G&P US Constitution Key Points

A2 G&PUS Government and Politics

The Constitution

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Objectives today

• Challenge George!

• Re-cap the following points:Þ Creation of the constitutionÞ Amendments and the Bill of RightsÞ Separation of PowersÞ Checks and BalancesÞ Federalism

• FACE OFF : UK vs US constitution

Challenge George!

• George, you have to name all of the US Presidents since 1932.

• Don’t forget to include their dates, parties and nicknames

• The others will check your progress!

Creation of the constitution

• 4th July 1776: Declaration of independence

• 17th Sept 1787: End of Philadelphia Convention

Article 1: CongressArticle 2: PresidentArticle 3: Supreme CourtArticle 4: Federal-state relationshipsArticle 5: Amendment procedures

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Amendments

• Two stage process1 Proposal by Congress2 Ratification by states=> 2/3 majority need in Congress=> ¾ of states to ratify27 amendments in totalOnly 17 since Bill of Rights in December 1791

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Some AmendmentsAmendment

Ratified Description

1st 1791 Rights to Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition

2nd 1791 Right to Bear Arms3rd 1791 Quartering of Soldiers4th 1791 Search and Seizure

5th 1791Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process

6th 1791

Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecutions: Rights to Jury Trial, to Confront Opposing Witnesses and to Counsel

7th 1791 Jury Trial

8th 1791Protections against Excessive Bail, Cruel and Unusual Punishment

9th 1791 Non-Enumerated Rights10th 1791 Rights Reserved to States

13th 1865 Slavery Prohibited15th 1880 Blacks given vote16th 1913 Federal Income Tax22nd 1951 2 term limit for President26th 1971 Voting age at 18

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h383.html










Separation of Powers Checks and Balances

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Checks and Balances: Political Impact

1969-2009: for only 10.5 years have the same party controlled the Presidency and both houses of Congress= more effective or less effective government?

Federalism in theory

• A theory of government by which political power is divided between a national government and state governments, each having their own area of substantive jurisdiction. = decentralisation

• Not clearly defined in the constitution.• Federal government and Supreme Court has ‘enumerated’

powers• 10th Amendment reserved all remaining powers ‘to the

states and the people’• Supreme Court is the umpire!• Not a fixed idea. Has changed and developed over time.

Federalism in practice

• ‘Dual Federalism’ from 1780s to 1920s = state governments has most political power and focus on states rights

• Effect of Wall Street Crash and Depression saw greater involvement and spending by central government => categorical grants

• But, last 3 decades of 20th century saw 4 republican Presidents and shift back towards state power.

• What do you think happened under George W Bush?

Federalism in practice

He presided over the largest increase in inflation-adjusted federal government spending since Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society in 1960s

1. Education2. War in Iraq3. Homeland security4. Spending on Medicare5. Banking collapse in 2008

Federalism in practiceLegal Consequences• Huge variety in state laws (marriage / drive cars / attend school / drugs /

assisted suicide)• Federal and state courtsPolitical Consequences• All elections state based and state run• Each state decides: how candidates chosen and elected• Political parties decentralised and state basedEconomic Consequences• Huge federal grants• Complex tax system => federal and state income taxRegionalism• Racial, religious and ideological differences between areas of US• Conservatism of the Deep South vs liberalism of Northeast

Federalism pros and cons

Objectives today




Constitution Face off!

vs

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Objectives today




Your textbook: buy it now!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/A2-US-Government-Politics-Textbook/dp/0340986603

Deadline: Friday 13th September








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G&P US Constitution Key Points

News & Politics

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