The Principles of Government The foundation of American government.
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The Principles of Government The foundation of American government
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Transcript of The Principles of Government The foundation of American government.
The Principles of Government
The foundation of American 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
f the United States of America.
THE PREAMBLE OF THE CONSTITUTION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OyU4O80i4
The United States Constitution
Article I – Establishes the legislative branch
Article II – Establishes the executive branch
Article III – Establishes the Judicial branch
Article IV – Establishes the balance between states and the federal government
Article V – Explains how to amend (change) the Constitution
Article VI - Establishes the Constitution as supreme law of the land
Article VII - Ratification requirements
Popular sovereignt
y
Separation of powers
Federalism
Limited governemn
t
The principles
of the Constituti
onChecks and
balance system
1. POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
O the principle that people have the ultimate authority & the power to govern
O Based on Locke’s Social Contract O In exchange for
order & protections, people give up some rights
O “right to revolt”
So….popular sovereignty essentially
means that WE THE PEOPLE give our government its
authority…
The United States government is a REPUBLIC or a representative democracy.
What is the difference between direct and indirect democracy?
Why would the Founding Fathers
establish a republic?
If we as citizens are unhappy with our government, how do we “revolt”? How does popular sovereignty work in a country our size?
2. LIMITED GOVERNMENT
O No government is all powerful
O Governments can only do what the people have given it the power to do.
O Basic powers are split between 3 branches of government – no branch is all powerful
Government is also limited because power is DIVIDED between central (federal) and regional(state) governments.
http://www.engagewithease.com/unit-4---federalism.html
The Father Fathers separated and divided the powers of the federal government between the three branches of government.
3. Separation of powers
The Legislative Branch O Legislative = law
making
Unicameral or Bicameral legislature?
Advantages of a unicameral
legislature
Advantages of a bicameral legislature
O Faster/efficientO More responsive
to public opinion
O Divided power = safer government
O More deliberate in decision making
O Represent differing interests in society
4. Checks and balances
Each branch of government has the ability to “check” the
power of the other two.
Each branch has a little power over the
others.
http://www.posterenvy.com/servlet/the-1642/The-American-System-of/Detail
CHECKS AND BALANCE SYSTEMEach branch has powers over the
others.
5. RULE OF LAWO The power of government is limited
because it TOO has to obey the law.
O Government must be conducted according to the Constitution
Name three ways the powers of the federal or central government are limited.
