1. The USA – a FEDERAL union Text Chapter 3

2. Early government of USA A “CONFEDERATION” Defined: a loose alliance of similar state governments united to solve a temporary problem. Examples (verbal, in class) Strengths? Weaknesses?

3. Confederation period (1776-1789) All 13 states were equal There was NO President All decisions made by majority rule Congress met rarely This structure avoids EVERYTHING the states had hated about rule under Great Britain (be able to explain)

4. Successes of the Confederation Defeated the most powerful nation of Europe in the Revolutionary War Made alliances with European nations

5. Weaknesses of the Confederation Could not tax – could only borrow Hard to achieve agreement among states States felt no real kinship to each other Was no single leader

6. Crisis for the Confederation Near-early 1780s bankruptcy of USA Rebellion in Massachusetts USA’s debts to foreign countries unpaid Great Britain killing us in trade

7. 1789 – a new Constitution Congress took a new direction in May 1789 Sent delegates to re-write the Confederation documents Over summer of 1789 delegates decided instead to completely re-design the US government

8. The Constitution: 1789 - present Has 3 branches for government Executive – a president with authority Legislative – a Congress to write laws that the president must obey Judicial – a court system with power to make decisions about whether new laws follow the Constitution

9. How to stop a President from acting like a king? President must be elected President not entitled to make law alone President allowed to stop (“veto”) a law

10. How to stop a president from “bossing” the Congress? Only the Congress can write a law Presidents may suggest laws, Congress can easily turn a president down Presidents can veto laws, but Congress can override the veto Only Congress may decide a tax Only Congress may declare a war

11. Then what does the Court system do? When asked, can decide whether a law of Congress follows the Constitution. When asked, can decide whether a citizen of the USA has been harmed by a law.

12. Checks and Balances Each branch of the national government – President, Congress, or the national courts, can in some way limit the powers of the others. No one branch can make itself the king of the USA. These limitations are called “checks” The checks tend to balance out the powers between the branches.

13. Checks on the President Can’t write a law. Can veto a law, BUT Congress can undo a veto by a 2/3 vote over the president Can’t declare war without Congress Can’t “pass a tax” – only Congress can Can’t serve more than 2 terms of office – 8 years total

14. Checks on the Congress Have to run for office over and over (House members, every 2 years; Senators, every 6 years.) The people can “fire” them. The Supreme Court can un-do the laws Congress writes, if the laws harm states or citizens. The president can veto a law of Congress, and it takes a large majority to un-do a veto.

15. Checks on the Supreme Court Can’t write laws, only review them Can’t review a law until a state or citizen files a complaint Can’t give speeches or write articles commenting on actions of President or Congress; must speak publicly only through the Supreme Court.

16. What do state governments do? States can run their own governments States have full authority on: schools, local taxes, marriages, business that operate inside the state’s borders, taxing to fix their own roads and bridges, deciding what shall be illegal inside the boundaries of their own state The national government may not easily interfere in these things

17. Powers only the National government has Print money Declare war Regulate business that operate in more than one state Conduct foreign policy Sign treaties

18. What does “federal” mean? In a federal system, the states operate their own governments and the national government (Washington DC) operates the country’s government. This state and national partnership/division of responsibilities is called federalism. Americas tend to call the Washington DC government the “federal” government – that’s not correct. Explain why.