have the right to________
vote
 Citizens can use their vote to __________ how the government is run
change
 By voting, citizens could even change the ______________
Constitution

20. Here’s how minority rights limit government:
Minority rights give protection of the law to every group of people, no matter how small.
Here’s how minority rights limit government:
Everyone’s rights are protected
Nobody is too unimportant to be treated equally under the law
Even unpopular groups must be treated fairly

21. Minority Rights
When President Fujimori took control of the government, was he looking out for the rights of all people (even suspected terrorists)?

22. Minority rights limit government because:
Quick Review!
 Everyone’s rights are ___________
protected
 Nobody is too _____________ to be treated equally under the law
unimportant
 Even ____________ groups must be treated fairly
unpopular

23. LIMITING GOVERNMENT
Let’s review!

24. The rulebook for a government is called…
A constitution!
Good Job!

25. Splitting a government into different branches is called…
Separation of Power!
Keep it up!

26. Protecting even small or unpopular groups of people is called…
Minority Rights!
You’re on a roll!

27. Consent of the Governed!
A country where citizens show their approval or disapproval by voting has…
Consent of the Governed!
Nice one!

28. A country where nobody is above the law has …
Rule of Law!
Way to go!

29. Consent of the Governed
President Fujimori
Discuss It: Which limits did President Fujimori have after he took control of the government?
Constitution
Rule of Law
Separating Power
Minority Rights
Consent of the Governed

30. President Fujimori
What do you think?
Is it enough for a government to have only one limitation on its power?