sol ce 2 foundations of american government

Foundations of American GovernmentSOL CE 2

Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a

• The student will demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of American constitutional government by• a) explaining the fundamental principles of

consent of the governed, limited government, rule of law, democracy, and representative government;


• What is a foundational principle?• A foundation is the basis for something.

It is something that you build upon.• A principle is a key idea.


• What are the key principles?• Limited Government• Consent of the Governed• Rule of Law• Democracy• Representative Government


• Limited Government• The government is not all powerful and

may only do what the people allow it to do.

• In other words the government cannot do everything and anything it wants. It is limited by the people.

• These limits are found in the US Constitution.


• Examples of Limited Government• Due Process• Ex Post Facto Laws• Bills of Attainder• Writ of Habeas

Corpus


• Consent of the Governed• The Government may only do what the

people allow.• In other words the government receives

the permission to govern by the will of the people.


• Where in the Constitution can we see consent of the governed?• The phrase, “We the

people…” shows the government receives it’s power from the people.


• Rule of Law• Everyone, including those in government,

are held to the same law.• In other words everyone is equal under the

law.


• Examples of Rule of Law• Celebrities going to

jail.• Impeaching a

governor.• Famous people doing

community service


• Democracy• A system of government where the people rule. • In a democracy the people make the rules.• A direct democracy occurs when people make

the laws directly by voting on those laws.


• Examples of democracy:• Ancient Greece• The people of

Amherst, Virginia voting on a leash ordinance.


• Representative Government• A system of government where people

elect public officials to make laws for them.

• In other words: people choose individuals to make laws on their behalf.


• Examples of Representative Government:• Ancient Rome• Voting on senators,

representatives, delegates, and local legislatures.


Foundational Principles of American

Government

Limited Government

ConsentOf the

Governed

Rule ofLaw

DemocracyRepresentative

Government

Significant Documents SOL CE 2b

• The student will demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of American constitutional government by• b) explaining the significance of the

charters of the Virginia Company of London, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights;


• Charters of the VA Company of London• Guaranteed the

colonists their rights as English Citizens.


• The Virginia Declaration of Rights• Served as a model

for the Bill of Rights


• The Declaration of Independence• Stated grievances

against the king.• Grievances are

complaints or problems you have with someone.


• The Declaration of Independence• Declared the

colonists’ independence from England


• The Declaration of Independence• Affirmed certain

unalienable rights• Life• Liberty• Pursuit of happiness

• Unalienable rights are also called natural rights


• The Declaration of Independence• Affirmed that all

people are equal under the law.


• The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom• This gave absolute

religious freedom of belief and thought


• Articles of Confederation• Established the first form of government in

the United States• Most of the power belonged to the states


• Articles of Confederation• Created a weak

central government• No power to tax• No power to enforce

laws

• Led to the writing of the US Constitution


• The US Constitution• Has the three parts

• Preamble – Introduction• Articles – Explains how the government should

operate.• Amendment – Changes to the US Constitution.

The first ten are called The Bill of Rights


• Established the structure of the United States government• The Articles

• Guaranteed equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected

• Affirmed individual worth and dignity of all people


• Guaranteed the fundamental freedoms of religion, assembly, press, petition, and speech in the first amendment


DocumentsThat inspired

(or led to)The

US Constitution

The Charters ofThe

CompanyOf

London

The Virginia DeclarationOf Rights

The DeclarationOf

Independence

The VirginiaStatute forReligiousFreedom

The Articles ofConfederation

The Preamble of the US Constitution SOL CE 2c

• The student will demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of American constitutional government by• c) identifying the purposes for the

Constitution of the United States as stated in its Preamble


• What is the preamble?• It is the introduction of the US Constitution• It lists the goals and purposes of the US

Government


• To form a more perfect union• The founders wanted a government that

worked together as one.• They wanted a government that was better

than the government created by the Articles of Confederation

• To establish justice• Established fairness under the law

• To ensure domestic tranquility• Peace in the US


• To provide for the common defense• Protect the people

• To promote the general welfare• To create a safe environment for the people

• To secure the blessings of liberty• To make sure all citizens were always

guaranteed their rights and freedoms


• The Preamble begins with the phrase, “We the people…” which shows the power of the US government comes from the people. The concept of Consent of the Governed


Secure theBlessingsOf liberty

Promote theGeneralwelfare

Provide forThe common

defense

EnsureDomestictranquility

Establishjustice

To form aMore perfect

union

Goals of theUS

Government

The Amendment Process for the US and VA Constitutions SOL CE 2d

• The student will demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of American constitutional government by • d) identifying the procedures for amending

the Constitution of Virginia and the Constitution of the United States.


• The US Constitution• The amendment process is complex.• The Constitution explains the process for

amending the Constitution• To date, there are 27 amendments to the

Constitution of the United States.• Amendment process:

• Proposal: action by Congress or convention• Ratification: by the states


• The Virginia Constitution• The VA Constitution has been amended

many times• The VA Constitution explains the

amendment process for the VA Constitution

• Amendment process:• Proposal: action by General Assembly or

convention• Ratification: by voters of Virginia

sol ce 2 foundations of american government

Education

foundational principles

significant documents

b documents

system of government

form of government

limited government consent

united states government

examples oflimited government