The document provides an overview of constitutions and how governments are designed. It discusses why constitutions matter, outlining that they establish the supreme law of the land and protect civil rights. The document then covers the basic principles of the US Constitution, including popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism. It also summarizes some of the important amendments to the US Constitution such as the Bill of Rights. The document concludes by contrasting federal and unitary systems of government.

1. .
International Ataturk Alatoo University
Department of International Relations
Subject:Political Science and Political Theory I
Lecturer: Nazgul Bazarbaeva
Constitutions and
Design
Government

2. Why Does the Constitution
Matter?
Constitution – body of fundamental laws which say how
a government is to operate
It explains how the
government works
It is the supreme law of
the land
It protects your civil
rights

3. ▧The Preamble
– lays out the
purpose and
introduces the
Constitution
▧The Articles –
the substance
of
governmental
law
▧The
Amendments
A Brief Outline

4. What are the basic principals of the Constitution?
Popular Sovereignty
-Government power
resides in the people
Limited government
-Government is not all
powerful, can only do what the
people let it.
Separation of Powers
-Helps prevent one branch
from becoming too powerful
Checks and Balances
Federalism
-Division of power among
national and state
governments

5. Important Amendments:
Bill of Rights
1. Freedom of religion, of speech, of
the press, to assemble, and to
petition
2. Right to bear arms
3. No quartering of soldiers
4. No unreasonable search and
seizure
5. Indictments; Due process; Self-
incrimination; Double jeopardy,
and rules for Eminent Domain.
6. Right to a fair and speedy public
trial, Notice of accusations,
Confronting one's accuser,
Subpoenas, Right to counsel
7. Right to trial by jury in civil cases
8. No excessive bail & fines or cruel
& unusual punishment
9. There are other rights not written
in the Constitution
10. All rights not given to Federal
Government belong to states and
people.

6. Other Important Amendments:
Reconstruction Amendments
13th Amendment
abolished slavery
14th Amendment
Due process and
equal protection
under the law
All persons born in
US are citizens
15th Amendment
Right to vote
regardless of race,
color, or previous
servitude
18th Amendment
Prohibition of alcohol
19th Amendment:
Women’s suffrage
21st Amendment:
Repeals prohibition
22nd Amendment:
Presidential term limits
24th Amendment:
Prohibits poll taxes for voting
26th Amendment:
lowers voting age to 18

7. Ratification of the Constitution
1.The Constitution was sent to special
state conventions for ratification that
required the vote of 9 states,
rather than unanimous
approval required for
amendment of the Articles
of Confederation.

8. CONSTITUTIONALISM
France, Prussia, Russia - absolute states
England, Holland - constitutional states
Constitutionalism is limiting the govt. by law
(may be written or unwritten)
May be monarchies or Republics
This is not democratic (no franchise for all)
Yet England would experience the last of the
great Religious Wars

9. The Branches of Government
There are three branches of government:
1. The legislative - which makes the laws
2. The executive - which enforces the laws or
make sure the laws are carried out
3. The judicial - which interprets the laws or
explains the laws and makes sure they are fair
Each branch serves as a check and
balance on the others

10. Check and balances
Guarantees that no part of the government becomes too
powerful. For example, the legislative branch is in charge of
making laws. The executive branch can veto the law, making
it harder for the legislative branch to pass the law. The
judicial branch may also say that the law is unconstitutional
and thus make sure it is not a law.

12. How Power Is Distributed
The makeup of the nation, its history, its
culture, and its geography tends to determine
the system for the distribution of power.
In reality, nations opt for
either a federal or
unitary system. Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany,
India, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Switzerland,
Venezuela and the United States

13. Federal System
In a federal system sovereignty is
shared between the national and the
local government units; powers are
divided between a central government
and several local governments.
(Example: United States
Countries with complete independence are said to
be sovereign.
Federal systems work well in countries
where variations in local conditions,
economies, or cultures make it impractical
or inefficient to try to impose a single
system or make it difficult to make
decisions from a central location.

14. Unitary system
A unitary system is one where
sovereignty rests on the shoulders of
the national government; all powers
are held by a central agency.
(Example: Great Britain
Every citizen in the country is
entitled to the same rights and
benefits.
Unitary systems make it
easier to maintain a sense of
national identity
Belgium, Bulgaria, France, the Netherlands, Japan,
Poland, Romania, the Scandinavian countries, Spain,
and many of the Latin-American and African
countries

15. Thanks!
Any questions?