End of Course Exam Review

American Government

The purpose of a government is to create and enforce the public policies of a society.

Every government has 3 types of power: legislative powerexecutive power judicial power.

Principles of Government

PopulationTerritorySovereigntyGovernment

Characteristics of a State

Ancient Greece (Athens): Democracy

Ancient Rome: Republic

English Traditions and Common Law

American government is not a direct democracy, it is a democratic republic.

Origins of American Democracy

To protect from foreign powersTo promote the general welfareTo keep order & peaceTo establish justice Promote liberty

What are the functions of American Government?

DemocracyDictatorshipMonarchy

Different forms of government:

Unitary : Strong Central GovernmentFederal: Power is shared between a central

government and state or local governmentsConfederal: Strong state governments

Different government systems:

Document sent to Great Britain listing our reasons for separation.

Stated that all men had certain unalienable rights, and that all men were created equal.

Declaration of Independence

After the Revolutionary War, (War that made us independent from Great Britain/England), the 13 colonies became states and formed a confederal government.

The Articles of Confederation was the first document that bound the states together.

The document did not give the federal government the power to tax, so the new nation could not pay back its debts to other countries.

It could not regulate trade between states, did not provide for and executive or judicial branch.

Nothing could be changed without unanimous consent.

Articles of Confederation

Because of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, Congress needed a new Constitution.

The Framers wrote the US Constitution to lay out the fundamental laws, principles, structures & powers of the federal government.

It divided power between three branches.Established a bicameral legislature

(Congress), with a Senate where each state was equal, and a House of Representatives, where each state was represented based on population.

The Constitution

After Congress wrote the Constitution, it did not immediately take effect. First, it had to be ratified by the states.

Two groups, or factions, formed during this process:

The FederalistsThe Antifederalists

Ratification of The Constitution

The Federalists supported the idea of a strong central government and they wanted the states to ratify the new constitution.

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison & John Jay wrote a series of letters and essays that were published in local newspapers. These were known as the

Federalist Papers and they made arguments in favor of the new constitution.

Federalists

Antifederalists feared a strong central government because they worried the new government would be too controlling of the states. They favor stronger state control.

The only way they agreed to the ratification of the new constitution was if Congress added a list of guarantees, that promised to limit the powers of the federal government.

This list is made up of the first ten amendments to the constitution, and is known as the Bill of Rights.

Antifederalists

To form a more perfect union (strive to improve)

Establish justice (provide a fair system of laws)

Ensure domestic tranquility (provide order)Provide for the common defense (military)Promote the general welfare (the public

good)Promote liberty for future generations.

(freedom)

The Goals of the New Government: The Preamble to the Constitution

Popular Sovereignty- the people ruleLimited government-government is not all powerful-

it can only do what the people allow it to do.Separation of Powers- 3 Branches so that none

become too powerfulChecks and Balances- Each branch can “check the

other” (veto, overriding a veto, judicial review, are all checks)

Judicial Review- the courts can determine if a law violates the Constitution

Federalism- Power is shared between the state and federal governments.

6 Basic Principles of American Government covered in the Constitution

Amendments are proposed by 2/3 of the Congress and ratified by ¾ of the states legislatures or state conventions.

Or amendments can be proposed at a national convention requested by 2/3 of the state legislatures and ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures or state conventions.

Changing the Constitution:

Is the Supreme Court’s power to decide if a law is constitutional or unconstitutional.

It is not covered by the ConstitutionThe power was assumed by the court after

the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v Madison.

Marbury v. Madison established the power of judicial review.

Judicial Review

Is the system of government practiced by the U.S.

Powers are shared between the state and federal governments.

Reserved Powers are for the State (education, election laws, morality laws…)

Delegated Powers are for the Federal Government (power to declare war, coin money, post office…)

Concurrent Powers are powers shared by both the states and the federal government. (power to tax, borrow money,…)

Federalism

The collection of the views of many different people

Public Opinion Polls try to measure how the majority of Americans feel about a particular issue.

Public Opinion

A political party is a group of persons who seek to control government through winning elections and holding public office.

The 2 major political parties in the Unites States are Democrats & Republicans

Federalists were the first American political party, although they no longer exist today.

Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican president.

Andrew Jackson was the first Democratic president.

Political Parties