Title: Political Science American Government and Politics Today
1Political ScienceAmerican Government
andPolitics Today
- Chapter 2
- The Constitution
2Impacts of the colonial experience
- Jamestown representative assembly
- Plymouth social contract with consent of the
governed
3Selected Milestones in the Colonial/ Early
American Era
- the the Stamp Act
- the First Continental Congress
- the Second Continental Congress
- the Revolutionary War
- the Declaration of Independence
4Selected Milestones in the Colonial/ Early
American Era (cont.)
- the ratification of the Articles of Confederation
- Shays Rebellion
- the Constitutional Convention
- ratification of the U.S. Constitution
- the Ratification of the Bill of Rights
5Important concepts in the Declaration of
Independence
- Natural Rights the idea that individuals hold
certain rights because they are human
governments cannot take away these
inalienable(cant be transferred) rights
Locke describes these rights as life, liberty
and property
Jefferson describes these rights as life
liberty and the pursuit of happiness
6Important concepts in the Declaration of
Independence-(cont.)
- Social contract a general agreement between the
people and the government, where the people agree
to give up some of their liberties, so that the
remainder are protected.
7Compromises in the Drafting of the U.S.
Constitution
- the Great Compromise resulted in a bicameral
legislature, with one house based on equal
representation, the other on population. - the Three-Fifths Compromise resulted in slaves
being counted as 3/5 of a person for the
purpose of determining population for
8Dispersion of Power by the U.S. Constitution
- Federalism sovereign powers are divided between
the states and the national government - Separation of Powers dividing governmental
powers
9Dispersion of Power by the U.S.
Constitution-(cont.)
- legislative branch is granted the power to make
laws - judicial branch is granted the power to judge
laws - executive branch is granted the power to
administer laws
10Separation of Powers
11Checks and Balances among the Branches of
Government
12Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
- was supported by Federalists, who argued in favor
of the ratification and supported a strong
central government. - was opposed by the Anti-Federalists, who opposed
a strong central government.
13The Bill of Rights
- the first 10 amendments to the Constitution
- were adopted in 1791
- were designed to protect individuals from a too
powerful national government
14The Formal Constitutional Procedure