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The American Nation
Chapter 8
Government, Citizenship,
and the Constitution,
1787–Present
Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
The American Nation
Chapter 8: Government, Citizenship, and the Constitution,
1787–Present
Section 1:
Section 2:
Goals and Principles of the
Constitution
How the Federal Government Works
Section 3:
Changing the Constitution
Section 4:
State and Local Governments
Section 5:
Rights and Responsibilities of
Citizens
Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
Goals and Principles of the Constitution
Chapter 8, Section 1
• How does the Preamble define the basic
goals of the Constitution?
• What framework of government is
established by the articles of the
Constitution?
• What are the seven basic principles of
American government?
The Preamble Defines the Constitution’s Basic Goals
Chapter 8, Section 1
To form a more perfect
union
The states work together as one unified nation,
not as separate nations.
To establish justice
The justice system requires that the law be applied
fairly to every American.
To ensure domestic
tranquillity
The government can ensure domestic tranquillity,
or peace and order at home.
To provide for the
common defense
To protect citizens against foreign attack, the
national government can raise armies and navies.
However, the military is under civilian, or
nonmilitary, control.
To promote the general
welfare
The national government promotes the general
welfare, or the well-being of all its citizens.
To secure the blessing
of liberty
A major goal of the Constitution is to protect the
liberty, or freedom, of Americans.
Preamble—opening statement
The Articles Describe a Framework of Government
Chapter 8, Section 1
Article I
Describes the legislative branch. Establishes powers and limits on
Congress.
Article II
Describes the executive branch. Establishes powers and limits of the
President.
Article III
Describes the judicial branch. Establishes powers and limits of the
courts.
Article IV
Explains relations between the states. Requires states to honor one
another’s laws. Sets out a system for admitting new states.
Article V
Provides a process for amending the Constitution.
Article VI
Says the Constitution is the “supreme law of the land.” No state law
may violate the Constitution.
The Constitution Provides a System of Checks and Balances
Chapter 8, Section 1
Seven Basic Principles of Government
Chapter 8, Section 1
Popular Sovereignty
The principle that government gets its authority from the people,
therefore people have a right to change or abolish their
government.
Limited Government
The principle that government has only the powers that the
Constitution gives it. Everyone, no matter how important, must
obey the law.
Separation of Powers
The idea of limiting government power by dividing it among
different branches of government.
Checks and Balances
Each branch of government has power to check, or limit, actions
of the other branches.
Federalism
The principle of dividing power between the federal government
and the states.
Republicanism
A form of government in which citizens elect representatives to
carry out their will.
Individual Rights
Individual rights include freedom of speech, freedom of religion,
and the right to trial by jury.
Separation of Powers
Chapter 8, Section 1
Federalism
Chapter 8, Section 1
Section 1 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 1
One goal of the Constitution is to protect domestic tranquillity, which means
a) freedom.
b) well-being of all citizens.
c) peace and order at home.
d) nonmilitary control.
Under a system of checks and balances,
a) each branch of government can check the actions of the other two.
b) power is divided among three branches of government.
c) power is divided between the federal government and the states.
d) the national government has only the powers the Constitution gives it.
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Section 1 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 1
One goal of the Constitution is to protect domestic tranquillity, which means
a) freedom.
b) well-being of all citizens.
c) peace and order at home.
d) nonmilitary control.
Under a system of checks and balances,
a) each branch of government can check the actions of the other two.
b) power is divided among three branches of government.
c) power is divided between the federal government and the states.
d) the national government has only the powers the Constitution gives it.
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How the Federal Government Works
Chapter 8, Section 2
• What are the powers of the legislative
branch?
• What roles does the President fill as head
of the executive branch?
• How is the judicial branch organized?
• How can each branch of the government
check the powers of the other two?
The Legislative Branch: Congress
Chapter 8, Section 2
House of Representatives
• 435 members
• Number of
representatives for a
state is based on that
state’s population
• 2-year terms
• Leader of the House is
the Speaker.
Senate
• 100 members
• Two senators per state
• 6-year terms
• Leader of the Senate is
the Vice President of the
United States. When the
Vice President is away,
the president pro
tempore takes over.
The Legislative Branch: The Powers of Congress
Chapter 8, Section 2
Listed Powers and Duties of Congress
• To make laws
• To levy taxes
• To borrow money
• To coin money
• To establish post offices
• To fix standard weights and measures
• To declare war
Elastic Clause
• Congress can “make all Laws which shall be necessary and
proper” for carrying out its duties.
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Chapter 8, Section 2
Bill—a proposal for a law
The Executive Branch: Powers and Duties of the President
Chapter 8, Section 2
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To carry out the nation’s laws
To direct foreign policy
To make treaties
To appoint ambassadors
To act as Commander in Chief of the armed
forces
To suggest new laws and work for their passage
Can grant pardons
Can call special sessions of Congress
To stand as a symbol of the nation
Electing the President: Presidential Facts
Chapter 8, Section 2
• The President is elected for a 4-year term.
• The President may be elected to no more than
two complete terms.
• The President is elected by a complex system
known as the electoral college.
• When Americans vote for President, they are
really voting for a group of electors pledged to
the candidate.
• A few weeks after Election Day, the electors meet
in each state to vote. The candidate who receives
a majority of the electoral votes nationwide
becomes President.
Electing the President: The Electoral College
Chapter 8, Section 2
The Judicial Branch
Chapter 8, Section 2
Examples of Checks and Balances
Chapter 8, Section 2
One branch
checks another branch
by doing the following
President
Congress
vetoing, or rejecting, bills Congress has
passed
Congress
President
overriding, or overruling, the President’s
veto
Congress
President
approving or disapproving Presidential
appointments
Congress
President
ratify or not ratify treaties the President
has negotiated
Congress
President
The House can impeach, or bring
charges of wrongdoing against, the
President. The Senate then conducts a
trial.
Supreme
President and Congress
declaring laws unconstitutional
Section 2 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 2
Only Congress has the power to
a) make foreign policy.
b) declare war.
c) decide cases involving federal laws.
d) select electors.
Only the President has the power to
a) make foreign policy.
b) declare war.
c) decide cases involving federal laws.
d) select electors.
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Section 2 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 2
Only Congress has the power to
a) make foreign policy.
b) declare war.
c) decide cases involving federal laws.
d) select electors.
Only the President has the power to
a) make foreign policy.
b) declare war.
c) decide cases involving federal laws.
d) select electors.
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Changing the Constitution
Chapter 8, Section 3
• How can the Constitution be amended?
• What rights does the Bill of Rights
protect?
• How did later amendments expand
democratic rights?
Amending the Constitution
Chapter 8, Section 3
The Bill of Rights
Chapter 8, Section 3
First Amendment
Safeguards individual rights—freedom of religion,
speech, the press, the right to assemble peacefully,
the right to petition the government to change its
policies.
Second
Amendment
“A well-regulated militia being necessary to the
security of a free state, the right of the people to keep
and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
Third Amendment
Congress may not force citizens to put up troops in
their homes.
Fourth Amendment
Citizens are protected from unlawful searches of their
homes and property.
Fifth Amendment
People cannot be forced to incriminate, or give
evidence against, themselves.
The Bill of Rights
Chapter 8, Section 3
Sixth Amendment
People are guaranteed the right to a speedy and public
trial by a fair jury. The accused have a right to know
the charges against them and who is making the
charges.
Seventh
Amendment
Provides for juries in civil, or non criminal, trials.
Eighth Amendment
Forbids excessive bail or fines and “cruel and unusual
punishments.”
Ninth Amendment
Citizens’ rights are not limited to those listed in the
Constitution.
Tenth Amendment
All powers not given to the national government or
denied to the states are reserved for the states or for
the people.
Later Amendments Expanded Rights
Voting Rights
Amendments
Civil War Amendments
Chapter 8, Section 3
Thirteenth
Amendment
Abolished
slavery.
Fourteenth
Amendment
Guaranteed citizenship to former slaves.
Fifteenth
Amendment
Declared that states may not deny the vote
to any citizen on the basis of “race, color,
or previous condition of servitude.”
Nineteenth
Amendment
Gave women the right to vote.
Twenty-sixth
Amendment
Lowered the minimum voting age from 21
to 18.
Section 3 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 3
Basic individual liberties protected by the Constitution include the right to
a) knowingly publish lies about someone.
b) establish an official church in your state.
c) assemble peacefully.
d) make someone give evidence against themselves.
The Nineteenth Amendment expanded voting rights by
a) giving women the right to vote.
b) giving former slaves the right to vote.
c) changing the way electoral college is chosen.
d) lowering the voting age to 18.
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Section 3 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 3
Basic individual liberties protected by the Constitution include the right to
a) knowingly publish lies about someone.
b) establish an official church in your state.
c) assemble peacefully.
d) make someone give evidence against themselves.
The Nineteenth Amendment expanded voting rights by
a) giving women the right to vote.
b) giving former slaves the right to vote.
c) changing the way electoral college is chosen.
d) lowering the voting age to 18.
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State and Local Governments
Chapter 8, Section 4
• How are state constitutions similar to and
different from the national Constitution?
• What services do state governments
provide?
• How do local governments affect our daily
lives?
How State Constitutions Compare With the National
Constitution
Chapter 8, Section 4
Similarities
• Most state constitutions
begin with a preamble.
• Most state constitutions
include a bill of rights.
• State constitutions set up a
government with three
branches—legislative,
executive, and judicial.
• State constitutions can be
amended.
Differences
• Most state constitutions are
longer and more detailed.
• In many states, citizens can
amend the constitution. In a
process known as the
constitutional initiative,
people can gather signatures
on a petition to amend the
state constitution. If enough
signatures are gathered, the
petition goes to the
legislature or to the voters.
Examples of Services Provided by States
Chapter 8, Section 4
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Maintain law and order
Enforce criminal law
Protect property
Regulate business
Supervise public education
Provide public health and welfare programs
Build and maintain the state’s infrastructure, or system of
roads, bridges, and tunnels
• Operate state parks and forests
• Regulate use of state-owned land
• License professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, and
teachers
The Work of Local Governments
Chapter 8, Section 4
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Local Government—government on the county, parish, city,
town, village, and district level; get their powers from the state
Build and run local schools
Hire and support firefighters, police, and garbage collectors
Provide sewers and water
Maintain local roads
Maintain local hospitals
Conduct safety inspections of buildings and restaurants
May own and run water and sewage treatment plants
Provide libraries, parks, and other cultural and recreational
facilities
May support airports, sports arenas, and civic centers
Section 4 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 4
Most state constitutions are similar to the national Constitution in that they
a) give the states the ability to deal with national issues.
b) are fairly short.
c) can only be amended by Congress.
d) set up three branches of government.
One service that county and city governments do NOT provide is
a) granting drivers’ licenses.
b) building and running schools.
c) supporting firefighters.
d) conducting safety inspections of restaurants.
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Section 4 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 4
Most state constitutions are similar to the national Constitution in that they
a) give the states the ability to deal with national issues.
b) are fairly short.
c) can only be amended by Congress.
d) set up three branches of government.
One service that county and city governments do NOT provide is
a) granting drivers’ licenses.
b) building and running schools.
c) supporting firefighters.
d) conducting safety inspections of restaurants.
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Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
Chapter 8, Section 5
• What makes a person a citizen of the
United States?
• How can Americans develop democratic
values?
• What are the responsibilities of
citizenship?
What Is a Citizen?
Chapter 8, Section 5
A citizen is a person who owes loyalty to a particular nation and is
entitled to all its rights and protections.
To be a United States citizen:
• You were born in the United States or at least one parent is a
citizen.
• You were naturalized, that is, you have completed the official legal
process for becoming a citizen.
• Many immigrants—people who enter another country to settle
there—become naturalized citizens.
• First, immigrants may have permission to stay in the country
as resident aliens, or noncitizens living in the country.
• You were 18 or younger when your parents were naturalized.
Democratic Values
Chapter 8, Section 5
Basic Values
Such as honesty and compassion
Patriotism
A feeling of love and devotion toward one’s country;
inspires Americans to serve their nation
Respect
For ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and other
members of our community
Responsibility
Both personal and public responsibility; responsibility
for ourselves and the consequences of our actions
Responsibility
Physical and moral courage; doing the right thing
even when it is unpopular, difficult, or dangerous
Civic Virtue—a willingness to work for the good of the nation or community
even at great sacrifice.
Responsibilities of Citizenship
Chapter 8, Section 5
Voting
Citizens must study the candidates and issues in
order to make responsible choices.
Obeying the laws
We give the government the power to make laws for
us, so we have a duty to obey the laws.
Defending the
nation
Citizens must help defend the nation against threats to
its peace or security, such as by serving in the
military.
Serving on a jury
Citizens must take time out from their work and
personal lives for jury duty, serving on a jury when
called.
Serving the
community
Many citizens offer their time and talents to improve
their communities and help others.
Being informed
Citizens cannot protect their rights unless they know
what they are and stay informed.
Section 5 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 5
One democratic value is moral courage, which means
a) doing the right thing even when it is unpopular.
b) showing a feeling of love and devotion toward one’s country.
c) respecting the property of others.
d) serving the nation even at great risk to oneself.
Because the Bill of Rights guarantees a right to trial by jury, responsible
citizens will
a) register for jury duty at age 18.
b) enlist in the military without being called.
c) take jury duty seriously and serve when called.
d) study the candidates before voting for a jury.
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Section 5 Assessment
Chapter 8, Section 5
One democratic value is moral courage, which means
a) doing the right thing even when it is unpopular.
b) showing a feeling of love and devotion toward one’s country.
c) respecting the property of others.
d) serving the nation even at great risk to oneself.
Because the Bill of Rights guarantees a right to trial by jury, responsible
citizens will
a) register for jury duty at age 18.
b) enlist in the military without being called.
c) take jury duty seriously and serve when called.
d) study the candidates before voting for a jury.
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