Foundations of American Government
SOL 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;
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• 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.
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• What are the key principles?
• Limited Government
• Consent of the Governed
• Rule of Law
• Democracy
• Representative Government
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• 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.
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• Examples of
Limited
Government
•
•
•
•
Due Process
Ex Post Facto Laws
Bills of Attainder
Writ of Habeas
Corpus
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• 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.
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• 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.
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• Rule of Law
• Everyone, including those in government,
are held to the same law.
• In other words everyone is equal under
the law.
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• Examples of Rule of
Law
• Celebrities going to
jail.
• Impeaching a
governor.
• Famous people doing
community service
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• 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.
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• Examples of
democracy:
• Ancient Greece
• The people of
Amherst, Virginia
voting on a leash
ordinance.
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• 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.
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
• Examples of
Representative
Government:
• Ancient Rome
• Voting on senators,
representatives,
delegates, and local
legislatures.
Foundational Principles SOL CE 2a
Foundational
Principles of
American
Government
Limited
Government
Consent
Of the
Governed
Rule of
Law
Democracy
Representative
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;
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• Magna Carta
• King John
• Lists rules that he must abide by just as
the nobles and church leaders.
• Establishes the Rule of Law
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• Charters of the VA
Company of
London
• Guaranteed the
colonists their rights
as English Citizens.
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• The Virginia
Declaration of
Rights
• Served as a model
for the Bill of Rights
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• The Declaration of
Independence
• Stated grievances
against the king.
• Grievances are
complaints or
problems you have
with someone.
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• The Declaration of
Independence
• Declared the
colonists’
independence from
England
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• The Declaration of
Independence
• Affirmed certain
unalienable rights
• Life
• Liberty
• Pursuit of happiness
• Unalienable rights
are also called
natural rights
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• The Declaration of
Independence
• Affirmed that all
people are equal
under the law.
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• The Virginia
Statute for
Religious Freedom
• This gave absolute
religious freedom of
belief and thought
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• Articles of Confederation
• Established the first form of government
in the United States
• Most of the power belonged to the states
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• 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
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• 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
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• 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
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
• Guaranteed the fundamental freedoms
of religion, assembly, press, petition,
and speech in the first amendment
Significant Documents SOL CE 2b
Documents
That inspired
(or led to)
The
US Constitution
The Charters of
The
Company
Of
London
The Virginia
Declaration
Of Rights
The Declaration
Of
Independence
The Virginia
Statute for
Religious
Freedom
The Articles of
Confederation
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
The Preamble of the US Constitution
SOL CE 2c
• What is the preamble?
• It is the introduction of the US
Constitution
• It lists the goals and purposes of the US
Government
The Preamble of the US Constitution
SOL CE 2c
• 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
The Preamble of the US Constitution
SOL CE 2c
• 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 of the US Constitution
SOL CE 2c
• 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
The Preamble of the US Constitution
SOL CE 2c
To form a
More perfect
union
Secure the
Blessings
Of liberty
Establish
justice
Goals of the
US
Government
Promote the
General
welfare
Ensure
Domestic
tranquility
Provide for
The common
defense
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 Amendment Process for the US and
VA Constitutions SOL CE 2d
• 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 Amendment Process for the US and
VA Constitutions SOL CE 2d
• 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