1. THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

2. INTRODUCTION Declared Independence from Great Britain July 4, 1776 Signed the Constitution September 17, 1787 Created our government and explained the rights of every American Formed a Democratic Republic Democracy: A government where the supreme power comes from the people Democratic Republic: A government where the supreme power comes from representatives who are elected by the people

3. PARTS OF THE CONSTITUTION Preamble Articles Amendments

4. PREAMBLE The introduction; it establishes the purpose of government “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

5. PREAMBLE

6. ARTICLES Seven articles that outline how the government will be run

7. AMENDMENTS Amendments: There are 27 changes to the Constitution The first 10 of these make up The Bill of Rights Establish rights such as: Freedom of speech Freedom of religion Right to own a gun Right to a fair trial Freedom from being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment Freedom from having your property searched or taken

8. PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY A principle is a rule that needs to be followed When making a decision, the government abides by certain principles Popular Sovereignty Federalism Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Judicial Review Limited Government

9. POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY Popular Sovereignty means that people are the source of the government’s power Popular = The common/majority view of the people Sovereignty = Control/Power The common view of the people has power over the government

10. FEDERALISM Federalism means that the government’s power is divided between: National government: Makes and enforces laws that affect the whole country (Ex. Military) State government: Makes and enforces laws that affect an individual state (Ex. education) Local government: Makes and enforces laws that affect an individual district or county (Ex. Local courts) Each level has its own purpose

11. FEDERALISM

12. SEPARATION OF POWERS The powers of the government are separated into 3 branches The Legislative branch makes the laws Congress The House of Representatives and the Senate The Executive branch enforces the laws The President, Vice president, and president’s cabinet The Judicial branch reviews the laws The Supreme Court

13. BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

14. CHECKS AND BALANCES Checks and Balances is when each branch of government keeps the others in line Example: If the Legislative branch makes a law that the Executive branch (the president) doesn’t like, then the president can veto the law Example: If the Legislative branch makes a law that might violate the Constitution, then the Judicial branch can determine whether the law is good or not

15. JUDICIAL REVIEW Judicial Review is when the Judicial branch reviews whether or not a law is constitutional Example: When the Supreme Court overruled the act of Segregation in schools and other public places

16. LIMITED GOVERNMENT Limited Government limits the government to what is written in the Constitution Example: Police can’t search or take your property without probable cause or a search warrant Example: Reduce government spending (small government v. big government)

17. 548 billion dollars or $548,915,000,000 or ½ a trillion dollars 672 billion dollars or $672,932,000,000 The U.S. government spends 1 million dollars every 5 seconds, approximately 3.1 trillion per year

19. LIMITED GOVERNMENT What is the National Debt? 16 trillion dollars $16,059,381,774,500.53 Approximately $51,073 per American Approximately $140,369 per taxpayer

20. SUMMARY The people of the U.S. and the government share the power to rule. The people give the power to the government through elections while the government must follow the Constitution by respecting and guarding the rights of the people. This is the basis of Democracy; rule by the people.