1. American Government The 9 Principles of Democracy
March 26, 2019
American Government The 9 Principles of Democracy

2. WARM UP HSA Question of the Day
What is a principle (not a principal)?
Fundamental law, rule or code of conduct.

3. WARM UP HSA Question of the Day
2. What does the U.S. Constitution do?
Sets up & defines government
2. Protects the basic
rights of Americans

4. 9 Principles of Democracy
Limited Government
Popular sovereignty
Consent of the governed
Majority rule
Rule of law
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Judicial review
Federalism

5. 1. Limited Government

6. 1. Limited Government Gov’t officials operate within limits
* Can Governor Hogan walk into your house, go
into the refrigerator and make himself a
sandwich?
* Can President Trump make all colleges free?
Limited Government:
Gov’t officials operate within limits
Must work within current laws
Limited resources - money

7. 2. Popular Sovereignty People are the source of government power
* Do you let things happen to you or do
you make things happen?
* Does your brother make you mad or do
you allow yourself to get mad?
Popular Sovereignty:
People are the source of government power
Gov’t can’t take power, people but can give power

8. 3. Consent of the Governed
What is the political cartoon saying?

9. 3. Consent of the Governed
* Are you satisfied with the way Baltimore City has
been governed recently?
* In 2016, only 23% of registered voters bothered to
vote (that’s 12% of the city’s entire population).
Consent of the Governed:
The government is given permission to govern by the people
People give consent by voting

10. What is the political cartoon saying?
4. Majority Rule
What is the political cartoon saying?

11. The majority of people (51%) decide on a solution.
4. Majority Rule
The majority of people (51%) decide on a solution.
What problems does this bring?

12. What is the headline saying about people in power?
5. Rule of Law
What is the headline saying about people in power?

13. Rule of Law: Government officials must operate within the laws
* Former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon was
found guilty of stealing. Other government
officials have been in trouble with the law.
Rule of Law:
Government officials must operate within the laws
No one is above the law

14. 6. Separation of Powers

15. Each of the 3 branches of government has its own responsibility
6. Separation of Powers
If I assigned you a 15-page paper with 5 sections, would you rather do it alone or break it up and have help from a team?
Separation of Powers:
Each of the 3 branches of government has its own responsibility

16. Separation of Powers Legislative branch - makes laws
Each branch of government has separate powers.
Legislative branch - makes laws
Executive branch - enforces laws
Judicial branch - interprets laws
L = Legislative & Laws
E = Executive & Enforce
J = Judicial & Judges

17. 7. Checks and Balances
Jay spent $100,000 on a BMW without telling his wife. When he got home, she was not thrilled and made him take it back. How did she veto his decision?
Checks and Balances:
No branch has too much power (balance of power)
Each branch can be “checked” by another branch
Ex: President (E) can veto a bill passed by Congress (L)

18. 7. Checks and Balances

19. 8. Judicial Review Judicial Review: Cousin mowing the lawn example.
If the President (E) approves a
bill that Congress (L) passed but
it violates the constitution,
the Supreme Court (J) can
declare the law unconstitutional
making it void

20. 9. Federalism Federalism:
Who is the government? Who gets to make those decisions? Your money pays for it, so you should want to know!
Federalism:
Specific powers given to central, state and local governments
Some powers shared between national and state (see example on the left)

21. One Nation & Several States
“Our citizens have wisely formed themselves into one nation as to others and several States as among themselves.”- Thomas Jefferson, 1801
What principle of democracy does this quote represent?
FEDERALISM

22. VIDEO
CCGov: Federalism

23. From Monarchy to Democracy
The Founders who wrote up the U.S. Constitution wanted to separate power, so that one person could not abuse it
What 3 branches were created?
- Legislative
- Executive
- Judicial

24. Branches Lead To Levels
Our country is too big for the people in DC to handle everything
So we created a system that allows people to control where they live
What 3 levels were created?
National/Federal
State
Local

25. VIDEO
CCGov: Checks & Balances