Chapter 3
Notes
The United States
Government
AHSGE Social Studies Review
Vocabulary/ Terms
 Federalism-
practice of dividing power
 Constitutionalismpower is divided
among various groups, but all groups
obey a system of laws called a
Constitution
Vocabulary/ Terms
 Checks
and balances- the three branches
of government have specific powers
(separation of powers) and can keep the
other branches from having too much
influence or power
 Amendmentschanges
in
the
Constitution
 Ratified- approved
Vocabulary/ Terms
 Electoral
college- a group of people
representing each state
 Elastic clause- gives Congress the power
to pass legislation necessary and proper
to carrying out its responsibilities
Main Influences/ Foundation
of the US Government
 Magna
Carta- protected the rights of
English nobles (the king’s power was not
absolute)
 John
Locke- English philosopher/
believed the government should derive its
power from the people it governed
Main Influences/ Foundation
of the US Government
 Jacques
Rousseau-
 French
 Wrote
philosopher
The Social Contract
 Believed
the right to rule should come
from the people- not the king
 Thomas Jefferson agreed and expressed
this idea in the Declaration of
Independence
Main Influences/ Foundation
of the US Government
 Baron
de Montesquieu
 Published
The Spirit of the Laws
 Said
government
should
possess
legislative,
executive,
and
judicial
authority to make, interpret, and enforce
the laws of the land.
 The functions should be divided to keep
one from being too powerful.
Main Influences/ Foundation
of the US Government
 Great
Awakening-
 revival
of evangelical Christianity in
American colonies
 Contributed to a sense of American
nationality before the Revolutionary War
 Life
on frontier- taught the value of
independence and self-reliance
Main Influences/ Foundation
of the US Government
 Freedom
of religion- people came to the
colonies seeking freedom of religion
 House
of Burgess- first colonial
assembly; symbolized the authority of the
people to limit the power of the king, and
was critical in developing state and
national governments.
Main Influences/ Foundation
of the US Government
 First
and Second Continental Congressbrought together delegates from the 13
colonies (except Georgia)
 First
Continental Congress- first time
state representatives met together
 Both were a model for forming the US
government
Main Influences/ Foundation
of the US Government
 Declaration
of Independence-
 established
general principles of human
rights
 Laid a foundation for the US government
to establish equal rights for all people
Articles of Confederation
 Proposed
an alliance between the 13
independent states
 Powers of the government Congress
 Declare
could
war
 Raise an army and navy
 Make foreign treaties and alliances
Articles of Confederation
 Powers
of the government cont.
 Congress
 Coin
could
and borrow money
 Regulate weights and measures
 Establish a post office
 Regulate Indian affairs
 Pass laws by 9 of the 13 states
 Make amendments with a unanimous vote of
all states
Articles of Confederation
 Powers
of Congress cont.
 Congress
could not
 Levy
taxes
 Regulate foreign or domestic trade
 Settle disputes among states
 Collect state debts owed to
government
 Enforce any of it powers
central
Articles of Confederation
 Strengths
 States
retained rights
 Central government established a post
office
 Weaknesses
 Loose
bonds between independent states
Articles of Confederation
 Weaknesses
 One
cont.
vote in Congress for each state
 There was no executive or judicial power
 Amendments required a unanimous vote
Constitutional Convention
 Constitutional
Convention- meeting of
delegates from each state to revise the
Articles of Confederation
 Virginia Plan- representation in Congress
would be based on state population
 New Jersey Plan- each state would have
one vote in Congress
Constitutional Convention
 Great
Compromise- divided Congress into two
houses
 Senate- each state represented by two
senators
 House of Representatives- each state had
representatives in proportion to its population
 Three-fifths
Compromise- slaves were
counted as 3/5 of a person in population
count
 Slavery issue would not be addressed for 20
years
United States Constitution
 Written
by James Madison
 Power was divided between the states and
the federal government
 Preamblestates the purpose of
establishing a new government under the
Constitution
 Article 1: establishes the Legislative
branch
United States Constitution
 Article
2: outlines the Executive
(President of the US)
 Article 3: explains the Judicial
(Supreme Court)
 Article 4: gives the relations
states and between states and the
government
branch
branch
among
federal
United States Constitution
 Article
5: provides for amendments to the
Constitution
 Article 6: covers other miscellaneous
provisions like public debts, supreme law
of the land, and oaths to support the
Constitution
 Article 7: explains ratification of the
Constitution (9 out of 13 states required)
Branches of the Government
 Legislative-
Congress (Senate and House)
makes the laws
 Executive- the President carries out and
enforces the laws passed by Congress
 Judicial- the Supreme Court and other
courts interpret or explain the laws
Federalists
 Supported
the
ratification
of
the
Constitution
 Wanted a strong central government
 Federalist Papers- newspaper articles
written to persuade people to support the
Constitution
Anti-Federalists
 Did
not
support
the
proposed
Constitution
 Wanted states to retain more power and
limit the power of central government
 The Constitution lacked a bill of rights
that would protect the people
The Bill of Rights
 1.
Freedom of religion, speech, press,
assembly, and petition
 2. Right to keep and bear arms
 3. Quartering of troops in people’s
homes only allowed with people’s
permission
 4. Search and seizure- police need to get
a warrant to search your home
The Bill of Rights
 5.
Rights of the accused person (right to
remain silent and to have a lawyer)
 6. Right to a speedy trial
 7. Right to a jury trial in civil cases
 8. Rights concerning bail, fines, and
punishments (no cruel or unusual
punishment)
The Bill of Rights
 9.
Powers reserved to the people
 10. Powers reserved to the states
Amendments to the Constitution
 13th-
abolished slavery
 14th- Civil Rights of all people born or
naturalized in the US are guaranteed
 15th- all male citizens have the right to
vote regardless of race or color
 16th- income tax
Amendments to the Constitution
 17th-
people elect senators
 18th- prohibition (alcohol)
 19th- women are guaranteed the right to
vote
 21st- repealed 18th amendment (people
could have alcohol again)
George Washington’s Farewell Address
 Served
as President for 8 years
 Emphasized that the US should stay neutral and
avoid permanent alliances with other nations
 Warned against the formation of political parties
(they would divide the nation, work for special
interests, and no longer work for the good of
the people)
 Believed good government is based on religion
and morality
America’s First Two Political Parties
 Federalists
 Supported
the Constitution
 Supported strong central government
 Interpreted
the Constitution loosely
(giving powers not specifically stated)
 James Madison/ Alexander Hamilton/ John
Jay
America’s First Two Political Parties
 Democrat-Republicans
 Favored
states retaining authority
 Wanted power in the hands of the people
 Interpreted
the Constitution strictly
(giving powers only as stated)
 Thomas Jefferson
John Marshall
 Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court
 Marbury v Madison- established the
Supreme Court’s right of Judicial Review
(had the right to declare whether laws
passed by Congress were constitutional
or not)
 Gibbons v Ogden- ruled that Congress
alone had the power to regulate interstate
and foreign commerce