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

The Executive Branch

The Judicial Branch

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.