American American GovernmentGovernment

The Balance The Balance

of of

Freedom and OrderFreedom and Order

FREEDOM

ORDER

JEFFERSONIAN HAMILTONIAN

1791

ORDER

The Constitution

The Declaration Of

Independence

WHAT IS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT?

To maintain the balance of freedom and order!

CORECORE PRINCIPLES PRINCIPLES

CIVIC CIVIC VIRTUEVIRTUE

A person looks out for the

common good

POPULARPOPULAR SOVEREIGNITY SOVEREIGNITY

The people are the highest authority;

“We the people, ….”

REPRESENTATIVE

DEMOCRACY REPUBLIC

We elect leaders to We elect leaders to

speak on our behalfspeak on our behalf

PLURALISM PLURALISM DDiivveerrssiittyy

We ARE a nation of Immigrants!

People are People are allowedallowed and and encouragedencouraged to be different to be different

NATURAL RIGHTSInalienable Rights

Rights for all human at birthJohn Locke (1600s) :

Life, Liberty, and Property you are born with these

rights

1948 UN passed the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights which officially extended natural

rights to all

SOCIAL CONTRACT

The government will protect

the rights of the people and the people will obey

the government’s laws.

Contract/AgreementContract/Agreement that must bethat must be

JUSTJUST ANDAND MUTUALMUTUAL

CORE DOCUMENTSCORE DOCUMENTS

Declaration of Independence

Written by Thomas Jefferson on July 3, Written by Thomas Jefferson on July 3, 1776 1776 The USA formally

expressed their status as a free and independent state, no longer colonies of Great Britain

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

Original explanation Original explanation of the government of the government and lawand law before the before the ConstitutionConstitution was was

adoptedadoptedSupreme law fromSupreme law from

1781-17891781-1789

CONSTITUTION:CONSTITUTION:

Fundamental law and Fundamental law and structure of the US structure of the US

government. government. Framed 1787, Framed 1787, ratified 1789m ratified 1789m

amended variously amended variously since.since.

***Treason only crime ***Treason only crime dealt with in originaldealt with in original!!

BILL OF RIGHTS

First 10 amendments to the Constitution, added in 1791 to protect certain

essential rights to citizens.

FEDERALIST PAPERS

Series of essays written by

supporters of ratification of the Constitution to

convince others of its worth.

6 Goals of Constitution

To form a more perfect unionTo form a more perfect union

Establish justiceEstablish justice

Ensure domestic tranquilityEnsure domestic tranquility

Provide for the Provide for the common defensecommon defense

Promote the Promote the general welfaregeneral welfare

Secure the Secure the blessings of blessings of

libertyliberty

3 Branches of

WHY DID THE FOUNDING FATHERS

SEPARATE THE POWERS OF

GOVERNMENT?

Legislative Branch of Government

BICAMERAL

SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

State Representatives…State Representatives… Serve 2 year terms Qualifications???

a. at least 25 years old b. a US citizen for 7 yearsc. reside in state elected from

435 members Representation based on state population

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/VC/visitor_info/our_house/who.htm

serve 6 year terms Qualifications???:

a. at least 30 years old b. US citizen for 9 yrs c. must live in state elected from

100 members

State Senate

Can you name the 2 PA State Senators?

Arlen Specter and Robert Casey

Vice President

CONGRESSIONAL POWERS

Makes LawsEstablish budget

Declare warImpeach

Approve presidential appointments

Ratify Treaties

Executive Branch of Government

Electoral College (NOT Popular Vote)

Qualifications??? a. 35 years old b. Natural born citizen c. live in the US for 14

consecutive years

The Cabinet Can you name any members ofThe currentCabinet???

Who assists the president in the decision making process?

The Vice President

Richard B. Cheney

Department ofHomeland Security

Secretary Michael Chertoff

Department of State Secretary Condoleezza

Rice    

Department of Defense Secretary Robert M.

Gates

Department of Commerce

Secretary Carlos

Gutierrez

Power & Responsibilities of the President

Chief Executive--enforce laws Commander in Chief of Military Controls US Foreign Policy Indirect legislative powers

(suggestions…influence)

Indirect Judicial Powers (Appoints Justices)

Chief of State

What qualifications doYOU think a future

president should have?

Judicial Branch of Government

INNOCENT UNTIL INNOCENT UNTIL PROVENPROVEN GUILTYGUILTY!!

9 members of the Supreme Court9 members of the Supreme Court Currently Appointed Judges:Currently Appointed Judges:

CHIEF JUSTICECHIEF JUSTICE -- John Roberts -- John Roberts John Paul StevensJohn Paul Stevens Samuel AlitoSamuel Alito Stephen BreyerStephen Breyer Ruth Bader GinsburgRuth Bader Ginsburg Anthony KennedyAnthony Kennedy Antonin ScaliaAntonin Scalia David Hackett SouterDavid Hackett Souter Clarence ThomasClarence Thomas

Establish Uniformity in the law (Between States)

Address a relevant issue (Constitutionality of laws and their implementation)

Judicial Review: 1803 Allows the Supreme Court to

declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional or illegal

Habeas Corpus:“Bring the body”one CAN NOT be held in jail WITHOUT a BODY of EVIDENCE presented against them

Do you know of any famous Supreme Court decisions?

Serve life terms to remove them from

campaigning (Constitution over popularity)

When does a president assume more control of the government and the system of checks and balances becomes suspended?

War or State of Disaster

CIVIL LIBERTIES/RIGHTS

Rights or privileges guaranteed to United States Citizens under the

Constitution

11stst Amendment - Freedom of… Amendment - Freedom of…

SPEECHIncludes expression

and lifestyleRELIGIONProtects minority

religionsPRESSAn informed public

is better able to make decisions

Private citizens can own guns

2nd AmendmentThe Right to Bear Arms

Protects againstunjust arrestillegal searches or seizuresexcessive bail

Police need a warrant unless there is a probable cause

*** Different rules in SCHOOL!!!

4th Amendment

Due Process “Innocent until proven guilty”

Protects the rights of the ACCUSED

No Self-IncriminationRight to an AttorneyRight to a speedy, public trial

5th and 6th Amendments Establish Due Process

Protects against excessive use of powerNo Cruel or Unusual punishment

No torture!

8th Amendment

What is cruel or unusual punishment???

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES1.1. TAXESTAXES::

LOCALLOCAL property taxes property taxes Police, sewage, community events, etc. Police, sewage, community events, etc. 85% funds education 85% funds education

STATE-STATE- communication/transportation systems, communication/transportation systems,

state parks/reserves/police, recreation,higher state parks/reserves/police, recreation,higher education (state schools), prison systemeducation (state schools), prison system

FEDERALFEDERAL-Defense: FBI, CIA, Armed Forces-Defense: FBI, CIA, Armed Forces Welfare, salaries of gov’t employees, national Welfare, salaries of gov’t employees, national

parksparks

2. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION & VOTING

Apathy is the enemy of democracy

Why do people choose not to vote?

3. ABIDE BY LAWS: What laws do we break? What laws do we view as flexible?

4. MILITARY SERVICE:

Draft

OR

Volunteer

OR

Conscientious Objector

5. Volunteer: Freedom from heavy government

civic virtue=participation and support

Virtuous Institutions Religious Institutions Volunteer firemen Red Cross

ACTIVISMACTIVISM METHODS:

Speeches Editorial letters Songs Demonstrations

Marches and Boycotts Terrorist attack Revolution Mutiny Riot Strike/Work Struggle

Famous American ActivistsFamous American Activists:: Martin Luther King, Jr. Eleanor Roosevelt Woody Guthrie Harriet Tubman Upton Sinclair Dorothea Lange Thomas Nast John Muir Cesar Chavez Mary “Mother” Jones John Scopes Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B.

Anthony

ACTIVIST ORGANIZATIONS KKK ADL Nat’l Org. of Women Sierra Club Black Panther Party SNCC PETA ACLU NAACP Amnesty International Christian Coalition