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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.