Loudoun County Public Schools



UNIT ONE: FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT PACKETTopic: Intro to Government Vocab Chart WordDefinition:Example or IllustrationLegislative PowerExectuive PowerJudicial PowerStateGovernmentStudent HandoutDecoding the Preamble Puzzle16573511176000~ Preamble by Mike WilkinsDirections: The picture above is an artistic version of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Look carefully and then translate this picture to determine the actual words of the Preamble._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Preamble outlines six (6) functions of the U.S. government created by the Constitution. What are they?1.2.3.4.5.6.What Does Government Do?The Preamble to the Constitution“We the People of the United States, in Order to… Establish justiceexamples:Insure domestic tranquilityexamples:Provide for the common defenseexamples:Promote the general welfareexamples:Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterityexamples:…do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”Chapter 1 Notes:Introducing GovernmentI. _government_____________________ = institution that makes authoritative decisions for a group of peopleII. Functions of GovernmentA. Maintain ___National Defense_______________ (military or the treaties governments sign to end wars)B. Provide ___public services________________ (roads, parks, Medicare, etc.)C. __preserve order_____________ (make laws, settle disputes, etc.) D. Make _economic decisions and policy_______________ (power to tax, set interest rates, establish free trade or tariffs or blockades/embargoesIII. Purposes of American government are outlined in the _____preamble____________________________________________________IV. Politics = who we select as our leaders & what policies they pursue to promote public interestV. __Policy making system___________________________________ = how government responds to the people; a set of institutions and activities that link together political ideas and public policyVI. People express their desires to linkage institutions EXAMPLES: __political parties, interest groups, polls, media, elections, etc.__VII. Linkage institutions influence policy agenda of policymaking institutions (the 3 branches of government & bureaucracies)VIII. Democracy = means of selecting and organizing government officialsA. Direct/participatory: ___all citizens will vote on all issues___________B. Indirect/representative democracy: _elected delegates make decisions on behalf of people (republic or majoritiarian politics)_________IX. Robert Dahl: Traditional Democratic Theory = certain criteria are essential for an "ideal democratic process"A. _Equality______________ in votingB. Effective __participation______________________C. Enlightened __understanding ________________ (free speech, free press)D. Citizens control agenda (power to be involved)E. __Inclusion_____________________: citizenship must be available to allX. American democracy focuses on the worth of an individual, equality of all persons, compromise and individual freedom = political culture is shared by most people living in the countryXI. Distribution of power in government structure A. Unitary = central government makes decisions for ALL regions or territories (those other lower level governments that do exist merely carry out the laws of the central government; they don't craft any NEW law)Example: __Cuba, a unitary communist government_; France____________B. Federal = central government shares some powers with regional (state) government; a constitution outlines the powers of lower level government (10th Amendment)Example: __Current US government_drivers licences; schools; military; taxes; declaring war_________________________C. Confederate = regional government hold the power and behave autonomously (independently)Example: __Articles of Confederation___________________________XII. Distribution of Power Among Branches of GovernmentA. Parliamentary system = Prime Minister is the executive, who is also a member of the legislature; the majority party elects this person who will serve in BOTH branches - fusion of powerB. Presidential system = President is the head of the executive branch and does NOT serve in the legislative branch; they often "check" each other and rely on each other to get certain jobs doneExample: President signs bills into law that the legislature designedFEDERAL SYSTEMUNITARY SYSTEMPRESIDENTIAL SYSTEMPARLIAMENTARY SYSTEMFounders & Framers NotesName of Framer/Founder:Notes:Name: __Thomas Hobbes________________Illustration:Man is naturally wickedNeeds government to control man and ensure we don’t treat each other poorlySOCIAL CONTRACT: Give up some freedoms in exchange for security.Name: __John Locke_____________________Illustration:Takes social contract a step furtherInfluences JeffersonConsidered “Framer” of the United States ConstitutionAll people are created equalNatural RightsLife, liberty, propertyGovernment needs to protect thisBut government should also be limitedName: __Baron De Montesquieu___________Illustration:Wrote “Spirit of Laws”Separation of powersInfluences Jefferson greatlyName: ____Jean-Jaqcues Rousseau_________Illustration:Published in first encyclopedia (written by Diderot)Takes social contract EVEN FURHTERNeed to have a government ruled through POPULAR SOVEREIGNTYGovernment can make and enforce laws citizens must followType of Government AND DEFINITION:IllustrationMonarchy = Dictatorship =Theocracy =Single Party State =Direct Democracy =Parliamentary Democracy =Presidential Democracy =FederalistsDefinition:Favored ratification of the ConstitutionFavored a powerful federal governmentArgued a Bill of Rights was not needed, as federal power was limited“The Federalists Papers”4083051111251036955263525RATIFICATIONFederalists promise additons of the Bill of RightsRatification succeeded, new government formed 1789James Madison drafts 10 amendments to the constitution, these become the US Bill of Rights00RATIFICATIONFederalists promise additons of the Bill of RightsRatification succeeded, new government formed 1789James Madison drafts 10 amendments to the constitution, these become the US Bill of RightsIndividuals/examples:Anti-FederalistsDefinition:Opposed ratification of the ConstitutionWanted a weak federal government that would not threaten states’ rightsWanted a Bill of Rights to declare and protect the rights of the people704859525Individuals/examples:FederalismChecks & BalancesIndividual Rights/LibertiesJudicial ReviewLimited GovernmentPopular SovereigntyWhy did the founding father use these principles as a guiding measure for the new government?Give an example of how EACH principle applies to daily, political life or government in some way.Articles of ConfederationPositives:Negatives:States have the powerNo militaryNo Courts (judicial system)No executive power (to carry out laws)Shay’s Rebellion: What happened? Who was involved? Why did it happen? How did it end? What did it demonstrate about the governmentThe Debate Over RepresentationVIRGINIA PLANLegislative branch has 2 chambers (2 houses)Number of votes for each state depends on the state’s populationLarger states would have more powerNEW JERSEY PLANDRAFTED BY JAMES MADISONLegislative branch has 1 chamberEach state gets 1 voteSmaller states would have more powerGREAT COMPROMISE OR CONNECTICUT COMPROMISEGovernment has 3 branches Legislative Branch – Makes laws, Judicial – Interprets lawsExecutive – Carries out the lawsDivide Congress into 2 houses Senate – each state gets 2 votesHouse of Representatives – The more people the state has, the more votes it gets26612851695460CH. 3 NOTES: GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE US CONSTITUTIONRatified in 1788 with assurance that a __Bill of Rights_____________________ would be added (___________________________________________________)Congressional elections and presidential election held in _______; Bill of Rights ratified in ______Collective political values (political culture) are represented in the document__Limited government and Rule of Law (things you can and cannot do)_People and government must follow a system of lawsStates have certain protocols (procedures) toward one another--for example: __drivers’ licenses, allowance of citizens to trade and travel______________________________________Constitution is _Supreme Law of the Land___________________Abuse of power is punishable through impeachment process and court systemsWhat does "Limited Government" mean?The national government:__may not violate the Bill of Rights_____________________________May not impose export taxes among states__________________________May not use money from the Treasury without the passage and approval of an appropriations bill_________________________May not change state boundaries_________A state government:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5. POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY/REPUBLICa. Power resides with the _will of the people___ who are granted the right to vote for representatives (republicanism)b. States must have republican form of government too (citizens elect state officials)c. In short: The government derives its power from the people; a _social contract between the gov and the people exists and elected representatives must uphold the commitment to protect and serve the citizens6. SEPARATION OF POWER = __________________________________________a. 3 separate branches of gov. limits the ability of one branch to dominate the othersb. Branches rely on others to complete certain responsibilities (i.e. Congress writes bills_, but President can _sign/veto; _President appoints judges, but _Senate_ must approve or reject, etc.)7. FEDERALISMa. __Federal________________ government and ___State__________ government share some powerb. Delegated powers are given to the federal gov. in US Constitution (i.e. coin money, declare war, regulate interstate trade)c. Reserved powers are those held by the states and protected in the ___10th Amendment______________ (powers not given to the federal gov., or denied to the states, are reserved for the states)-- i.e. education, health and family law, licensingd. _Concurrent powers______________________ -- shared by both governments (taxation, court systems, law enforcement)8. INDEPENDENT JUDICIARYa. In _federal courts___________________________, judges serve for life and have a secure salary-- this ensures they will make decisions they believe are best according to the laws, rather than according to politicians, interest groups, or someone who can fire them or reduce their salary-- ___THEY ARE NOT ELECTED!9. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTSa. Trial by jury, right to an attorney, protection from cruel and unusual punishment__b. Freedom of _speech, religion, press, assembly, and to petition______c. Treason is not _criticism____ of the government-- it is direct acts of war against the government or the aiding of foreign countries against the government.THE CONSTITUTION AND THE AMENDMENT PROCESS16573599060Methods of Proposal00Methods of Proposal407479586360Methods of Ratification00Methods of Ratification3937635152400Method 1By legislatures in 3/4 of the states(in all but one case, this is how amendments have been ratified)00Method 1By legislatures in 3/4 of the states(in all but one case, this is how amendments have been ratified)51435152400Method 12/3 vote in both houses00Method 12/3 vote in both houses256603591440Usual Method00Usual Method256603530480002859405843915004852035966470Or00Or39376351309370Method 2Ratified through conventions in ? of the states.00Method 2Ratified through conventions in ? of the states.3023235210947000851535966470Or00Or-2914651195070Method 2 00Method 2 222313596647000-2914653481070Questions for DiscussionWhat is a constitutional amendment? Why do you think the Founders built in the amendment process into the Constitution? Since the Constitution’s ratification in 1788, there have only been twenty-seven amendments added to the original document. Why is it so difficult to change the Constitution? Do you think the constitutional amendment process needs to be changed? Explain why or why not.00Questions for DiscussionWhat is a constitutional amendment? Why do you think the Founders built in the amendment process into the Constitution? Since the Constitution’s ratification in 1788, there have only been twenty-seven amendments added to the original document. Why is it so difficult to change the Constitution? Do you think the constitutional amendment process needs to be changed? Explain why or why not. ................
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