Unit One: Foundations of
Government
History of the Government
Coming of Independence:
• First Continental
Congress
• Second Continental
Congress
• Dec of Independence
signed July 4, 1776.
Independent from
England
• Believed in popular
sovereignty
Enlightenment Philosophers
• John Locke:
– Fundamental duty to protect the rights of people
– Natural rights
– Government’s power comes from the people, not
from God.
• Thomas Hobbes:
– Believed people were selfish by nature
– Believed government needed to control
– Social contract: People agreed to submit to an
authoritarian ruler to prevent disorder
• Voltaire:
– Admired democratic nature of English institutions
– French writer
– Proposed tolerance, freedom of religion and free
speech
• Jean Jacques Rousseau:
– Advocated democracy
– Social contract an agreement among free
individuals to create a government that would
respond to the people’s will
• Baron de Montesquieu:
– Separation of powers: dividing government into
equal responsibilities
Enlightenment Philosophers
• John Locke:
– Fundamental duty to protect the rights of people
– Natural rights: life, liberty, property
– Government’s power comes from the people, not
from God.
• Thomas Hobbes:
– Believed people were selfish by nature
– Believed government needed to control
– Social contract: People agreed to submit to an
authoritarian ruler to prevent disorder
• Voltaire:
– Admired democratic nature of English institutions
– French writer
– Proposed tolerance, freedom of religion and free speech
• Jean Jacques Rousseau:
– Advocated democracy
– Social contract an agreement among free individuals to
create a government that would respond to the people’s
will
• Baron de Montesquieu:
– Separation of powers: dividing government into three
separate branches
– Legislature to make laws
– Executive to enforce laws
– Courts to interpret them
GOVERNMENT
Purposes of
Government
1.
2.
3.
4.
Form a more perfect union
Establish justice
Insure domestic tranquility
Provide for the common
defense
5. Promote the general
welfare
6. Secure the blessings of
liberty
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
1. Democracy:
Political authority rests with people
Direct or Indirect
A . Presidential: powers separated by
branches
B. Parliamentary: executive branch of
legislature
C. Federal: power shared by local and
national government
D. Confederate: power centered in
local governments
E. Unitary: power centered in
national government
2. Dictatorship:
2. Dictatorship
- Rulers not responsible to the people
- Government not accountable for policies or how
they are carried out
- Most totalitarian, militaristic
A. Autocracy: one person rules
B. Oligarchy: small group rules
Basic Concepts of a Democracy
5 Basic Concepts of Democracy:
1. Individual Worth: recognition of fundamental
worth and dignity of every person
2. Equality: Respect for the equality of all persons
3. Majority Rule, Minority Rights: faith in majority
rule and an insistence upon minority rights
4. Compromise: acceptance of the necessity of
compromise
5. Individual Freedom: insistence upon the widest
possible degree of individual freedom
Origins of the State
. Characteristics of State
a. Population
b. Territory- land with known and recognized
boundaries
c. Sovereignty- supreme power within its
territory
d. Government- agency through which state
exerts will
• Based off the Forced Theory, Evolutionary Theory,
Divine Right, Social Contract Theory
We are Independent, now what?
1. Limited:
A. Not all powerful
B. Individual rights
2. Representative:
A. Serve will of all people
B. People have voice
3. Order
A. Regulate relationships
B. Based on English Rights
Due Process used
Bicameral (TWO) or
Unicameral (ONE)
Articles of Confederation
WEAKNESSES:
1. Congress lacked power to tax, regulate
trade
2. Laws required approval of 9 of 13 states
3. Change of articles require approve of all
13 states
Why would these concepts makes the Articles
weak?
EFFECTS OF WEAKNESSES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Congress ask Senate for money
States bickered, made treaties, taxed goods
Violence
Congress very weak
Bell Ringer 1/25/12
• What is the difference between a Federalist
and a Anti Federalist?
USE YOUR BOOK!
Independence Hall, 1787
Welcome Delegates
Today you will be a
delegate from one of the
12 states trying to ratify
the Constitution.
Please choose a state to
represent and take out
your notebook.
Be ready to argue for
what your state wants to
see in the Constitution.
Constitutional Convention
• May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at
Independence Hall to address problems in governing
• Convention was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation
• delegates elected George Washington to preside over the
convention.
• Issues:
–
–
–
–
A. the distribution of political power
B. the rights of individuals
C. the rights of states
D. slavery
• Ratified by the required ninth state (New Hampshire), the
Constitution took effect on March 4, 1789.
Constitutional Plans
Virginia Plan:
• Proposed at
Constitutional
Convention 1787.
• Called for 2 separate
houses in Congress.
• Felt larger states should
have more freedoms.
Compromise: HOUSE
New Jersey Plan:
- Proposed in response to
Virginia plan (J.
Madison)
- Small states upset with
no say or power
Compromise: SENATE
PLANS, COMPROMISES RATIFIED!
Constitutional Compromises
Government not working
under articles, must
fix it.
1. Three-Fifths: Slaves
count for 3/5th for
tax and population
2. Connecticut/Great:
Bicameral Congress
(House=population,
Senate= equal)
3. Commerce & Slave
Trade: Congress can’t
tax exports, Congress
regulate Commerce
We now have our
Constitution!!!
Classroom Constitution
• Each state will come up with 3 ideas and
REASONS that will become “laws of the
classroom (must be appropriate)
• Will vote on them in class, must have 9 of 12
to pass.
• Think of ideas that you would want to see in a
classroom.
• Use your time to try to get other states on
board with your idea
Period 6 Constitution
• Retake failed test, average two test scores for
the final grade
• “A” on test = homework pass
• 2 passes for the semester
• One project and/or simulation per unit
Amendments 11-27
•
Amendment 11: Clearly states the judicial powers of the US states and the federal
government on foreign nationals and the limitations of the citizens to sue states
under federal law. Ratified on 2/7/1795.
Amendment 12: Specifies the procedure for electing the president and the vicepresident of the US separately by ballot votes. Ratified on 6/15/1804.
Amendment 13: Establishes the abolishment of slavery from the US and all the
places that fall under its jurisdiction. Ratified on 12/6/1865. ABOLISH SLAVERY
Amendment 14: Broadly defines the parameters of the US citizenship, prohibits
the states from reducing or diminishing the privileges of citizens and emphasizes
their 'right to due process and the equal protection of the law'. Ratified on
7/9/1868. RIGHTS TO ALL.
Amendment 15: The citizens' right to vote shall not be denied by the states or the
federal government on the basis of race, color or previous status of servitude.
Ratified on 2/3/1870. RIGHT TO VOTE REGARDLESS OF COLOR/RACE
Amendments 11-27
• Amendment 16: Authorizes the federal government to collect taxes on
income without apportionment. Ratified on 2/3/1913. INCOME TAXES
Amendment 17: Establishes the direct election of the senators to the
United States Senate. Ratified on 4/8/1913.
Amendment 18: Prohibits the manufacture, sale, transportation, import
or export of intoxicating beverages within the US and all the territories
falling under its jurisdiction. Ratified on 1/16/1919. PROHIBITION
Amendment 19: Establishes that the citizens' right to vote shall not be
denied on the basis of their gender or sex. Ratified on 8/18/1920.
Amendment 20: States in detail the terms of office that the President, the
Vice-President, the Senators and the Representatives shall hold. Ratified
on 1/23/1933.
Amendment 21: Repeals 18th Amendment
Amendment 11-27
•
Amendment 22: Establishes that the Presidential term is limited to two years and a
person shall be elected to the presidential office only once. Ratified on 2/27/1951.
Amendment 23: Allows the representation of the District of Columbia in the
Presidential elections. Ratified on 3/29/1961.
Amendment 24: Prohibits the non-payment of poll tax or other tax as a basis of
denial of the right to vote. Ratified on 1/23/1964.
Amendment 25: The Vice President shall become President in case the President
is removed from office or in case of his death. Ratified on 2/10/1967.
Amendment 26: Prohibits the federal government or the state from denying any
citizen who is 18 years or above, the right to vote. Ratified on 7/1/1971.
Amendment 27: Establishes that any law that increases or decreases the
Congressional pay shall not be put to effect until the next term of office of the
representatives begins. Ratified on 5/7/1992.
Formal Amendment Process
Proposed by Congress by a
2/3rd vote in both houses
Option 1: Ratified by ¾ of
State legislatures
OR
Option 2: Ratified by
conventions in ¾ of state
Proposed at a national
convention called by
Congress when requested
by 2/3 of State legislatures
Option 3: Ratified by ¾ of the
State legislature
OR
Option 4: Ratified by
conventions in3/4 of states
Powers Divided: Delegated Powers
FEDERAL:
Types: Expressed, Implied,
Inherent, Exclusive
• Coin money
• Regulate trade
• Maintain army
• Grant patents/copyrights
• Make treaties
• Regulate immigration
• Acquire territory
• Protect against rebellion
STATE:
Type: Reserved
• Set marriage laws
• Issue licenses
• Establish public schools
• protect/promote health,
safety, morals, public
safety
• Powers not granted to
Federal Government
Checks and Balances
Responsibilities of Federal
Government
1. Republican Government:
1.
Representative government
2. Protection from Invasion
and Internal Disorder
1. Protect each State
against foreign attack
2. Restore order within
States
3. Respect for Territory:
1. Recognize legal
existence of States
2. Recognize physical
boundaries of States
States Work Together to Preserve
Union
1. Interstate Commerce:
1. Agreements
2. Full Faith and Credit:
1. Respect public acts, records, judicial proceedings
2. Divorce recognized in State person is a resident
3. Extradition:
1. Fugitives returned
4. Privileges and Immunities:
1. Rights granted to citizens must be equal