US. Government
Forms of Government
Mr. Halterman
Six Basic Principles of the Constitution
1. Popular Sovereignty
A. People want to be governed
2. Limited Government
Government is not all powerful
Rule of Law: Government and its officers are subject to, never above, the law (i.e. the Clinton
scandal)
3. Separation of Powers
Article One = Legislative Powers of the National Government
Article Two = Executive Powers of the National Government
Article Three = Judicial Powers of the National Government
4. Checks and Balances
A. Each branch is subjected to checks by the other branches
5. Judicial Review
Government works within the parameters of the Constitution
Unconstitutional: to declare illegal / a government action found to violate some provision in the
Constitution
6. Federalism
A. Division of power between central and regional governments
Question – The Constitution reflects the framers beliefs about people and their need for
government. Based on the six basic principles of the Constitution, what can you conclude about
the Framers’ view of human nature?
1.07
AG 05
US. Government
Forms of Government
Mr. Halterman
How do we classify governments?
1. Geographic distribution of power (i.e. There are no State governments: all
governmental authority rests with the National Government in Washington, D.C.)
2. Relationship between the legislative and executive branches (the President is elected
by the Senate, not by the people )
3. Number of people who participate in governing (One self-appointed legislative body rules the
country)
Geographic Distribution of power
Unitary government – a centralized government (all powers held by the government belong to a central
agency
Federal government – the powers of government are divided between a central government and several
local governments.
Confederation – an alliance of independent states that has power to handle only those matters that the
member states have assigned to it.
Relationship between Legislative and Executive Branches
Presidential government – separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of the
government. (they are independent and coequal)
Democracy – supreme political authority rests with the people. (government is conducted only by and
with the consent of the people)
Parliamentary government – executive is made up of the prime minister and that official’s cabinet. The
cabinet is the legislative branch.
Graphic organizer – Presidential and Parliamentary:
Pres. = voters vote on legislature and chief executive. Those branches choose the judicial branch.
Parl. = voters choose legislatures, who in-turn choose the exec. – together they choose the judicial branch.
Number who can participate
Dictatorship – those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. (Oldest and most
common form of government)
Direct democracy v. representative democracy (+/-)
Dir.: people vote directly on every issue
Rep.: people vote on the people who vote on every issue
1.07
AG 05