Rules without a relationship
leads to rebellion.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
PLEASE FILL OUT THE
FOLLOWING
NAME
WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT?
WHAT ARE YOU NOT SO GOOD
AT?
WHAT TYPES OF CLASSES DO
YOU ENJOY?
3 INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT
YOU
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF
IN 1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10YEARS
Government
Define and give an example of each:
a. Government –
b. Public policies –
c. What powers does a government have?
Chapter 1, Section 1
Powers of Government
 Each government has and exercises these 3
powers
 Legislative Power
 Executive Power
 Judicial Power
 Can a government be affective without
having one of these powers?
Is Government Necessary?
a. Would our society be better or
worse off if there were no
government?
c. Explain why.
b. Note three positive reasons for
government
Who Has These Powers?
 Democracy- when responsibility for the exercise of
the powers of government rests with a majority of
the people.
 Dictatorship- One person or small group of people
is responsible for exercising the powers of
government.
 Which are we?
 "Democracy is the most demanding of all forms of
government in terms of the energy, imagination and
public spirit required of the individual.“
 Write 1 page detailing, what you believe, is an
Americans civic duty.
 Should free riders be required to pay more taxes
since they are not contributing in other ways?
 Should those that participate in democracy receive
extra benefits?
The State
 State- a body of people, living in a defined territory,
organized politically, with the power to make and
enforce laws.
 4 characteristics every state must have.
 Population
 Territory
 Sovereignty- has supreme and absolute power
within its own territory
 Government
Which are “States”? (Circle)
Population
Marshall
Schools
City of
Marshall
Minnesota
US
Territory
Sovereignty
Government
Page 7-8
 a. read each of the four theories of the origin of
the “State”: Force, Evolutionary, Divine Right,
& Social Contract.
 b. Choose the one that makes the most sense to
you. Explain why.
Unit 1: Principles of Government
 Review
 Government- The institution through which a
society makes and enforces its public policies.
 Three Powers of Government
1. Legislative
2. Executive
3. Judicial
Governments can be classified by
three different standards:
(1) The geographic distribution of the governmental
power within the state(Nation).
(2) The relationship between the legislative
(lawmaking) and the executive (law-executing)
branches of the government
(3) Who can participate in the governing process. Who
has the power?
Chapter 1, Section 2
7. Government Distribution of Power
•Put an “X” on the line representing how much
power the central government holds in each.
•Put a “0” for how much power the local or
regional government have.
All
0
Unitary
Confederacy
Federal
•Unitary
Unitary
Government
•Central Gov has
•all gov power
•A unitary government has
all powers held by a
single, central agency.
•Local or Regional Gov have very little power
•Put an “X” on the line representing how much
power the central government holds in each.
•Put a “0” for how much power the local or
regional government have.
All
0
X
O
Unitary
Confederacy
Federal
Confederate Government
•A confederation is an alliance of independent states.
•Central Government has little power
Local or Regional Governments have most all
the power.
•Put an “X” on the line representing how much
power the central government holds in each.
•Put a “0” for how much power the local or
regional government have.
All
0
X
O
O
X
Unitary
Confederacy
Federal
Federal Government
•A federal government is one
in which the powers of
government are divided
between a central
government and several
local governments.
•An authority superior to
•Central has
•some powers
both the central and local
governments makes this
division of power on a
geographic basis.
Regional/Local Governments have some powers
•Put an “X” on the line representing how much
power the central government holds in each.
•Put a “0” for how much power the local or
regional government have.
All
X
O
X
O
0
O
X
Unitary
Confederacy
Federal
Chapter 1, Section 2
Who Can Participate in Government?
 Democracy
1.
2.

Representative Democracy- a small group of
persons, chosen by the people to act as their
representatives, expresses the popular will
Direct Democracy- The will of the people is
translated into public policy directly, by the
people themselves, in mass meetings.
Which do we use most often in the United
States? Why?
Who Can Participate in Government?
 Dictatorship
Autocracy- single person holds unlimited
political power
2. Oligarchy- power to rule is held by a small self
appointed elite
1.
Forms of Government
Marshall Schools?
Chapter 1, Section 2
Foundations of Democracy
The American concept of democracy rests on these
basic notions.
1. Worth of the individual


Each individual, no matter what his or her station in life, is a
separate and distinct being.
At various times, the welfare of one or a few individuals is
subordinated to the interests of the many in a democracy.
Come up with 3 examples of this from our democracy.
Foundations of Democracy
 Equality of all Persons
 What does this mean?
1.
Equality of opportunity
2.
Equality before the law
Have we met this standard in our democracy?
Foundations of Democracy
 Majority Rule, Minority Rights
 Democracy argues that a majority of people will be right, more
often than they will be wrong, and that the majority will also be
right more often than will any one person or small group.
Do you agree with this premise?
 What are the rights of the minority?
 Why is it important to maintain minority rights?
Foundations of Democracy
 Necessity of Compromise
 Why is compromise essential in a functioning, effective
democracy?
 Individual Freedom
 How much individual freedom can a democracy have(Where
should the line be drawn?
 “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose
begins” Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
Vocabulary Assignment













Definition
Sentence
Picture on the backside
Unitary government
Federal government
Confederate government
Parliamentary government
Presidential government
Representative Democracy
Direct democracy
Dictatorship
Autocracy
oligarchy
What Would You Rather Have?
 Dictatorship or Democracy?
 Who was Plato?
 "The penalty good men pay
for indifference to public affairs,
is to be ruled by evil men."
 Plato challenged the idea that a democracy is the best
form of government. He wrote about an ideal state with
an ideal form of government. He called this imaginary
place utopia.
 What is utopia?
 “It has been said that democracy is the worst
form of government except all the others that
have been tried.” Winston Churchhill
 Do you agree with Winston Churchhill? Why
or why not?
Democracy and the Free Enterprise System
 Free Enterprise System (Free Market, Capitalism)-
Goods are owned by individuals rather than
government. Prices are decided by the law of supply
and demand.
 How does supply and demand work?
 Are a democracy and a free market system the same?
Do they have to go together?
 Does America have a free market system?
Government and the Free Enterprise System
 Mixed Economy- economy in which private
enterprise exists in combination with a considerable
amount of government regulation and “promotion”.
 Journal-What are some examples of government
involvement in the economy?

Come up with 15 of them
 Government’s participation in the economy serves a
two fold purpose


Protect the public
Preserve private enterprise
Happiest Country in the World
 Why are people in Denmark so much happier than
we are?
 What is the cost of all of the government benefits
they receive?
 Write at least a half page explaining why you believe
our government does too much, not enough, or just
the right amount for its citizens.
2-1 pg. 14
 Describe how power is distributed in the
following systems
 a. Unitary –
 b. Confederate Government –
 c. Federal -
8. Relationship between Executive and
Legislative Branch. (p. 16)
a. What are the two basic
forms of governments
under this classification?
b. Explain their major
differences.
 Gerald Ford (14 July 1913 – 26 December 2006) , the
38th President of the United States.
"A government big enough to give you everything
you want is a government big enough to take from
you everything you have.
Ordered Government- They created local
governments, based on those they had known in
England
 Limited Government- Colonists brought with them
the idea that government is not all powerful.

 Government is restricted in what it may do, and each
individual has certain rights that government cannot take
away.


Representative Government- Idea that government
should serve the will of the people.
These three ideas can be traced back to the following
landmark documents in English history.



The Magna Carta- Signed by King John in
1215
Included fundamental rights such as trial by
jury and due process of law, and protection
against the arbitrary taking of life, liberty and
property.
The Magna Carta established the principle
that the power of the monarchy was not
absolute.

The Magna Carta was respected by some
monarchs and ignored by others for 400 years.

Petition of Right-



(1628)signed by King Charles I,
the petition of rights limited the Kings power in several
ways.
Document demanded that the king no longer imprison
or otherwise punish any person except by the lawful
judgment of their peers, or by the law of the land.
No martial law (rule by military) in time of peace.
Homeowners no longer required to shelter king’s troops
without their consent.




English Bill of Rights- 1688
Stated that King and Queen could not
suspend law or execute law without
consenting parliament.
Could not spend money for use of the crown
without the consent of parliament.
It also states such rights as right to a fair trial,
freedom from excessive bail and from cruel
and unusual punishment.
What influence might these documents have
had on the founding fathers?
What else may have influenced their decisions
when forming our government?

List all prominent colonists who had significant contact with the Iroquois
League. How were they influenced by the Iroquois?

Record how the Iroquois government worked. How were the powers of
government delegated in the Iroquois form of government?

Your textbooks do not feature any information, regarding the impact of
Native Americans, on our American Government. What are some
possible reasons why?
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation
Philadelphia Convention






The Declaration announces the independence of
the United States,
Lists the “repeated injuries and usurpations” that
led the colonists to revolt.
States that “all men are created equal” and that all
men have the right to life liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.
That government exists to secure these rights.
That government gains their power through the
consent of the governed.
When government fails to do this it is the right of
the people to abolish it and institute new
government.


Declaration of Independence has no legal
relevance.
Articles of Confederation was the first
attempt to establish a lasting government for
the new nation





Congress was the sole body created.
Unicameral (1 house)- made up of
delegates chosen yearly by the states in
whatever way their legislatures might direct.
Each state had one vote in congress no
matter its population or wealth.
No executive or judicial branch
Congress could make war and peace, send
and receive ambassadors, make treaties,
borrow money, set up a money system,
establish military, settle disputes among the
states.





Article of Confederation had critical
weaknesses
Congress did not have the power to tax
Congress did not have the power to
regulate trade between the states.
Congress lacked power to make states obey
the Articles of Confederation or the laws it
made. Congress needed consent of 9 of the
13 states to exercise powers.
Articles could be amended only with the
approval of all 13 state legislatures.



55 delegates met from all the states but
Rhode Island.
Convention was originally to revise the
articles of confederation.
It was later decided that “that a national
government ought to be established
consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive
and Judiciary.”





Calls for a new government with three separate branches:
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
The Legislature (Congress) would be bicameral (two houses).
Representation in each house was to be determined based
upon each State’s population or upon the amount of money it
gave for the support of the central government.
The members of the lower house (house of representatives)
would be elected by the people. Members of the upper house
(senate) would be elected by the house from a list of people
chosen by the state’s legislature.
Congress would have all the powers it had under the articles
of confederation, with the addition of the power to legislate in
all cases the separate states are incompetent to act, and to
veto any state law in conflict with a national law.






Congress could use force if necessary to make a
state obey national law.
Congress would choose a “National Executive” and
a “National Judiciary”. Together these two
branches would form a “Council of revision”.
These two branches could veto acts passed by
Congress, but a veto could be overridden by the
two houses.
The Executive would have “a general authority to
execute the National laws”.
The Judiciary would consist of one or more
supreme courts and of inferior courts.
The Virginia Plan then, would create a new
constitution




Unicameral (one house) legislature
Each state will be equally represented
Along with the powers Congress already had,
they would be given the powers to tax and
regulate trade between states.
Called for Federal Executive and a Federal
Judiciary (court)


1 house or 2 houses in the legislature
(congress)
Should representation be based on
population or financial contributions like in
the Virginia plan, or should representation be
equal among the states like in the New Jersey
Plan?

Both wanted Congress with more power
◦ Power to tax
◦ Regulate trade between states

Both wanted Central Gov with three branches
◦ Executive
◦ Legislative
◦ Judicial






Huge conflict over representation
Conflict settled by creating two houses
One house with representation equal in each
state (senate)
Second house with representation determined
by population (house of representatives)
This settled the conventions most serious
dispute, and was pivotal to the writing of the
Constitution.
Often referred to as “Great Compromise”




List each of the types of government based on
geographic distribution of power. Tell me where
the power is located in each. (3pts)
Explain the philosophical influence/impact the
Landmark English Documents had on the people
who created our government. (2pts)
List 2 differences and 1 similarity between the
Virginia and New Jersey Plans. (3pts) Explain how
the two sides compromised in order to come up
with an agreed upon plan. (2pts)
Give 2 major problems with the Articles of
Confederation we talked about in class. (2pts)


Popular Sovereignty- In the US, all political
power resides in the people. The people are
sovereign. Government can govern only with
the consent of the governed.
Limited Government- Government power has
limits. Government must act in a
“constitutional way”. It must obey the law.
Government must obey the Rule of Law,
which states that the government is subject
to, never above, the law.



Separation of Powers- The Constitution of the
United States distributes power among Congress
(Legislative Branch), The President (Executive
Branch), and the courts (Judicial Branch).
Checks and Balances- Three branches are not
completely independent of one another. Each
branches power is constrained by constitutional
checks by the other branches.
Judicial Review- essential part of checks and
balances. Power of courts to determine whether
what the government does is constitutional.





Federalism- The division of power amongst the
central government and several local
governments.
Central Government- Federal Government
(Washington DC)
Local Governments- State Governments
The constitution divides the powers among the
two.
Colonists fight to gain freedom from a strong
central government, yet Articles of Confederation
featured a weak central government. The
Constitution was a compromise.









Limited Government
Representative Government
Bicameral
Unicameral
House of Representatives
Senate
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Popular Sovereignty


You will be split into one of the three
branches
Each branch will have a role in the simulation


Each representative must write a bill
proposal.
The final bill must include:
◦ Opening paragraph establishing the purpose of the
bill
◦ Bullet points laying out what will be censored
◦ A paragraph explaining how it should be censored
(made illegal, censoring agency etc……?)
◦ Final Paragraph summarizing why this bill is good
for the American People.
◦ Once the bill is finalized it must be voted on.





Must provide suggestions regarding
What should be censored
How it should be censored
Must be ready to veto the final version of the
bill or pass it.
Must prepare a press release on decision and
read it in class


Must research the constitution and its
amendments in order to determine if the bill
may be constitutional.
10 questions that might help determine the
constitutionality of the bill

Review the law making process◦ Was it efficient? Why or why not?
◦ Explain how checks and balances impacted the law
making process (examples of checks and balances
during the law making process. How does checks
and balances influence congress’ decision making?)
Where do you stand?


A person’s views on the issues help
determine where they fall on the political
spectrum.
The labels used on the spectrum are not pure
categories, but they make up a continuum, or
value line, and citizens and politicians fall
somewhere on that line depending on what
they believe.



Two major factors shape political views.
The first is how much change a person is
willing to have within their society and
government.
The second deals with how much
government involvement in the economy a
person calls for.


To see where you stand, you would have to
figure out where you stand on a number of
social (people-related), economic (moneyrelated), and political (governmental) issues.
First you need definitions of the terms
radical, liberal, conservative, and
reactionary. Some authors include the terms
authoritarian and libertarian.


Seen as being on the far
left of the political
spectrum, radicals call for
wide-sweeping rapid
change in the basic
structure of the political,
social, or economic
system.
They may be willing to
resort to extreme
methods to bring about
change, including the use
of violence and
revolution.
V.I. Lenin:
Mastermind of the
Russian Revolution
and Father of the
Soviet Union



Former Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi (D-California)
Liberals believe that the
government should be
actively involved in the
promotion of social
welfare of a nation’s
citizens.
They usually call for
peaceful, gradual
change within the
existing political
system.
They reject violent
revolution as a way of
changing the way things
are, often called the
status quo.



Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) is
generally seen as a moderate.
Moderates may share
viewpoints with both
liberals and
conservatives.
They are seen as tolerant
of other people’s views,
and they do not hold
extreme views of their
own.
They advocate a “goslow” or “wait-and-see”
approach to social or
political change.




John Boehner (R-Ohio) New Speaker
of the House (House majority leader.
People who hold conservative
ideals favor keeping things
the way they are or
maintaining the status quo.
Conservatives are usually
hesitant or cautious about
adopting new policies,
especially if they involve
government activism in some
way.
They feel that the less
government there is, the
better.
They agree with Jefferson’s
view that “the best
government governs least.”


Hitler’s Mein Kampf is a typical
reactionary manifesto
Sitting on the far right of
the ideological spectrum,
reactionaries want to go
back to the way things
were—the “good ol’ days.”
Often reactionaries are
willing to use extreme
methods, such as
repressive use of
government power, to
achieve their goals.
The term “reactionary is
generally negative. A
positive way to say the
same thing is “archconservative.”

Why do they choose the tactics shown in
the video?
What do these groups want?

Why do they feel their actions are justified?


Would these groups be radical or
reactionary? Explain why.


Which political topics are most important to
you?
How did you develop your opinions?
◦ What factors have shaped your opinions?





Family
◦ Lays the foundations
The school
◦ How does a school impact people?
Mass Media
◦ Which type of media do you choose to get
information from?
Peer Groups
Opinion Leaders
◦ Examples?

Historic Events
◦ How can historic events change public opinion?


What is the role of mass media in our society?
Are all media sources created equal?
◦ Explain

What makes a source of media more credible
than others?
◦ Which sources of media are the best? Explain

What are the limits of media’s influence?


What is media bias?
to cause partiality or favoritism in; influence
unfairly
◦ a particular tendency or inclination, esp. one that
prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question;
prejudice.

Do we have bias in our political media?
◦ Examples?


A political party is a group of citizens who
agree on major issues facing the nation.
These groups work to create public policies
that reflect their views.
Parties choose, or nominate, people they
want to elect to public office. These
candidates campaign to get elected.


Any American citizen
may join a political party
regardless of age, but
most members are
eighteen or older.
The United States has a
two-party system. The
Republicans emerged as
a major party in 1860
with the election of
Abraham Lincoln. The
Democratic Party formed
under Andrew Jackson
twenty years earlier.


Nominating Candidates
Informing and Activating Supporters
1. Each party works to inform and inspire voters
2. They campaign for their candidates , take
stands on issues, and criticize the candidates of
the opposition party
3. Each party tries to inform people as it thinks
they should be informed- to its own advantage

Bonding agent function
1. Ensures the good performance of its candidates
2. If it fails to do this it will suffer the consequences
in future elections.

Acting as Watchdog
1. This is especially true of the party not in power
2. Give some examples of the Republican party
playing watchdog.

Governing
1. Partisan vs. bipartisan

Write down everything you know about
◦ Republicans
◦ Democrats

Where would you place them on the
spectrum?



You must choose a topic to research.
◦ I am giving you one topic because I want you to
research each party’s views thoroughly. You will
need a good amount of detail in your answers if you
want to receive full credit.
You must provide summaries of both party’s views.
You must place the parties on the spectrum
according to their views on your topic.
◦ You must provide an explanation of why they belong where
you put them.




Democrats usually feel that the federal
government has a responsibility to help
the poor through government intervention.
Democrats are generally seen as leaning
to the left on the spectrum.
Republicans hold the view that leaving the
economy alone will allow for growth,
giving people greater ability to help
themselves. They believe in less
regulation.
Republicans are viewed as leaning to the
right on the political spectrum.



Where would you put the two major parties
overall? Explain why you put them where
you did?
Which Party is a greater reflection of your
political views? Explain why.
In what ways do you not feel represented
by the party of your choice?
◦ Why is it that your personal views are sometimes
not represented by the party of your choice??



A platform is a
statement that puts
forth the party's positions
on issues. Each individual
issue is called a plank.
Both parties want votes.
As a result, parties become
more moderate in their
platforms, moving away from
extreme positions.
The American people
generally
agree about many issues.
This unity forces the two
parties toward the center of
the political spectrum.



The United States has countless minor
parties.
Some have existed for decades and some are
short lived
4 distinct types of minor parties can be
identified.





Ideological Parties are political parties based on a
particular set of beliefs- a comprehensive view of
social, economic, and political matters.
Ideological parties want to change society in
major ways.
The Socialist and Communist Parties want to
nationalize major industries. The Green Party
calls for companies to respect the environment.
These seldom get many votes. Why might this be
the case?
Usually on the fringe of the spectrum





Focus only on matters of public policy
Names usually indicate primary concern
These parties tend to be short lived.
What are possible reasons for this?
Examples
◦ Right to life party
◦ United States Marijuana Party



No consistent agenda
Voice displeasure with government.
Want better times





Major Political party candidates split
off and form their own party.
Usually fade away when candidate
fades away.
Theodore Roosevelt- Bull Moose
Party
It was nicknamed the “Bull Moose
Party” because TR said he was “fit as
a Bull Moose”.
TR split the 1912 Republican vote,
allowing Democrat Woodrow Wilson
to defeat President William H. Taft

How can minor parties make an impact?
◦ No third party has ever gained control of the White
House. Sometimes, third parties win seats in
Congress or gain office in lower levels of
government.
◦ When these smaller groups challenge the two major
parties, they can change the outcome of elections.
◦ Their most important role is to influence policy on
one or more issues.




Familiarity
Campaign Funds
On the fringe
Afraid of “wasted vote”

Look at page 137
◦ List questions you believe you will be answering.

Read pages 137-142
◦ What did you learn?









Liberal
Conservative
Moderate
Reactionary
Radical
Libertarian
Authoritarian
theocracy
Minor party
Ideological party
Economic Protest party
Single Issue Party
Splinter Party




Most democracies have multi-party systems.
One party rarely wins the number of seats in
the Parliament needed to control the
government. This instability forces several
parties to cooperate in running the
government. When parties work together to
pass laws, a coalition has been formed.
If a small party pulls its support, the
government can collapse and new elections
must be held. This process occurs in nations
with a parliamentary system of government.
The US has a presidential system and a
Congress rather than a prime minister and a
parliament.





A one-party system cannot
exist in a democracy. There is
no choice of candidates in the
elections.
Opposition parties are usually
banned.
Communist China, Cuba, and
North Korea operate under oneparty systems. One-party
systems may be based on other
ideologies such as religion.
Iran's Islamic Republican Party
has established a Muslim state.
This type of religion-based
government is called a
theocracy.
Communist Party
Congress, China

Look at page 137
◦ List questions you believe you will be answering.

Read pages 137-142
◦ What did you learn?









Liberal
Conservative
Moderate
Reactionary
Radical
Libertarian
Authoritarian
theocracy
Minor party
Ideological party
Economic Protest party
Single Issue Party
Splinter Party