1. United States Government 7 th Grade Civics

2. What is Government? The organization people set up to protect the community and enforce its rules

3. Powers of Government Legislative: Power to make laws Executive: Power to carry out laws Judicial: Power to interpret laws

4. What is a Law? Official rules and regulations, generally found in the constitution Used to govern a society and control the behavior of its members

5. Kinds of Government Monarchy: kings and queens are rulers –King George III Dictatorship: government with one ruler –Cuba Democracy: people have power –U.S. Government

6. Political system Rule by the people People have basic freedom Representative Democracy Democracy

7. The Mayflower Compact Mayflower carried Pilgrims from England to Massachusetts Before they left the ship, the passengers wrote a document called the Mayflower Compact Promised to pass only laws that were fair to everyone and good for the whole community

8. The Declaration of Independence British raised colonists taxes Colonist protested Fighting began Committee chosen to write the document –Benjamin Franklin –John Adams –Thomas Jefferson

9. Laid the foundation for the nation’s future system of government Approved on July 4, 1776 56 people signed John Hancock signed first

10. Articles of Confederation First Constitution of the United States Adopted November 15, 1777 A preamble and 13 articles State governments had most of the power Little power given to the central government

11. The Constitution of the United States Document that tells basic rules and explain rights of a US citizen Written 200 years ago Written to unite all the 13 colonies

12. Constitution 57 men helped write it in 1787 Ratified by the states in 1788 It has 7 sections called Articles telling how the government works

13. Three Separate Branches Each branch has power to check the others Legislative: Power to make laws Executive: Power to carry out laws Judicial: Power to interpret laws

14. The Bill of Rights First 10 amendments It guaranteed certain freedoms and rights Added after the Constitution Freedom of Speech Freedom of Religion Freedom to Assemble

15. Amendments Amendments change the Constitution 2/3 of both the Senate and House of Representative must approve 3/4 of all states must approve

16. Federal Government Federal government deals with matters that affect the whole country –Defense –Transportation –Postal Delivery –Federal Taxes

17. Federal Government Executive Branch Executive Branch carries out national laws The President is head of the Executive Branch Commander in Chief of nation’s army Elected to a four year term Approves the laws that congress makes Proposed national budget Can veto a bill

18. Federal Government Legislative Branch Legislative branch makes laws for the nation Two parts of the Legislative Branch –U.S. Senate –U.S. House of Representatives

19. Federal Government Legislative Branch House of Representative Number according to size of state’s population Representative must live in the state they represent 25 years or older US Citizen for 7 years Elected to 2 year term Senate Each state has 2 Senators must live in the state they represent 30 years or older Citizen of the U.S. for 9 years Elected to 6 year term

20. Federal Government Judicial Branch Judicial Branch interprets and applies national laws Make up of the court system Highest is the Supreme Court - appointed for life terms Lowest levels are Justice of Peace Gets its powers from Article III of the Constitution

21. Provide Public Service Protect the Safety of their Citizens Provide a System of Justice Protect the Rights of Individuals Promote the Well Being of their Citizens Purpose of State & Local Governments Establish local fire departments Patrol state highways Build Roads Sanitation facilities Provide state funds for schools Maintain state prison system Pass local fair housing laws

22. What is a Citizen? Two kinds of citizens Native-born citizens –Born here –Children of American citizens born while visiting other countries Naturalized citizens –Have to be at least 18 –From other countries –Lived here 5 years to qualify –3 years if they’re married to an American citizen

23. Citizen’s Rights Countries protect their citizens and give them rights Naturalized and Native-born citizens have the same rights, except one Naturalized citizens can’t run for president Citizens can vote Freedom of Religion Freedom of Speech Freedom of the Press

24. Citizen’s Responsibilities Duty to obey the law Vote in elections To pay taxes If the country is at war, citizens may be called to serve in the armed forces Serve on a jury if called

25. Patrick Henry Born May 29, 1736 in Hanover County, Va. Storekeeper and farmer Member of the revolutionary convention of Va. Died on June 6, 1799 “Give me Liberty or Give me Death”

26. Thomas Jefferson Third President of the United States in 1801- 1809 Member of the second Continental Congress Drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776 Politician, Educator and an Architect

27. Alexander Hamilton Helped secure New York's ratification of the Constitution First Secretary of the Treasury Shot and killed in a duel with former U.S. vice- president Aaron Burr, a long-time political rival

28. John Jay Continental Congress Commissioner Treaty of Paris Continental Congress 1774-1775 First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Helped negotiate peace with Great Britain Governor of N.Y.

29. Thomas Paine Wrote Common Sense, which called for American independence from Great Britain Born in Thetford, England 1774-Moved to Philadelphia Influenced fighters in the Revolutionary War Buried in New Rochelle, NY

30. George Washington Born February 22, 1732 General in the French and Indian War General in Revolutionary War President of the Constitutional Convention First President of the United States

31. Sam Adams Adams was born in Boston on September 27, 1722. After college was a success law student. Adams was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress also subsequently

32. James Madison From Virginia Founding Father Wrote Bill of Rights Signed the Constitution Married Dolly Madison Congressman 4th President of the United States

33. Francis Scott Key Watched the bombardment of Fort McHenry, in Baltimore Harbor by the British in September 1814 The fort withstood the attack, and the sight of the American flag at dawn inspired Key's verses, set to a popular English drinking tune

34. National Anthem “O say can you see...” Hymn of loyalty to our country Designation as national anthem by executive order in 1916 was confirmed by an act of Congress in 1931 Written by Francis Scott Key, a Washington D.C. lawyer

35. American Flag Symbol of our nation Original had 13 alternating red & white stripes and 13 stars-one for each colony Now one star for each state (50) Legend is that Betsy Ross sewed 1st flag for George Washington

36. Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.