THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT
INTRODUCTION
• Declared
Independence from
Great Britain July 4,
1776
• Signed the Constitution
September 17, 1787
• Created our government
and explained the rights
of every American
• Formed a Democratic
Republic
Democracy: A government
where the supreme power
comes from the people
Democratic Republic: A
government where the
supreme power comes from
representatives who are
elected by the people
PARTS OF THE CONSTITUTION
• Preamble
• Articles
• Amendments
PREAMBLE
• The introduction; it establishes the purpose of
government
• “We the People of the United States, in Order to
form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure
domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.”
PREAMBLE
ARTICLES
• Seven articles that outline how the government will
be run
AMENDMENTS
• Amendments: There are 27 changes to the
Constitution
• The first 10 of these make up The Bill of Rights
• Establish rights such as:
Freedom of speech
Freedom of religion
Right to own a gun
Right to a fair trial
Freedom from being subjected to cruel and unusual
punishment
• Freedom from having your property searched or taken
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PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY
• A principle is a rule that needs to be followed
• When making a decision, the government abides
by certain principles
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Popular Sovereignty
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Judicial Review
Limited Government
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
• Popular Sovereignty
means that people are
the source of the
government’s power
• Popular = The
common/majority view of
the people
• Sovereignty =
Control/Power
• The common view of the
people has power over
the government
FEDERALISM
• Federalism means that the government’s power is
divided between:
• National government: Makes and enforces laws that
affect the whole country (Ex. Military)
• State government: Makes and enforces laws that affect
an individual state (Ex. education)
• Local government: Makes and enforces laws that affect
an individual district or county (Ex. Local courts)
• Each level has its own purpose
FEDERALISM
SEPARATION OF POWERS
• The powers of the government are separated into 3
branches
• The Legislative branch makes the laws
• Congress
• The House of Representatives and the Senate
• The Executive branch enforces the laws
• The President, Vice president, and president’s cabinet
• The Judicial branch reviews the laws
• The Supreme Court
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
CHECKS AND BALANCES
• Checks and Balances is when each branch of
government keeps the others in line
• Example: If the Legislative branch makes a law that the
Executive branch (the president) doesn’t like, then the
president can veto the law
• Example: If the Legislative branch makes a law that might
violate the Constitution, then the Judicial branch can
determine whether the law is good or not
JUDICIAL REVIEW
• Judicial Review is when
the Judicial branch
reviews whether or not
a law is constitutional
• Example: When the
Supreme Court overruled
the act of Segregation in
schools and other public
places
LIMITED GOVERNMENT
• Limited Government limits the government to what
is written in the Constitution
• Example: Police can’t search or take your property without
probable cause or a search warrant
• Example: Reduce government spending
• (small government v. big government)
548 billion dollars or
$548,915,000,000
or ½ a trillion dollars
672 billion dollars or
$672,932,000,000
The U.S. government
spends 1 million dollars
every 5 seconds,
approximately 3.1 trillion
per year
LIMITED GOVERNMENT
What is the National Debt?
16 trillion dollars
$16,059,381,774,500.53
Approximately $51,073 per American
Approximately $140,369 per taxpayer
SUMMARY
• The people of the U.S. and the government share
the power to rule. The people give the power to the
government through elections while the
government must follow the Constitution by
respecting and guarding the rights of the people.
This is the basis of Democracy; rule by the people.