And why do we study it?

James Madison“Father” of the Constitution

To understand your rights• To defend yourself

Knowledge is power To learn more to pursue a career

Institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies• Public Policies: things gov’t decides to do

Examples?

Population Territory Sovereignty

• Supreme/absolute power within its territory Government

Force• Person/group forced people to accept their rule

Evolutionary• Developed from family clan tribe state

Divine Right • State created by God who appoints rulers

Social Contract• Give up power to promote well-being of all • Voluntary act of free people

All men are free and equal (in theory) “No one ought to harm another in

his:• *Life• Health• Liberty or • Possessions”

“…puts himself into a state of war with those against whom he so uses it.”

LIMITED GOVERNMENT ABSOLUTE GOVERNMENT

Government is responsible to the will of the people

Government is a entity to carry out the will of a leader

Preamble of the Constitution

*We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

We tha People of tha United States, in Hustla ta fizzorm a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillizzle provide fo' tha common defence, promote tha general Welfare, n secure tha Straight Trippin' of Liberty ta ourselves n our Posterizzles do ordain n establish this Constitizzles fo' tha United States of America.

http://www.gizoogle.com/showtrans.php?id=14

Republic• “Rule of Law”

No one is above the law

Democracy v. Republic

Worth of the Individual Equality of all People Majority Rule, Minority Rights Necessity of Compromise Freedom

Score – 20 years 20x5 = 100 years 1963-100 = 1863 4 score and 7 years ago… 87 years 1863-87=1776 Declaration of Independence

Lincoln’s Accomplishments:• Freed the slaves• Preserved the Union

Emancipation Proclamation• Freed the slaves in the Confederacy

Movement to end racial discrimination• Civil Rights Movement

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Accomplishments• Fight for equality• Leader in Civil Rights Movement