Seven Government Principles

1. Federalism – powers of government are divided (and shared) between the national (federal) and state governments.

2. Limited Government – government is not all-powerful; members of the government must follow the law.

3. Individual Rights – people have basic rights that the government cannot take away.

4. Popular Sovereignty: the people rule; the power of government comes from the people; people control their government through voting.

5. Republicanism – government is run by elected representatives (‘reps’ of the ‘public’).

6. Checks and Balances – each branch of the national (federal) government can limit or control the other two branches (to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful)

7. Separation of Powers –the power of the national (federal) government is separated into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

FLIPRCS= mnemonic “Flip rocks”

Principles in Founding Documents• Magna Carta – limited government,

individual rights, & separation of powers• Virginia House of Burgesses – popular

sovereignty & republicanism• Mayflower Compact – popular sovereignty• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut –

popular sovereignty & limited government• English Bill of Rights – individual rights,

limited government, & separation of powers

The Constitution

Three Branches:LegislativeExecutiveJudicial

Legislative BranchArticle I

• Congress

**BICAMERAL**• House of

Representatives

• Senate

• Makes the laws

• Representation based on population

• Two representatives from each state

• There are 435 representatives.

• The more people that live in a state, the more representatives it has.

• Representatives serve for a term of two years.

• They can be elected for more than one term.

The House of Representatives

The Lower House

• There are 100 senators.

• Each state has two senators.

• A Senator is in office for 6 years. This is called a “term.”

• They can be elected for more than one term

• Senators meet in the U.S. Capitol building

The Senate

The Upper House

The Powers of CongressEnumerated Powers (Expressed):

A. Impose taxesB. Borrow fundsC. Regulate interstate commerce and international tradeD. Establish naturalization proceduresE. Establish bankruptcy lawsF. Coin and print moneyG. Punish counterfeiters H. Establish post officesI. Regulate copyrightsJ. Establish courtsK. Punish piracyL. Declare warM. Maintain an army and a navy (Power of Purse)

Executive Branch Article II

• President Requirements • Must enforce the laws• Elected for a 4 year term• Elected by the Electoral

College• Must be a natural born

citizen• Must be at least 35 years old• Receives a salary which

cannot be changed while s/he is in office

• Swears (promises) to preserve, Protect, and defend the Constitution

Executive Branch continued

• Powers • Commander-In-Chief of the military

• Can require written opinions from advisors

• Pardoning and reprieving for crimes other than treason

• Make treaties (with consent of the Senate)

• Nominate & appoint ambassadors & federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices (w/ consent for Senate)

Executive Branch cont

• Powers cont. • Commission all officers of the U.S.

• Convene either or both Houses of Congress.

• Receive ambassadors from other countries

Commission all officers of the U.S. Convene either or both Houses of Congress.Receive ambassadors from other countries

Executive Branch cont

• Duties

• Penalty

• Give Congress information on the State of the Union (condition of the nation)

• Recommend measures that s/he considers necessary for the benefit of the country

• See that all laws are faithfully executed (carried out or enforced)

• Can be removed from office for conviction of bribery, treason, or other high crimes or misdemeanors.

Secretary of State: Hillary ClintonSecretary of the Treasury: Timothy GeithnerSecretary of Defense: Robert M. Gates Department of JusticeAttorney General: Eric HolderSecretary of the Interior: Ken Salazar

Secretary of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack

Secretary of Commerce: Gary LockeSecretary of Labor: Hilda SolisSecretary of Health and Human Services: Kathleen SebeliusSecretary of Housing and Urban Development: Shaun DonovanSecretary of Transportation: Ray LaHoodSecretary of Energy: Steven Chu

Secretary of Education: Arne DuncanSecretary of Veterans' Affairs: Eric ShinsekiSecretary of Homeland Security: Janet Napolitano

Judicial Branch Article III

• Requirements

• Job

• Power

• No age requirement• No residency requirement• Put in office by Presidential

nomination: Senate confirmation• Term of office is LIFE!

• Hear cases• Interpret the Constitution• Utilize “JUDICIAL REVIEW”

{Marbury v Madison 1803}

Judicial Branch

• Supreme Court

• Appeals courts

• 1 Chief Justice• 8 Associate Justices• Only hears cases it

decides to hear• Cases may begin in

federal or state courts• 12 circuit courts of

appeals• Hear cases from district

courts• Hear cases from some

federal agencies

• District Courts • 94 districts; each has at least one court

• The “trial” courts of the federal system

• Handles civil and criminal cases.

The Federal Court System

• Dual court system (state and federal).

• Basic Judicial Requirements:– Jurisdiction (authority of a court to hear a

case)– Federal Question (Does it involve the

Constitution?)– Diversity of Citizenship (citizens from different

states?)

Types of Federal Courts

• U.S. District Courts (Trial Courts)

• Intermediate U.S. Courts of Appeals (Thirteen total, hear appeals from district courts)

• United States Supreme Court (Has original jurisdiction, but most work is appellate)