What is Constitutional government?

Key terms from last class

• What is a republican government?

• What is common good?

• What is civic virtue?

Constitution

• Constitution: legal framework for government– Tells how the government is organized and

ran– US & Russia have written constitution– Britain has written and unwritten parts– Can have a constitution that isn’t written at

all• Based on unwritten customs and traditions

Questions about Government

• What is the purpose of government?• What is the organization of government?• What parts does it have? What does each

part do?• How is government supposed to go about

doing business?• How are people selected to serve in

government?

Questions about Citizens

• Who is a citizen?

• Are citizens supposed to have control over their government? If so how is this control suppose to work?

• What rights and responsibilities, if any, are the citizens supposed to have?

Constitutional Government

• Constitutional government: limits on the powers of the person or group running the government

• Limits: government may not do or actions that it may not take

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Constitutional Government

• Example: – Courts cant force a person to be a witness

against himself– Court can’t deny the accused the right to

an attorney

– Can you think of some examples?

Constitutional Government

• Can you have a constitution and not be a constitutional government?

• What is a country that doesn’t have a constitutional government?– Why did you pick that country?

Constitutional Government

• Autocratic or dictatorial government:– If government’s power isn’t limited– Constitution doesn’t include how limits

would be enforce

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What is higher law?

• Higher law: set of laws that establish and limit the power of government– Leaders have to follow what the

constitution says

What is higher law?

• 5 Characteristics of Constitution– Basic rights of citizens: Life, Liberty, & property– Responsibilities of government to protect those rights– Limits on how people in government can use those

rights– Establish the principles of private domain– Constitution can’t be changed without widespread

consent

What is higher law?

5 Characteristics of Constitution– Basic rights of citizens: Life, Liberty, & property

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What is higher law?

• 5 Characteristics of Constitution– Responsibilities of government to protect those rights

What is higher law?

• 5 Characteristics of Constitution– Limits on how people in government can use those rights– Citizen’s rights– How resources are distributed– How conflicts are handled

What is higher law?

• 5 Characteristics of Constitution– Establish the principles of private domain– What is personal and what is the business of the government

What is higher law?

• 5 Characteristics of Constitution– Constitution can’t be changed without widespread consent

– If changed is reach you can amend the constitution• 27 times the constitution has been changed (1992)

• Can you think of some amendments?

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