THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

INTRODUCTION

• Declared Independence from Great Britain July 4, 1776

• Signed the Constitution September 17, 1787• Created our government

and explained the rights of every American

• Formed a Democratic Republic

Democracy: A government where the supreme power comes from the people

Democratic Republic: A government where the supreme power comes from representatives who are elected by the people

PARTS OF THE CONSTITUTION

• Preamble• Articles• Amendments

PREAMBLE

• The introduction; it establishes the purpose of government

• “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.”

PREAMBLE

ARTICLES

• Seven articles that outline how the government will be run

AMENDMENTS

• Amendments: There are 27 changes to the Constitution• The first 10 of these make up The Bill of Rights• Establish rights such as:

• Freedom of speech• Freedom of religion• Right to own a gun• Right to a fair trial• Freedom from being subjected to cruel and unusual

punishment• Freedom from having your property searched or taken

PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY

• A principle is a rule that needs to be followed• When making a decision, the government abides

by certain principles• Popular Sovereignty• Federalism• Separation of Powers• Checks and Balances• Judicial Review• Limited Government

POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY

• Popular Sovereignty means that people are the source of the government’s power• Popular = The

common/majority view of the people

• Sovereignty = Control/Power

• The common view of the people has power over the government

FEDERALISM

• Federalism means that the government’s power is divided between:• National government: Makes and enforces laws that

affect the whole country (Ex. Military)• State government: Makes and enforces laws that affect

an individual state (Ex. education)• Local government: Makes and enforces laws that affect

an individual district or county (Ex. Local courts)• Each level has its own purpose

FEDERALISM

SEPARATION OF POWERS

• The powers of the government are separated into 3 branches• The Legislative branch makes the laws

• Congress• The House of Representatives and the Senate

• The Executive branch enforces the laws• The President, Vice president, and president’s cabinet

• The Judicial branch reviews the laws• The Supreme Court

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

CHECKS AND BALANCES

• Checks and Balances is when each branch of government keeps the others in line• Example: If the Legislative branch makes a law that the

Executive branch (the president) doesn’t like, then the president can veto the law

• Example: If the Legislative branch makes a law that might violate the Constitution, then the Judicial branch can determine whether the law is good or not

JUDICIAL REVIEW

• Judicial Review is when the Judicial branch reviews whether or not a law is constitutional• Example: When the

Supreme Court overruled the act of Segregation in schools and other public places

LIMITED GOVERNMENT

• Limited Government limits the government to what is written in the Constitution• Example: Police can’t search or take your property

without probable cause or a search warrant• Example: Reduce government spending

• (small government v. big government)

548 billion dollars or $548,915,000,000 or ½ a trillion dollars

672 billion dollars or $672,932,000,000

The U.S. government spends 1 million dollars every 5 seconds, approximately 3.1 trillion per year

LIMITED GOVERNMENT

What is the National Debt?

16 trillion dollars$16,059,381,774,500.53Approximately $51,073 per AmericanApproximately $140,369 per taxpayer

SUMMARY

• The people of the U.S. and the government share the power to rule. The people give the power to the government through elections while the government must follow the Constitution by respecting and guarding the rights of the people. This is the basis of Democracy; rule by the people.