In what ways does the Capitalist economic system in the USA allow many American citizens to have a high standard of living? (KU4)

Explain capitalism- you can set up your own business, pay less wages, pay less tax. Example- Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Steve Jobs.

American Dream- Be successful, better lifestyle- only if you work hard.

•The Constitution

•The Bill of Rights

What am I learning today?

On the 4th of July 1776 America declared its independence from Britain. Britain refused to grant this independence and war broke out lasting until 1783.

After years of failing to agree how this new country should be run, an agreement was finally reached in September 1787 whenmost of the states involved gave approval to the American Constitution.

THE CONSTITUTION (1)

• It explains the rights that all Americans have and how the country is governed.

• The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.

• Famous amendments include the 2nd (guns) and 5th (right to remain silent)

THE CONSTITUTION (2)

The Bill of Rights is part of the Constitution where the rights of Americans are set out

BILL OF RIGHTS

Lesson Starter

1. What is a constitution?

2. What is an amendment?

The Constitution outlines the system of government in the USA. There are three

branches of government.

Federal Government in the USA

The Legislature

The Executive The Judiciary

Makes the country’s laws

Administers the country Explains and interprets the laws and the constitution

Congress

House of Senate

Representatives

VotersElect Elect

The President and The Vice-President

The Supreme CourtAppointed by the Presidentwith the advice and consent of the Senate

Heading: The Government of the USA

Match the correct heads and tails to make four accurate statements about the American Government.

HEADS

•The American Government has three branches…

•The Legislative Branch refers to the people who…

•The Executive Branch is headed by the …

•The Judicial Branch is basically the …

TAILS

• …court system that operates in the US.

•…of government- Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.

•…President of the USA, and it carries out the laws passed in Congress.

•…makes the laws in the US. i.e. the American Parliament (Congress)

Separation of Powers

The American people believe that it would be _______ for their elected representatives to have too much _______. They therefore have a special rule called the ‘Separation of Powers’. This means that all three branches of the American Government _________ power and _________ on the work of the other. The people who wrote the Constitution thought that it would help make the US a more ____________and fairly organised country.

Wordbank:

democratic dangerous share checkpower

Separation of Powers

The American people believe that it would be _______ for their elected representatives to have too much _______. They therefore have a special rule called the ‘Separation of Powers’. This means that all three branches of the American Government _________ power and _________ on the work of the other. The people who wrote the Constitution thought that it would help make the US a more ____________and fairly organised country.

Wordbank:

democratic dangerous share checkpower

FEDERAL LEVELREPRESENTATIVES

MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN)

PRESIDENT SENATOR

STATE LEVELREPRESENTATIVES

STATE ASSEMBLYMEMBER

STATE GOVERNOR STATE SENATOR

Who can you vote for?

PARTICIPATION IN ELECTING REPRESENTATIVES

FEDERAL LEVEL

•Voters can choose the P_________, a member of the House of R____________ and a US senator.

STATE LEVEL

There are many opportunities to vote for someone at state level. Two examples include:

1.Senator

2.

LOCAL LEVEL

At county level

you may be asked to vote for anything from Sheriff or town Mayor.

Federal v State • President• Armed forces• Foreign relations

(war, treaties)• Post office• Currency• Disputes between

states • FBI

• Governor• Local laws ( age of

marriage, age of drinking)

• Education• Punishments (capital)• Roads• Local taxes• Local law

enforcement

THE US CONSTITUTIONStandard Grade Modern Studies

Syllabus Area 3: Ideologies - USA

What is a CONSTITUTION?

A constitution is a set of rules which explain how the government

of a country works.

Why did the US need a Constitution?

• Between 1776 and 1783, the Americans fought the British to get their independence.

• In 1783, the British left.

• America had no government.

• Every country needs a government.

• How were the Americans going to form a government?

THE US CONSTITUTION

• The US has a written constitution.• It was signed in 1787.• It describes the government of the US

and what that government is allowed to do.

ARTICLE 1

• Describes how laws are made in the USA. It describes the work and membership of the House of Representatives and the Senate. It also describes what the government of the USA is entitled to make laws about.

ARTICLE 2

• Describes the power of the President, who is entitled to hold the office of President and how long they are entitled to hold that office.

AMENDMENTS

• In addition to the original Constitution there are 27 Amendments.

• The first ten Amendments are known as the BILL OF RIGHTS because they protect the rights of citizens of the US from the power of the government.

AMENDMENTS continued

• Amendment 1 – guarantees freedom of speech and religion.

• Amendment 2 – gives Americans the right to carry guns.

• Amendment 5 – allows Americans the right to silence if they think their answers might incriminate them.

• Amendment 6 – allows citizens the right to a trial by jury.