ORIGINS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

1. ORIGINS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT MIKE PINSON

2. Objectives • Describe the nature of democratic government and the traditional and contemporary theories of democratic politics. • Describe the process by which political socialization occurs in a democratic system. • Trace the English philosophical heritage including the Enlightenment in the shaping of American democratic principles. • Identify origins and functions of government. 

3. I. Principles of Govt. • Aristotle- one of the 1st students of govt. Studied the ancient Greek city-state. • Divine Right v. Social Contract • Thomas Hobbes- 1 of the 1st to theorize on the social contract. Men needed an absolute ruler to protect us. • John Locke-wrotethat people were naturally endowed w/the right to life, liberty, & property. 3

4. What are unalienable rights? Declaration states we have them….

5. Do Not Write

6. WHAT IS GOVERNMENT ????????? • Govt is the institution through which a society makes & enforces its public policies.

7. The purpose of Government: - Governments are needed to maintain order by setting and enforcing laws. - Provide essential services for people, such as health and food standards, public education, and consumer protection. - Protect citizens from attack by other states & from internal threats such as terrorism. - Pass laws that shape & control the equal opportunity of each individual person.

8. 4 characteristics of a state: Population must have people, the # of which does not directly relate to its existence. Territory must be comprised of land—territory w/ known & recognized boundaries. Sovereignty has supreme & absolute power w/in territory & decides its own foreign & domestic policies. Government has a govt — that is, it is politically organized.

9. The Purpose of Government “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

10. The Purpose….. • Form a more perfect union • Establish justice • Insure domestic tranquility • Provide for the common defense • Promote the general welfare • Secure the blessings of liberty

11. ________________ has decided they are tired to government control. They (along with family & friends) decide to move to Clay County and send a letter to Alabama and federal government renouncing citizenship. • _______________________ sets up a constitution, a military, set boundaries with a fence dividing off themselves from the rest of the people and an organized government. • Is this legal???? What problems?

13. Where do you stand?? • Should/Can government pass a law to limit your free speech? • Your religion? • Your right to own guns?

14. Classifying Governments All governments can be classified according to 3 characteristics…… 1. who can participate 2. how power is distributed 3. relationship between legislative and executive branches.

15. Democracy • In a democracy, supreme political authority rests with the people. • A direct democracy exists where the will of the people is translated into law directly by the people themselves. • In an indirect democracy, a small group of persons, chosen by the people to act as their representatives, expresses the popular will. • In a democracy the people are sovereign. They are the only source for any and all of the government’s power. In other words, the people rule.

16. Dictatorship • A dictatorship(s) exists where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. • An absolute ruler or despotism is a government in which a single person holds unlimited political power. • An oligarchy is a government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite.

17. Classification of Geographic Distribution of Power Unitary system- gives all key powers to national or central government Confederacy- is an alliance of independent states Federal system- divides the powers between Fed. Govt. & states authority superior to both the central & local governments makes this division of power on a geographic basis.

18. How can power be distributed? Parliament Democracy Dictatorship

19. Constitutions & Government • A constitution is a plan that provides the rules for government. • Whether written or unwritten, a constitution organizes the structure of government and the way it operates. • Constitutions set out the rules and laws of government as well as the ideals shared by the people. • Constitutions provide the limitations and freedoms that are to be exercised by states and their governments.

20. Relationship between Legislative & Executive Branches • Presidential • Relationship between Legislative & Executive Branches • Executive and legislative branches of the govt. are separate, independent of one another, and COEQUAL. • Chief executive is chosen independently from the legislative body.

21. Parliamentary • Executive is made up of the prime minister of the governing party • The prime minister is the leader of the majority party • PM selects a cabinet w/ their approval • Legislative branch selects executive • MOST popular form of government in world

22. Characteristics of Democracy • works to secure an equal opportunity for people to develop their own abilities. • based on majority rule through the people’s elected rep, but respects the rights of minorities. • based on free & open elections in which every citizen has the right to vote. • Political parties choose candidates for office.

23. Concept of Democracy • A belief of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person; at various times the welfare of the few is subjected to the welfare of the many and vice versa. • A belief and constant fight for the equality of all persons; does not mean everything is equal. People must have equal opportunity and equality before the law. • A faith and trust in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights; unchecked a majority would destroy its opposition and destroy the democracy. A consistent commitment to the belief of the necessity of compromise; the essential component of a democracy. Two reasons democracy puts individual first & makes everyone equal there will always be more than 1 side to an issue

24. Foundations The American concept of democracy rests on these 5 basic notions: • A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person; at various times the welfare of the few is subjected to the welfare of the many and vice versa. (Ex. Draft, paying taxes) (2) A respect for the equality of all persons; does not mean everything is equal. People must have equal opportunity and equality before the law. (Ex. Sports)

25. Foundations (3) A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights; unchecked a majority would destroy its opposition and destroy the democracy. (Ex. Illegal immigration) (4) An acceptance of the necessity of compromise; the essential component of a democracy. Two reasons ● democracy puts individual first & makes everyone equal ● there will always be more than 1 side to an issue (5) An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom. Does not and cannot insist of complete freedom of individual; anarchy would ensue. “The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened” JFK

26. Democracy & free enterprise economy Private ownership is backbone of American economy…. Free enterprise system is an economic system characterized by private/corporate ownership (investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state control.) Success or failure determined by you and competition in the free market. Decisions determined by the law of supply & demand. ( Ex. Clothes) Investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state control (Ex. Wal-Mart v. Kmart)

27. 4 factors • Private ownership • Individual initiative • Profit • Competition • U.S. has a mixed economy • Government protects the public • Government grants money for transportation, research, growing food, roads, public schools, postal service, weather service, national currency, medicare, social security, ETC…. Government GROWS ALWAYS…

28. Capitalism, Socialism, & Communism • Capitalism developed from the economic & political changes in Europe. • The U.S. has a mixed market economy, incorporating both free enterprise & government regulation. • Socialism is where the government owns basic means of production, use of resources, distributes products, wages, & provides basic services. • Socialist governments have taken power in several countries; however, critics argue that this economic system fails to solve most economic problems.

29. Under a communist government they make all economic decisions; owns land, resources, industry, banks, & transportation system; & mass communication. • government ownership of all means of production and distribution; when all property was held in common, there would be no need for government.

30. Democracy and the Internet • Democracy demands that the people be widely informed about their government. • Theoretically, the Internet makes knowledgeable participation in democratic process easier than ever before. • However, all data on the World Wide Web is not necessarily true, and the long-term effects of the Internet on democracy has yet to be determined.

31. Constitutional Govt. Govt. without Constitution A written plan exists for organizing & operating the Govt. Govt. operates by its own authority with few limits.. Constitution authorizes the govt. to operate within set limits by the Constitution.

32. Chapter 2

33. Colonists brought w/ them 3 main concepts: • need for ordered social system. • limited govt. • representative govt.

34. Important English Documents The way our government works today can be traced to important documents in history: 2 3 4 5 Chapter 2, Section 1

35. Growing Colonial Unity Early Attempts • In 1643, several New England settlements formed the New England Confederation. • A confederation is a joining of several groups for a common purpose. The Albany Plan • In 1754, Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union, in which an annual congress of delegates (representatives) from each of the 13 colonies would be formed. The Stamp Act Congress In 1765, a group of colonies sent delegates to the Stamp Act Congress in New York. These delegates prepared the Declaration of Rights and Grievances against British policies and sent it to the king.

36. American Independence • On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. • Between 1776 and 1777, most of the States adopted constitutions instead of charters.

37. Independence • The Declaration had 3 parts: a statement of purpose, including a description of basic human rights; a list of specific complaints against King George III; & a statement of colonists’ determination to separate from G. Britain. • By the end of 1776, 10 states had written constitutions, which were based on the consent of the governed, limited govt, & the protection of individual rights.

38. The Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation established “a firm league of friendship” among the States. Powers Congress had power to declare war, deal w/ national finance issues, & settle state disputes. Obligations States promised to obey Congress, respect the laws of other States. Most powers resided w/ states.

40. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

41. Framers of the Constitution

42. I. The Convention Begins A.Delegates had great practical experience in politics, govt & included many signers / Dec. of Ind. / Art. of Conf. B.Held meetings in secret, deciding each state would have 1 vote, decisions made by majority vote, quorum of 7 states was required for all meetings. C. Gave up revising the Art. Of Conf. & drafted a new plan of govt about which they shared many ideas.

43. Different Constitutional Plans The Virginia Plan • 3 branches of govt • Bicameral leg. • “National Executive” & “National Judiciary” The New Jersey Plan • Unicameral Cong. • Equal repr./ States of different sizes • More than 1 federal executive

44. Decisions & Compromises 1.Connecticut Compromise, which proposed a leg. branch with 2 parts: a House of Rep. w/ state repres based on pop., & a Sen. with 2 members from each state, regardless of size. large states advantage in the House & protected smaller states in Senate.

45. Constitutional Compromises • 3/5th Compromise • count a slave as 3/5 of a person in determining pop. of a State. • Commerce & Slave Trade Compromise • Congress could not tax exported goods, & could not act on slavery for 20 years.

46. Ratifying the Constitution 1. Anti-Federalists (opposed) believed the Constitution was done in secret & had no power to replace the Articles. Believed Constitution took important powers away from the states & Bill of Rights. 2. Federalists promised a Bill of Rights, & the small states learned more about the Connecticut Compromise, the battle over ratification was finally won.

48. Constitution & amendments

49. WHAT is in our Constitution???? • Preamble States the purpose of the Constitution • Article I Legislative branch • Article II Executive branch • Article III Judicial branch

50. WHAT is in our Constitution???? • Article IV Relations among the States & with the National Government • Article V Amending the Constitution • Article VI National debts, supremacy of national law, and oaths of office • Article VII Ratifying the Constitution