Visuals for my unit on the origins and principles of American Government. Good starter for teaching government.

3. • Government is the
institution through
which a society makes
and enforces its public
policies.
• Who makes up
government?
– People who exercise
power, and who have
authority and control
over people.

4. • Public policies of a
government are all of
those things a
government decides
to do.
• EXAMPLES:
– Taxation
– Defense
– Healthcare
– Education

5. • Power is the ability to command or
prevent action, the ability to achieve a
desired end.
• Every government has and exercises
(3) basic kinds of power:

6. 1. Legislative:
– Power to make law and frame public policies.
2. Executive:
– Power to execute, enforce and administer law.
3. Judicial:
– Power to interpret laws and settle disputes.

7. • The powers of
government are often
outlined in a
country’s
constitution:
– body of laws setting
the principles,
structures, and
processes of a
government.

8. • What is the main
difference between a
dictatorship and a
democracy?
– The former, government
is not responsible to the
people.
– The latter, supreme
authority rests with the
people.

9. • Over the course of
human history, the
state as emerged as
the dominant political
unit in the world.
• Definition:
– Body of people, living in a
defined territory,
organized politically, with
power to make/enforce
laws.

10. • There are more than
190 states in the world
today and they posses
4 main characteristics:
1. Population
2. Territory
3. Sovereignty :
• authority to rule
4. Government

11. • Belief that the state
was born of force
by a person or a
small group.
• The person or
group forced all
within the area to
submit to their will
or rule.

12. • The state developed
naturally out of the early
family.
• The primitive family had a
“head” that was the
government was the first
stage in political
development.
• How did this grow?
– Marriages

13. • This theory was widely
accepted in much of the
Western world from the
15th to 18th centuries.
• EXPLAIN this theory
– God gave those of ‘royal
birth’ divine right to
rule.
• This theory began to be
questioned in the 17th
century and help pave the
way for modern
democracy.

14. • Argues that the state
arose out of a voluntary
act of free people and
that the state only exists
to serve the will of the
people.
• What role were the
people to play in this
theory?
– Sole source of political
power

15. • What does
government do?
• The following are
listed in the
Constitution of
the United States:

16. Form a More Perfect Union
• Link the States and American people
more closely together.
Establish Justice
• The law must be reasonable, fair and
impartial in the United States
Ensure Domestic Tranquility
• Keeping peace and order at home is
essential to the well being of society

17. Provide for Common Defense
• Defending the nation against foreign
enemies.
Promote the General Welfare
• Government performing tasks for the
well-being of its people.
Secure the Blessings of Liberty
• America was founded by those who
prized FREEDOM (liberty) above all

19. • No two governments are
ever alike because they
are products of human
needs and experiences.
• Over time, political
scientists have developed
many bases upon which
to classify (describe,
compare, analyze)
governments.

20. • To many, the most
meaningful
classification is who
can take part in the
governing process.
• Democracy versus
Dictatorship.

21. • In a democracy,
supreme political
authority rests with
people.
• What is direct or pure
democracy?
• Will of people is
turned into law by the
people themselves.

22. • What is indirect or representative
democracy?
• Representatives are elected by the people
to express the popular will.
• Some people feel the United States is a
republic:
• where power is in the hands of the voters
and decisions are made by representatives.

23. • Exists where those
who rule cannot be
held responsible to the
will of the people.
• What is the difference
between an autocracy
and oligarchy?
– Former is one, latter
is a small group.

24. • All dictatorships are
authoritarian – those who
hold absolute and
unchallengeable power.
– Italy (1922-43);Germany
(1933-1945);USSR (1917-
1989)
• What are dictatorships
like today?
– Militaristic ; that gained
power by force.

25. • Geographic
distribution of power.
• In every system of
government the
power to govern is
located in one or
more places,
geographically.

26. • Often described as a
centralized government and
all powers held by the
government belong to a
single, central agency.
• What is the role of local
governments?
• Focus on small/local
issues
• Great Britain is a classic
example of a unitary
government.

27. • Powers are divided
between a central
government and
several local
governments.
• These powers
cannot be changed
by the local or
national
governments alone.

28. • The United States was the first federal
form of government.
• What ‘stands’ above both levels of
government?
– The United States Constitution.

29. • An alliance of
independent states; the
central government gets
it powers (usually very
limited) from the states.
• Identify confederations
in the modern era.
– Articles of
Confederation (1781)
– Confederate States of
America (1861)

31. • Presidential Government:
– Executive and legislative branches are
separate, independent of one another and
coequal.
– Chief executive (president) is chosen
independently of the legislature to a fixed
term and the 2 branches can block each other.

32. • Parliamentary Government:
– Executive (prime minister) is a member of the
legislature (parliament).
– Who becomes prime minister and how long do
they serve?
• Leader of majority party; as long as they are in
majority.

34. • Democracy exists in the
US because the American
people believe in its
basic concepts:
• Worth of Individual
• Equality of all persons
• Majority Rule, Minority
Rights
• Necessity of Compromise
• Individual Freedom

35. • Democracy is firmly based
upon the belief in the
fundamental importance of
the individual (each is a
separate and distinct being)
• Give examples of when we
must give it to rights of
many:
– Paying taxes
– Obey traffic laws

36. • Democracy does NOT insist on equality
of condition for all persons nor does it
believe all people should have a share of
worldly goods.
• The (2) concepts of equality that
Democracy focuses on?
1. Equality of opportunity
2. Equality before the law

37. • Democracy argues that that a majority of the
people will be right more often than they
will be wrong.
• And that the majority will also be right more
often than will any one person or small
group.

38. • What is the key word
that describes the
majority’s decision?
–SATISFACTORY
• However, it is vital in a
democracy for the
majority to listen to
the minority
arguments and
criticisms.

39. • Compromise is an
essential part of the
democratic process
for two major
reasons:
1. Each individual is
equal to others.
2. Few public
questions have
only two sides.

40. • Absolute freedom can only exist in a
state of anarchy – the total absence of
government.
• Democracy does insist that each
individual must be free to do as he or
she pleases as far as freedom of all will
allow.
• What is the dilemma here?
– Balancing individual rights with the good
of society as a whole.

41. • Democracy and the
free enterprise
system are related.
• Free enterprise:
economic system
characterized by the
private ownership of
capital goods, free
market and private
decisions.

42. • Does not rely on government to decide
what items are to be produced, how much
should be made, and the price.
• What is the law of supply and demand?
– Supple of goods/services is plentiful, prices
drop; when supplies are scarce, prices rise.
• What do democracy and capitalism have in
common?
– Based on the concept of individual freedom

43. • American economic system relies on a free
market; but the government does play a role
and always has.
• Define Mixed Economy:
– Private enterprise exists with government
regulation.

44. • What is the role of
the internet in
Democracy?
– Provide citizens
with information
• What is a major
problem with the
Internet and
information?
– Accuracy

46. • Parliament took little part
in the management of the
colonies, instead they
were more interested in
matters of trade.
• What did the great
distance between the
colonies and England lead
to?
– The colonists became
used to governing
themselves.

47. • When King George III came
to the throne in 1760, he
began to deal more firmly
with the colonies
– Restricted trading, new
taxes, and troops in the
colonies.
• How did the colonists
react?
– Strongly opposed and
objected to these taxes.

48. • Unity among colonies was growing.
• In order for a successful revolt,
cooperation between colonies was a key.

49. • In 1643 the New England
Confederation was
formed; a confederation
is a joining of several
groups for a common
purpose.
• What was the common
purpose in 1643?
– Defense against Native
Americans

50. • A meeting in Albany,
New York to discuss
the problems of
colonial trade.
• And also the danger
of attack by the
French and their
Native American
allies.

51. • What was Benjamin
Franklin’s Albany Plan
of Union?
1. Formation of a
congress with a
delegate from each of
the 13 colonies
2. Raise army/navy
3. Negotiate with Native
Americans

52. • Parliament passed
the Stamp Act in
1765.
• The Act placed a
tax on legal
documents, certain
business deals, and
newspapers.

53. • Led to Stamp Act Congress to protest
the tax.
• Famous quote of “taxation without
representations is tyranny!”
• IDENTIFY reaction to the tax throughout
the colonies:
– Boston Tea Party, boycott of British goods,
Committees of Correspondence
established.

54. • Delegates from every
colony except
Georgia met in
Philadelphia on
September 7, 1774.
• Worked on boycott
of British goods until
taxes were and acts
were repealed.

55. • The situation was
getting worse
(fighting had
already begun)
with Great Britain.
• A 2nd meeting was
called for May 10,
1775.

56. • Each of the 13
colonies sent
representatives.
• John Hancock was
chosen president.
• Who was chose
commander-in-chief?
– George Washington

57. • This 2nd meeting was
in effect our 1st
national
government for 5
years until the
Articles of
Confederation were
adopted.

58. • A committee of five –
Benjamin Franklin,
John Adams, Roger
Sherman, Robert
Livingston, and
Thomas Jefferson –
was chosen.

59. • What was the
purpose of the
document they
prepared?
1. To declare
independence
from England
2. List reasons why

60. • In 1776-77 most states adopted written
constitutions.
• A common feature was popular
sovereignty:
- governing with the consent of the people
• Other key aspects were limited
government, civil rights and liberties,
separation of powers and checks and
balances.

62. • Established on November 15, 1777 by the 2nd
Continental Congress.
• Formed a league of friendship where each state
would be free and independent of the others.

63. • When would states
come together?
– For the common
defense of the
states.
• DEFINE ratification
– Formal approval

64. • A Congress made up
of one representative
from each state.
• No executive or
judicial branches.
• DEFINE presiding
officer:
– A chair; overlooks
but not the leader

65. • Make war and peace
• Send/receive
ambassadors
• Borrow/set up
money
• Ask states for troops
for navy/army
• Settle disputes
between states.

66. • Agreed to obey
Articles and acts of
Congress.
• How would they
treat other states?
– Fairly and equally;
and give full faith
and credit.

67. • Congress did not have
the power to tax or
regulate trade between
the states.
• Changes to Articles had
to be unanimous.
• Why is this a weakness?
– Difficult to get all 13
states to agree on
anything.

68. • After the signing of the
Treaty of Paris in 1783,
problems caused by the
weaknesses of the
Articles began to surface.
• Lack of strong central
government led to
problems between the
states (taxed trade, states
had own money, made
alliances with foreign
governments)

69. • What was Shay’s
Rebellion?
–Led a farmer’s
revolt in
Massachusetts
over taxes.
–Showed weakness
of national
government.

70. • Meeting at
Washington’s home
Mount Vernon
between Maryland
and Virginia.
• Over trade issues led
to a call for “a joint
meeting” of all the
states.

71. • That meeting happened
at Annapolis, Maryland
on September 11, 1786.
• How was the turnout
and what happened at
Annapolis?
– Only 5 states showed,
but they called for a
meeting in Philadelphia
with all of the states.

73. • 12 of 13 states
(except Rhode
Island) sent a total
of 74 delegates (for
a variety of reasons
only 55 showed up)
to Philadelphia in
May of 1787.

74. • These 55 became
known as “The
Framers” of the
Constitution
1. Served in Continental
Army
2. Members of Congress
3. Many college
educated
4. Most were wealthy

75. • George Washington was
named President of the
convention.
• Rules were set up:
– majority of states were
needed to conduct
business
– each state had one vote
– A majority of votes were
need to pass a measure

76. • Why did the delegates
decide to keep their
deliberations a secret?
– Protect themselves
from outside pressures.
• James Madison (Father
of the Constitution)
kept detailed notes and
became the
convention’s floor
leader.

77. • The Philadelphia
Convention was
called to revise the
Articles of
Confederation
• What actually was to
happen?
– A NEW government
was to be created.

78. • Mainly the work of Madison
and James Randolph, called
for a new government with
3 branches of government
(legislative, judicial,
executive)
• The plan aimed to make a
national government with
expanded powers and more
importantly, the power to
enforce its decisions.

79. • Key aspect was
representation to
Congress or legislative
branch
• How did the Virginia
Plan call for
representation to
Congress?
– Based on a state’s
population.

80. • This plan was the small
state response to the
Virginia plan.
• Representation in
Congress was to be
equal for all states.
• What about the
executive branch?
– Not one, but several
people would serve.

81. • The disagreement over
representation in Congress
was critical.
• Often called the “Great
Compromise” because of
its importance.
• It solved the problem over
representation in Congress
– Senate : 2 members each
– House : based on
population of state

83. • Question of
whether to count
slaves in a state’s
population.
• This compromise
said that 3/5 of
“other persons”
could be counted.

85. • The new government had the power to
regulate foreign and interstate trade.
• Why were the southerners wary of this
power?
– Congress could end slave trade; hurt the
agricultural South
• This compromise said that goods
exported from states could not be taxed
and the slave trade could not be touched
for 20 years.

87. • The US Constitution is
often called this because
of the all the
compromising that went
into the document.
• Why was compromise so
vital to the Constitution?
– The states were
diverse; economically,
geographically, etc.

88. • The Framers looked
at governments from
ancient Greece and
Rome and
contemporary
Europe.
• Also used their own
experiences.

89. • The Constitution was signed on September
17, 1787 by the remaining 39 delegates.
• It would now go to the states for final
approval.

91. • The Framers had seen how crippling the
unanimity requirement could be, so they
decided that it would take 9 states to ratify or
approve the Constitution.
• The Constitution was printed, circulated, and
debated vigorously.

92. • Federalists favored
ratification because they
stressed the weaknesses
of the Articles and said
the Constitution would
help the new country.
• Who were the leaders of
the Federalists?
– James Madison and
Alexander Hamilton

93. • Anti-federalists
opposed ratification
and were led by Patrick
Henry and John
Hancock.
• 2 main reasons:
1. Power of central
government
2. No Bill of Rights

94. • Delaware was the 1st
state to ratify on
December 7, 1787 and
New Hampshire was the
9th to ratify on June 21,
1788.
• Why was the Constitution
not in effect after New
Hampshire joined?
– Important states of New
York and Virginia had not
ratified yet.

95. • Brilliant debate between
Madison, John Marshall
(for it) and James
Monroe and Patrick
Henry (against it)
• Whose support was vital
to approving of the
Constitution?
– George Washington

96. • In New York, the debate
was close and the pro-
Constitution argument
was helped by a series of
newspaper essays called
the Federalist.
• Who were the writers of
these essays?
– Hamilton, Madison
and John Jay

97. • Inaugurating the new government.
• On September 13, 1788 11 states had
ratified the Constitution, and the Congress
of the Confederation made it official.

98. • The new Congress
convened on March 4,
1789 in New York to
count the electoral
votes, but because it
lacked a quorum or
majority.
• The 1st President
(George Washington)
was elected on April 6th,
1789.