Government tek#8
• (8) Government. The student understands the American beliefs and
principles reflected in the U.S. Constitution.
• The student is expected to:
• (A) explain the importance of a written constitution;
• (B) evaluate how the federal government serves the purposes set forth
in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution;
• (C) analyze how the Federalist Papers explain the principles of the
American constitutional system of government;
• (D) evaluate constitutional provisions for limiting the role of
government, including republicanism, checks and balances, federalism,
separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights;
• (E) analyze the processes by which the U.S. Constitution can be
changed and evaluate their effectiveness; and
• (F) analyze how the American beliefs and principles reflected in the
U.S. Constitution contribute to our national identity.
What is the importance of a
constitution?
• We the people of the united states, in order to
form a more perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and
establish the constitution of the united states
of America.
http://wilstar.com/holidays/const.htm
What is a federal government?
• A Form of government with governmental
powers divided between a central
government and several regional
governments .
What is a Preamble?
• Although the preamble is not a source of
power for any department of the federal
government. The supreme court has often
referred to it as evidence of the origin,
scope, and purpose of the constitution.
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/preamble/
What are Federalist Papers and how
did it help the U.S. Constitution?
• The federalist papers were a series of articles
written under the pen name of by Alexander
Hamilton, James Madison, and john jay.
• The entire purpose of The Federalist Papers was to
gain popular support for the then-proposed
Constitution. Some would call it the most
significant public-relations campaign in history; it
is, in fact, studied in many public relations classes
as a prime example of how to conduct a successful
campaign.
http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/federalist/
What are republicans?
• Republicans-A republican form or system of
government; the principles or theory of
republican government.
What are checks and balances?
• Checks and Balances-are the constitutional
controls whereby separate branches of
government have limiting powers over each other
so that no branch will become supreme.
What is federalism?
• Federalism-A system of government in which
power is divided between a central authority
and constituent political units.
What is separation of powers?
• Separation of powers-prevents concentration of
power (seen as the root of tyranny) and
provides each branch with weapons to fight off
encroachment by the other two branches.
What are Popular sovereignty
• Popular sovereignty-doctrine under which the
status of slavery in the territories was to be
determined by the settlers themselves
How can the U.S.
Constitution be changed
• Only the Amendments can change the
constitution for example Amendment
III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered
in any house, without the consent of the
owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner
to be prescribed by law.