Download 8-3.3 7 Principles of Government

PRINCIPLES OF
GOVERNMENT
8-3.3
I. THE CONSTITUTION
A. The Constitution is designed for states and the national
government to share power
1. The constitution is the supreme law in the land and all other laws
have to follow it
2. Each state also has a state constitution which are the highest laws
in that state
3. There are 7 basic principles of the Constitution.
II. POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
A. The authority for government comes from
the people
1. “We the People of the United States…do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.” –the Preamble
2. “The enumeration in the Constitution, of
certain rights, shall not be construed to deny
or disparage others retained by the people.” –
9th Amendment
III. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
A. Unalienable rights (natural rights)
are guaranteed to all citizens
1. We the people of the United States, in
order to…secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity,
do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of
America.” –the Preamble
2. The Bill of Rights
V. SEPARATION OF POWERS
A. 3 separate branches so no one branch has too much
power
1. Legislative Branch = Congress which makes the laws
2. Judicial Branch = federal courts, headed by the Supreme
Court which decides if our laws are constitutional
3. Executive Branch = headed by the President and carries out
the laws
V. SEPARATION OF POWERS
Legislative Congress
Why is the number of
House of Reps capped at
435?
Because that is how
many desk fit!
Writes the
laws
One member of the
House of Reps is
elected by = 710,
767 citizens
In 1789 = 30,000
citizens
• Congress meets in the
Capitol building on
“Capitol Hill”, because it is
literally located on a hill
Originally, the city plan of D.C. was
designed for the Capitol building to
be the center of the city
V. SEPARATION OF POWERS
Judicial
Supreme
Court
Justices custom design
their chairs—including
massaging chairs and
ones that sit higher to
make shorter justices
seem more imposing.
Makes sure
laws follow the
Constitution
IV. SEPARATION OF POWERS
Executive
President
The White House
wasn’t actually called
that until 1901.
Enforces the
laws
• While President,
Pierce was
arrested for
running over a
women on his
horse.
• Ulysses S. Grant
smoke over 20
cigars a day. He
died of throat
cancer in 1885
(surprise!).
Harrison had electricity installed in
the White House, but he was so scared
of being electrocuted he wouldn’t
touch the switches.
Woodrow Wilson is
on the 100,000 bill,
which still exists!
• Harry Truman’s
parents couldn’t
decide on a
middle name for
him, so they just
gave him “S”.
• Coolidge would
press all the
buttons on his
desk to summon
staff, then hide
and watch them
run around
looking for him.
V. LIMITED GOVERNMENT
A. Powers of the government are restricted by the Constitution
B. Articles I, II, III and Bill of Rights
C. Examples: freedom off press---we can print whatever we
want in books
VI. CHECKS AND BALANCES
A. Each branch “checks” the powers of the other to keep the
other branches from getting too much power
B. Articles I, II, III
C. How a bill becomes a law….
1. Bill passed by both parts of Congress
2. President signs it or vetoes it
3. Congress can override a veto by a 2/3 vote
VII. FEDERALISM
A. Powers are divided between
the national government and
the governments of the state
B. The powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the states, are
reserved to the states respectively,
or to the people. –10th Amendment
C. Examples: Marriage laws and
education
VIII. REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
A. Voters hold the power but elect people to exercise the
power for them
B.
Preamble, Articles I, II
Strom Thurmond was
elected as a Senator for
48 years. He was over
100 years old was STILL
in Congress.