Title: Origins of the U.S. Government
1Origins of the U.S. Government
- A.P. Government Politics
- Unit 1
2How do governments form?
- Force
- Establishing control through violence
- Evolution
- Gradual development of government
- Divine Right
- God grants certain people the right to rule
- Social Contract
- People freely enter into a state
3What are the types of government?
- Totalitarianism
- Rules with absolute authority
- May be a single or multiple ruler (oligarchy)
- May be focused on self or common good (dictator v
monarchy) - Unitary
- Power is held by a centralized agency and
filtered out to local governments - Federal
- Powers are divided between one central government
and several local governments
4What are the types of government?
- Confederation
- An alliance of independent states
- Democracy
- Political authority rest with the people
- May be Direct or Indirect
5What influenced the founders?
- Roman Republic
- Two house legislature
- Greeks
- Democratic rule
- Focus on common good civic virtue
6What influenced the founders?
- British
- How did each of the following influence the
founders? - Magna Carta
- Petition of Right
- Bill of Rights
7What influenced the founders?
- Hobbes people are evil and will enter a social
contract to escape the evil in society - A strong central government is necessary
8What influenced the founders?
- Locke
- people are good and will enter a social contract
to protect their natural rights - People have three natural rights life, liberty,
and property
9What influenced the founders?
- Montesquieu Separating powers among
three branches creates a checks and balances
system that protects peoples rights
10Articles of Confederation
- Problems?
- Lacked national unity
- Weak central government
- No backing for currency
- No power to tax
- Could not regulate interstate commerce
- No judicial system
11Constitutional Convention
- Attended by 55 delegates
- 39 were members of the Continental Congress or
Confederation Congress - 31 were college graduates
- Most important members not present
- Sam Adams, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, and
Thomas JeffersonRelevance? - Average age was 42
- How did the younger delegates view the executive?
(Madison, Wilson, Hamilton) - How did the older delegates view the executive?
(Franklin, Sherman)
12Convention Debates
- What were they?
- Virginia plan
- New Jersey plan
- Connecticut Compromise
- 3/5s compromise
13The Constitution
14Principles
- Popular Sovereignty The authority flows from the
people - Limited Government No one is above the law
- Separation of Powers All powers are divided up
among the three branches - Checks and Balances Each branch has some control
over the others - Federalism The powers divided among the central
government and state governments
15Article IU.S. Congress
16Article I
House Senate
Members
Citizenship
Residency
Age
Term
17Article I
House Senate
Members 435 100
Citizenship 7 years 9 years
Residency In state In state
Age 25 30
Term 2 years 6 years
18Article I
- Implied powers
- Art 1 sec8 clause 18
- Borrow money create a bank
- Expressed Powers
- Regulate commerce
- Create currency
- Borrow money
- Tax
- Raise a military
- Declare war
- Create courts
- Inherent powers
- Impeach the president
- Approve executive appointments
- Approve treaties
19Article II
20Article II
- Qualifications
- Natural born citizen
- 35 years old
- Lived in the U.S. for 14 years
- Term
- 4 year term
- (no more than 2 consecutive terms or 10 years)
21Article II
- Selection
- Electoral college
- Each state sends members Congressional Rep.
- Majority wins (No majority? House decides)
- Removal
- House issues impeachment
- Senate removes
22Article II
- Executive powers
- Chief of State The ceremonial head of the
government - Chief Executive Has the power to execute the
laws - Chief Diplomat Establishes U.S. foreign policy
- Commander in Chief Head of the military
- Legislative powers
- Shapes public policy
- vetoes laws
- Judicial powers
- Appoints judges
- Pardons criminals
23Article IIIJudicial Branch
24Article III
- Qualifications
- None
- Make up
- Constitution establishes Supreme Court
- Congress establishes lower courts
- Term
- Life
- Jurisdiction
- Original jurisdiction on all federal law
- Appellate jurisdiction
25Article IV-VII
- Article IV Role of states
- State Relations
- Extradition
- New States
Article VI Supremacy of the Constitution
- Article VII Ratification
- 9 of the 13 states
- Article V Amending the Constitution
- 2/3 House Senate
- ¾ of States