American
Government
The Balance
of
Freedom and Order
FREEDOM
The Declaration
Of
Independence
JEFFERSONIAN
ORDER
The
ORDER
Constitution
HAMILTONIAN
1791
WHAT IS THE MAIN
PURPOSE OF
GOVERNMENT?
To maintain the balance
of freedom and order!
CORE
PRINCIPLES
CIVIC
VIRTUE
A person looks
out for the
common good
POPULAR SOVEREIGNITY
The people are the
highest authority;
“We the people, ….”
REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY
REPUBLIC
We elect leaders to
speak on our behalf
PLURALISM
Diversity
People are allowed and
We ARE a nation
encouraged to be
of Immigrants!
different
NATURAL RIGHTS
Inalienable Rights
Rights
for UN
all human
at birth
1948
passed the
John Locke (1600s) :
Universal Declaration of
Life, Liberty, and Property
Human Rights which
you are born with these
officially extended natural
rights
rights to all
SOCIAL CONTRACT
The government will
Contract/Agreement
protect
that
must be
JUST
AND
the
rights
of MUTUAL
the people
and the people will
obey the
government’s laws.
CORE DOCUMENTS
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson on July 3,
1776
The USA formally
expressed their
status as a free
and independent
state, no longer
colonies of Great
Britain
Articles of Confederation
Original explanation
of the government
and law before the
Constitution was
adopted
Supreme law from
1781-1789
CONSTITUTION:
Fundamental law and
structure of the US
government. Framed
1787, ratified 1789m
amended variously
since.
***Treason only crime
dealt with in original!
BILL OF RIGHTS
First 10 amendments
to the Constitution,
added in 1791 to
protect certain
essential rights to
citizens.
FEDERALIST
PAPERS
Series of essays
written by
supporters of
ratification of the
Constitution to
convince others of
its worth.
6 Goals of Constitution
To form a more perfect union
Establish justice
Ensure domestic tranquility
Provide for the
common defense
Promote the general
welfare
Secure the blessings
of liberty
3 Branches
of
WHY DID THE
FOUNDING FATHERS
SEPARATE THE
POWERS OF
GOVERNMENT?
Legislative Branch of Government

BICAMERAL

SENATE AND HOUSE
OF
REPRESENTATIVES
State Representatives…
Serve 2 year terms
 Qualifications???
a. at least 25 years old
b. a US citizen for 7 years
c. reside in state elected from
 435 members
 Representation based on state population

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/VC/visitor_info/our_house/who.htm
State Senate
serve 6 year terms
 Qualifications???:
Can you name the 2
 a. at least 30 years old
PA
State
Senators?
 b. US citizen for 9 yrs
 c. mustand
live Robert
in state Casey
Arlen Specter
elected from
 100 members
 Vice President

CONGRESSIONAL POWERS
Makes Laws
Establish budget
Declare war
Impeach
Approve presidential
appointments
Ratify Treaties
Executive Branch of Government


Electoral College (NOT Popular Vote)
Qualifications???
 a. 35 years old
 b. Natural born citizen
 c. live in the US for 14
consecutive years
Who assists the president in the
decision making process?
The Cabinet
 Can you name
any members of
The current
Cabinet???

The Vice President
Richard B. Cheney
Department of
Homeland Security
Secretary Michael Chertoff
Department of State
Secretary Condoleezza
Rice
Department of
Commerce
Secretary Carlos
Gutierrez
Department of Defense
Secretary Robert M.
Gates
Power & Responsibilities of the
President




Chief Executive--enforce laws
Commander in Chief of Military
Controls US Foreign Policy
Indirect legislative powers


Indirect Judicial Powers


(suggestions…influence)
(Appoints Justices)
Chief of State
What qualifications do
YOU think a future
president should
have?
Judicial Branch of Government
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN
GUILTY!


9 members of the Supreme Court
Currently Appointed Judges:

CHIEF JUSTICE -- John Roberts
 John Paul Stevens
 Samuel Alito
 Stephen Breyer
 Ruth Bader Ginsburg
 Anthony Kennedy
 Antonin Scalia
 David Hackett Souter
 Clarence Thomas


Establish Uniformity in the law
 (Between States)
 Address a relevant issue
(Constitutionality of laws and
their implementation)
Judicial Review:
 1803 Allows the Supreme Court to
declare laws or executive actions
unconstitutional or illegal
Habeas Corpus:
“Bring the body”
one CAN NOT be held in jail
WITHOUT a BODY of EVIDENCE
presented against them

Do you know of any famous Supreme
Court decisions?


Serve life terms
 to remove them from
campaigning
 (Constitution over popularity)
When does a president assume more
control of the government and the
system of checks and balances
becomes suspended?

War or State of Disaster
CIVIL LIBERTIES/RIGHTS
Rights or privileges guaranteed to
United States Citizens under the
Constitution
1st Amendment - Freedom of…
SPEECH
Includes expression
and lifestyle
RELIGION
Protects minority
religions
PRESS
An informed public is
better able to make
decisions
nd
2
Amendment
The Right to Bear Arms
Private citizens can own guns
th
4
Amendment
 Protects
against
unjust arrest
illegal searches or seizures
excessive bail
 Police need a warrant unless there
is a probable cause
*** Different rules in SCHOOL!!!
5th and 6th Amendments
Establish Due Process
 Due
Process
“Innocent until proven guilty”
 Protects the rights of the
ACCUSED
No Self-Incrimination
Right to an Attorney
Right to a speedy, public trial
8th Amendment
 Protects
against
excessive
use
of
What is cruel or unusual punishment???
power
No Cruel or Unusual punishment
No torture!
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1.
TAXES:

LOCAL property taxes
 Police, sewage, community events, etc.
 85% funds education

STATE- communication/transportation systems,
state parks/reserves/police, recreation,higher
education (state schools), prison system

FEDERAL-Defense: FBI, CIA, Armed Forces
 Welfare, salaries of gov’t employees,
national parks
2.
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION &
VOTING

Apathy is the enemy of
democracy

Why do people choose not to
vote?
3.
4.
ABIDE BY LAWS:
 What laws do we break?
 What laws do we view as flexible?
MILITARY SERVICE:
Draft
OR
Volunteer
OR
Conscientious Objector
5.
Volunteer:
 Freedom from heavy government
 civic virtue=participation and
support
 Virtuous Institutions
 Religious Institutions
 Volunteer firemen
 Red Cross
ACTIVISM

METHODS:
 Speeches
 Editorial letters
 Songs
 Demonstrations
Marches and Boycotts
 Terrorist attack
 Revolution
 Mutiny
 Riot
 Strike/Work Struggle


Famous American Activists:
Martin Luther King, Jr.
 Eleanor Roosevelt
 Woody Guthrie
 Harriet Tubman
 Upton Sinclair
 Dorothea Lange
 Thomas Nast
 John Muir
 Cesar Chavez
 Mary “Mother” Jones
 John Scopes
 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B.
Anthony


ACTIVIST ORGANIZATIONS
 KKK
 ADL
 Nat’l Org. of Women
 Sierra Club
 Black Panther Party
 SNCC
 PETA
 ACLU
 NAACP
 Amnesty International
 Christian Coalition