American Government

1
American Government

• Semester A
• Final Review

2
State of Nature

• Define it
• Describe it
• How organized is it?
• How do people act?
• How does government work in it?
• Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan
• Human life in a state of nature is nasty,
  brutish, and short.

3
Theories of Government

• Purpose of Government
• To Serve the State
• Theories
• Force Theory
• Evolutionary Theory
• Divine Right Theory
• Social Contract Theory

4
The State

• 4 Essential Features
• Population
• Territory
• Sovereignty
• Government
• Nation vs. State
• Same and different

5
Intro to Government

• How many states are there in the modern world?
• 272 nations (according to CIA World Factbook)
• Simple Facts
• Russia is the largest country (US is 10)
• China has the greatest population (over 1
  billion!!)
• US has almost 300 million (still 5)
• Russia has almost 143 million (10)
• China is slightly smaller than the US!
• US is about 1/16 of Earths entire land surface
• Half the size of Russia

6
Intro to Government

• That means
• The US is half the size of Russia but still has
  twice as many people
• The US is has only about 6 of the entire land
  surface of the Earth
• China is a little smaller that the US but has
  more than 3 times the population!!

7
Review of Theories

• Force Theory
• Self interest force
• State is set up to support controlling power
• Evolutionary Theory
• Based on evolution of families
• Sovereignty determined by custom

8
Review of Theories

• Divine Right Theory
• God created the state and rulers
• Defying the state is treason and mortal sin
• Social Contract Theory
• State of Nature is rough
• Everyone gives up some power and rights
• Everyone protected equally
• Whole purpose is to serve the will of the people

9
Hobbes vs. Locke

• Biographical info
• How they are the same
• How they are different
• Views on
• Human nature
• State of nature
• Government
• Property
• Rights

10
Judeo-Christian vs. Greeks Romans

• Greeks/Romans
• Multiple gods
• Only certain people are special
• Obedience for common good
• Public morality
• State before the individual!

• Judeo-Christian
• One god
• Everyone is unique and special
• Obedience for salvation thru God
• Private morality
• Individual before the state!!

Pg. 19
11
Influences on American Govt.

• Greek Roman
• Democracy
• Classical Republicanism
• Common Good
• Civic Virtue
• Moral Education
• Small Uniform Communities
• Natural Rights
• How it was adapted for early America
• Madisons representative democracy

12
Rise of Modern Rights

• Middle Ages
• Group rights vs. Individual rights
• Protestant Reformation
• Decline of Church rule and rise of secular
  governments
• Growth of private economic power
• Age of Reason
• Reason is the key to all

13
Influences on American Govt.

• English Influence
• Feudalism Constitutional government
• Magna Carta (1215)
• Petition of Right (1628)
• Habeas Corpus Act (1678)
• English Bill of Rights (1689)
• King Parliament
• English American Bills of Rights
• Freedoms

14
Early Governments in America

• English Influence
• Similarities
• Written constitutions
• Natural Rights
• Differences
• Abundance of property
• Economic opportunity
• Political opportunity
• Slavery vs. Indentured Servitude

15
The Declaration

• Why?
• Why it took so long to decide?
• Arguments for and against
• Personalities
• Adams, Franklin, Jefferson
• Resolution Influences
• Language of the final draft

16
Articles Constitution

• Weaknesses
• Shoes Shays Rebellion ()
• Lack of central power
• The Plans
• Virginia Plan
• New Jersey Plan
• Compromises
• Great Compromise
• 3/5 Compromise

17
Arguments over Federalism

• The Two Main Focuses
• Increased powers of the centralized, federal
  government
• Lack of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution

18
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

• Federalists
• Create new govt.
• Articles too weak
• Reqd. new govt.
• Favored ratification
• Centralized govt.
• Powerful federal govt.
• Bankers, merchants, powerful statesmen

• Anti-Federalists
• Feared new govt.
• Might be monarchy
• Reqd. new govt.
• Against ratification
• Decentralized govt.
• Powerful state govt.
• Farmers, revolutionaries,
• Debtors

19
Constitution (Organization)

• How many Articles
• Basic description of the Articles
• Bill of Rights
• 1st ten amendments
• When was the Constitution ratified?
• 1788

20
Branches of Government

• Legislative
• Organization of Congress
• Powers of Congress
• Passage of a bill through Congress
• Checks Balances
• Veto power of President
• 2/3 vote to override vetoes
• Approval of Executive Judicial appointments
• Etc.

21
Branches of Government

• Executive Branch
• Roles of President (examples)
• Powers of President
• Election of President
• Primaries
• National Conventions
• Electoral college
• Election of 1800
• Order of Succession (top 3)

22
Branches of Government

• Judiciary Branch
• Organization of State and federal courts

23
How to Study

• Review these notes
• Try to create possible questions
• Create scenarios to analyze and solve
• Review PowerPoints Bellwork Journal
• Review Leadership Project portfolio
• Write outlines for all 3 essay prompts

24
Good Luck!!

• Final Test
• Thursday 12/21