» What do you think is purpose or job of the government?

WARM-UP

» Groups of all shapes and sizes throughout history have felt the need for some sort of government.˃ Maintain public order˃ Protecting life & property˃ Providing public goods

+ More than one person can use them+ All people have the right to use it

– Ex: Schools, roads, fire and police protection, national parks, armed forces

» Has changed over time˃ ruled by a single powerful ruler (China)˃ rule by the rich (Greece)˃ Rule by all male citizens (Greece)

» Today – Modern Nation-States˃ Territory – occupies a specific territory with recognized boundaries˃ People – has people permanently living within its boundaries˃ Laws – common legal system˃ Independent and self governing

» With the exception of Antarctica – all others are nation-states

Rule by One Rule by The FewRule by The Many

MonarchyUsually by hereditaryVaries by generation

Ex: Saudi Arabia

DictatorshipTake and hold power by force

TheocraciesRule by few religious

leadersEx: Vatican City

Single Party StateRule by politically elite with power or wealth

Elections may be held for candidates chosen by the

partyEx: Communist Party

Direct Democracy

Rule by all citizensEx: Athens, none today.

Switzerland is close

ParliamentaryDemocracy

Rule by Legislative Majority – voters elect

LawmakersEx: United Kingdom

PresidentialDemocracy

Voters in a country choose a president to lead

the country with fixed terms

Ex: USA

» Transition or Unstable – several countries were unable to function effectively

» A combination of

Rome’s Republic in which citizen’s rule themselves through elected representatives

the English Bill of Rights French Enlightenment idea of separation of powers are used to create a new basis for our government

a strong central government that protects individual state rights.

» Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776 –

˃ a formal notice to King George III of Great Britain that the 13 colonies regarded themselves as a new nation.

˃ listed the grievances against the King and asserted natural and legal rights including the right to revolution.

+ Preamble – the introduction+ Section 1 – Natural rights that belong

to all people from birth+ Section 2 – British Wrongs+ Section 3 - Independence

˃ Started the Revolutionary War.

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/print_friendly.php?flash=true&page=transcript&doc=2&title=Transcript+of+Declaration+of+Independence+%

281776%29

Putting it in your own words

» Articles of Confederation – (1776- 1789) ˃ the first American constitution– created a loose alliance of 13 independent states where

the central government was weak.

http://www.ushistory.org/documents/confederation.htm

» Pros / Cons – what would you keep and get rid of?

» Framers wanted to give the government enough power to ensure peace and order but not so much power that the power went unchecked.

» Main goal = create a system of limited government

» 6 guiding principles˃ Popular sovereignty, the rule of law, separation of powers and checks

and balances, federalism, independent judiciary, individual rights

» Preamble – “We the People” – describes the purpose of the government – to defend justice and liberty and provide peace and safety.

» Constitution – The Supreme Law of the Land, sets up separation of powers and outlines government. 1789-present. 7 Articles make up the body

» Bill of Rights – The First Ten Amendments

» Amendments –other changes to the Constitution in Amendments 11-27

I: Legislative BranchII: Executive BranchIII: Judicial BranchIV: Relations among the statesV: Amendment ProcessVI: Payment of debts; Supremacy Clause; oaths of officeVII: Ratification

Turn ~ Talk ~ Discuss

All group members names should be on the paper in order to earn your daily points

» The Constitution establishes a government of three branches, with separate powers for each branch.

» By dividing power, the framers hoped to ensure that no single branch would become too powerful.

» Can override President Veto» - Approves treaties & presidential

appointments» -Can impeach and remove President &

other high officials» -Creates lower federal courts» -Appropriates money» -Prints & Coins Money» - Raises & supports the armed forces» -Can declare War» -Regulates trade

MAKES THE LAWS

House of Representatives –

based on population

Senate – equal across all states - 2

» Proposes Laws» - can Veto Laws» - Negotiates foreign treaties» -Serves as commander in chief of

the armed forces.» -Appoints federal judges,

ambassadors, and other high officials.

» -Can grant pardons to federal offenders.

CARRIES OUT THE LAWS

President

Vice President

Cabinet

John Kerry

» can declare laws unconstitutional» -can declare executive actions

unconstitutional.

EVALUATES THE LAWS

Supreme Court

Other Federal Courts

» Limited government» Works to prevent any one branch from having

too much power

» states must honor the laws and court decisions of other states

» No state may discriminate against a resident of another states. States must return suspected criminals to the states they are wanted.

» Only Congress can authorize the creation of new states.» The national government guarantees each state a

republican form of government and promises to protect it and put down internal attacks if the state requests it.

» Defines rights and liberties˃ Civil Rights = rights that come with being a member of society

+ Not protections from government+ Guarantees by government of equal rights and fair

treatment under the lawEx. - Trial by jury, legal counsel, voting

˃ Civil Liberties = basic freedoms from birth of all individuals+ Not something the government can take away or interfere

with+ “natural rights” or “unalienable rights”+ Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

Ex. – freedom of religion, speech, assembly

» Each student will be given an Amendment and create a poster for it. Your poster must include the following; 10 points

» Title the Amendment with Number» Title the Amendment with Name» State (define) what the Amendment does IN

YOUR OWN WORDS» Draw a picture to help you remember» Visually appealing (large, clear, spelling is

correct)

» If you had the power to propose a 28th Amendment – what would it be?

Divides power between central (national) government and state government

Delegated Powers

Reserved Powers

Concurrent Powers

10th Amendment

» The following headlines appeared in the paper. Determine who has the power to make the decisions;

» Gay marriage is legalized in New York» Post office to stop Saturday service» Puerto Rico to vote on statehood» PSSA to be replaced with Keystone Exams» Billions in tax money for new roads» National Debt increases to all time high» Candidates hope for big turn out on Tuesday elections» Terrorist threats may lead to war.

HOMEWORK: Bring in a newspaper headline from something happening in the UNITED STATES today. Determine whether it is a Federal, State or Shared responsibility. If it is a Federal responsibility is it Executive, Judicial, or legislative?

» US Government = a Representative Democracy

» More elections to elect more office holders than any other nation

» 4 basic requirements˃ A U.S. Citizen˃ 18 years old or older˃ A resident of a state˃ A legally registered voter

» Voting is voluntary – not compulsory ( Italy / Belgium)

» Primary Elections

» Elections and Terms˃ President / Vice President – every 4 years (2 terms max)˃ House of Representatives – every 2years˃ Senate – every 6 years

» Made up of 538 electors who cast votes to decide the President and Vice-President of the United States. (435 Representatives +100 Senators + 3 electors given to the District of Columbia). The number of Representatives is based on the Census.

» In all but two states (Nebraska and Maine), the candidate who wins the majority of votes in a state wins that state's electoral votes = winner-take-all system in 48 states

» The candidate who receives a majority of electoral votes (270) wins the Presidency.

» Public opinion» Spin – deliberate shading of information about

a person or an event in an attempt to influence public opinion

» Media bias – real or imagined prejudice that is thought to affect what stories journalists cover and how they report those stories

» Negative complaining – trying to win an advantage by emphasizing negatives of the opponent = mudslinging.

» Family» School» Religion» Peer Groups» Gender & Ethnicity» News Media

4 main areas of responsibility that work to devise and carry out policy in these areas

Homework

Research famous quotes on Government, create your own meme that includes

•The quote•A picture that supports the quote•The person who said the quote.