unit 2 principles of american government
TRANSCRIPT
Six Basic Principles of the Constitution
Chapters 3 and 4
Six Basic Principles of the Constitution
6 Themes evident throughout the Constitution
• Each principle illustrates HOW this document is a document of LIMITATIONS.– This shows distrust of
government.
• Why were the colonists fearful of powerful government?
Limited Government
Government is NOT all powerful, there are limits on what is can do
Constitution is the Supreme Law of the land and ALL government officials are subject to the document. (Rule of Law)
Evident throughout the Constitution, use of negative language throughout
Limited GovernmentExamples in the Constitution:
• Article 1, Section 9– no denial of habeas corpus– no bills of attainder– no ex post facto– no titles of nobility
• Article 1, section 10– no state shall enter into treaties
with foreign nations– no state shall coin its own
money
Limited Government
Examples in the Constitution
• Bill of Rights– Congress shall make no law
abridging the freedom of speech…– The rights of the people shall not
be abridged…– No quartering of troops
Six Principlesof American Government
1. Republicanism
2. Checks and Balances
3. Separation of Powers
4. Popular Sovereignty
5. Individual Rights
6. Federalism
We will discover: How each of these principles LIMIT government!
Note Bene: The 6 principles noted here are slightly different than the 6 principles in the textbook. (These align with the TEKs)
Republicanism• All citizens are represented
by a man or woman in both the federal government (Congress) and state government (Legislature)– These Representatives make
decisions for us
• Republican form of Government – each State is guaranteed at least 1 Representative and 2 Senators in Congress– (guaranteed by the
Constitution)
John Carter (R) Represents the Round Rock in the House of Representatives at the Federal level
Checks and BalancesEach branch checks over the
other two, to prevent abuse (again limiting government)
• The legislative makes a law– the executive can veto
• The executive vetoes– the legislative can override the
veto
• The judges make a law unconstitutional– the legislative can make an
amendment to the Constitution
• The executive appoints a judge– the legislative must confirm or
reject
Separation of Powers
• Article 1 – Only Legislative makes laws, coins money, taxes, borrows money, declares war, establishes post offices, makes lower courts, makes laws about naturalization, fixes weights and measurements
– 17 listed powers, and the "elastic clause"-Clause 18
• Article 2 – Only the Executive enforces laws, is Commander in Chief, appoints judges, pardons, vetoes, makes the State of the Union address, calls special sessions
• Article 3 – Only the Judges interpret the Constitution
Each branch has its OWN separate powers that the other two DO NOT
thus limiting the other two.
Popular Sovereignty• The people are the source of the
power. • We give our consent to those we
elect to speak in our behalf, but we are the source of power.
• Evident throughout the document:– In Preamble- "We the People" – Article 1 - the people elect
representatives to the House– Article 2 - the people indirectly elect
the President– Amendment 17 - the people directly
elect Senators– Amendment 1 - Free speech, press,
petition-implies we, the people will participate
If a majority of the people want something, should they get what the want?– Abortion, End of the War, Affirmative
Action, Close the Border, etc…
We the People limit the power of Representatives (by voting them out).How do Representatives limit the power of the people?
Individual Rights• Government exists to protect your
individual rights (Locke, Hobbes, Jefferson)
• Rights are something that are protected by government, not given by government
• Bill of Rights outlines several of these– Freedom of Speech
– Freedom of Religion
– Freedom of Press
– Freedom of Assembly
– Right to bear arms
– Right to a fair and speedy trial
• 14th amendment expands Bill of Rights to the states
• Civil Rights Act (1964)
Federalism• The federal government and its
sub-divisional governments (states) SHARE the powers of law-making, enforcing, and interpreting.
• All levels of government– (federal, state, and local)
have three branches– (legislative, executive, and judicial).
• The Constitution gives power to BOTH the federal and state governments
Federalism is like a three tiered layer cake.
Explain!