Aim: How was the U.S. formed?

• Do Now:• Obtain Regents Packet #1• Divide into groups of 4 • Take out your review book or obtain a text

book from the front of the room

Aim: How was the U.S. formed?

• Do Now:• Take out your Regents Packet #1• Divide into groups of 4 • Take out your review book or obtain a text

book from the front of the room• GROUPS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING

ASSIGNED QUESTIONS ON THE BOARD.

GROUPS

• GROUP #1 QUESTIONS #1-5 (SIDEBOARD)• GROUP #2 QUESTIONS #6-10 (SIDEBOARD)• GROUP #3 QUESTIONS # 11-16 (FRONT SIDE)• GROUP #4 QUESTIONS # 17-23 (SMART

BOARD)

Regents prep format• Each day we will have a “stand and deliver” for

the vocabulary• You are responsible for all vocabulary words

once they are assigned• Each packet is one unit• These should be completed every 2 days.• These packets will be downloaded on the

school website• If you are absent, you must download them

yourself

Foundations of U.S. Government

The roots of American democracy stretch back beyond the formation of the United States, having

origin in ancient Greek thinking, the Enlightenment, as well as colonial injustices under the English

• Jamestown, founded in 1607• Plymouth colony, founded in 1620• New Amsterdam, founded in 1625These early colonial settlements were similar in that each was located

a. at the base of a mountain rangeb. near the coastlinec. in an arid climated. on offshore islands

• Ancient Influences on American Democracy

The ancient Greeks in the city-state Athens created the idea of the democratic government, practiced as a direct democracy (government in which all citizens had say via participation in voting). The Romans developed the concept of the representative democracy (one in which the citizens elect representatives to act of their behalf in government). This was best exemplified by the Roman Senate. The upper house of the US Congress is the Senate in ode to this ancient ideal.

• A republican form of government is described as one in which

• a. there is a two-party system• b. representatives are elected by the people• c. elected officials have limited terms• d. government power is limited by checks and• balances

Which statement is accurate concerning the origin of representative democracy in the United States?

• a. It represents a blending of European and American experiences and ideas

• b. It originated from decisions of the United States Supreme Court

• c. It was solely based on the experiences of the Colonial Era

• d. It was created at the Constitutional Convention by the authors of the United States Constitution

Influences of the Enlightenment

• The thinking of the founding fathers (especially Thomas Jefferson) was heavily influenced by the intellectual changes occurring in 1700's Europe. The European Enlightenment focused on reason, human thought and experience as opposed to the divine reasoning of religious thought.

• Locke declared that all men are born with the natural rights of "life, liberty and property" and no government can revoke these rights. Locke maintained that citizens grant governments the power to rule, in order to protect their natural rights. When a government fails to protect rights and consent is revoked, the government can be changed or replaced with a revolution. (Declaration of Independence)

• According to the Declaration of Independence, the people have the right to alter or abolish a government if that government

1. is a limited monarchy

2. violates natural rights

3. becomes involved in entangling alliances

4. favors one religion over another

• Which of the following is not part of John Locke’s philosophy?

• a. the right to liberty• b. the right to Revolution• c. divine Right of Kings• d. the right to property

Colonial Democratic Developments• Democratic developments during the colonial era date back to

the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth rock. The Mayflower Compact was the earliest example, in which the Pilgrims consented to be governed and to abide by the decisions of their government.

• During this era the English government had no specific policy of direct governing of the colonies. This became known as the period of salutary neglect or the ignoring of the colonies for their own health, during which they developed forms of self-rule.

• During this period of salutary neglect the colonists began to develop their own forms of government. In Virginia, the House of Burgesses developed as a representative democracy in which elected officials served as the voice of their regions within the state.

• In the Colonial Era, developments such as the New England town meetings and the establishment of the Virginia House of Burgesses represented

1. colonial attempts to build a strong national government

2. efforts by the British to strengthen their control over the colonies

3. steps in the growth of representative democracy

4. early social reform movements

Aim: How was our country’s government formed?

• Divide into pre-determined groups• Obtain worksheet 2• Take out your review book

GROUPS

• GROUP #1 QUESTIONS #1-4(SIDEBOARD)• GROUP #2 QUESTIONS #5-8 (SIDEBOARD)• GROUP #3 QUESTIONS # 9-12 (FRONT SIDE)• GROUP #4 QUESTIONS # 13-16 (SMART

BOARD)

The Articles of Confederation Fail

• During the years immediately following the Revolutionary War, the colonies organized themselves into a new American government. The Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) served as the foundation for this first attempt at a national government and while a failure, it was the lessons learned under the articles that helped strengthen the government formed by the Constitution.

• 1. Which idea had a major influence on the authors of the Articles of Confederation?

• a. a strong central government threatens the people and the states

• b. all of the people must be granted the right to vote

• c. three branches of government are needed to protect liberty

• d. the central government must have the power to levy taxes and control trade

• The government was created under the Articles of Confederation lasted only a few years because the government

• a. circulated a uniform paper currency• b. supported the extension of slavery into the• northwest territory• c. lacked the ability to enforce authority• d. compelled the states to abide by its treaties

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IS CONVENED

• Meeting at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, 55 delegates from all the states except Rhode Island, met to rework the failing Articles of Confederation. It quickly became apparent that amending the articles was unworkable and discussion soon turned to replacing them with a new government.

• A primary aim of the writers of the United States Constitution was to

• a. weaken the power of the executive

• b. develop a governmental system based on the principle of supremacy of the states

• c. change from a government based on division of powers to one based on a single power

• d. strengthen the power of the central government

THE GREAT COMPROMISE

One of the first issues to be resolved was representation to the new government. The Articles of Confederation had allowed each state equal representation and equal say, despite size or population and this did not sit well with the largest states (Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania). The smaller states feared losing say in the federal government and so continued to support equality in representation.

Legislative Branch

• Main roles and powers:• To pass legislation (laws) ************• Declare war • Regulate trade • Regulate money • Impeach federal officials • Override presidential vetoes (2/3 vote in each house)

Senate• Representation: Each state has 2 Senators • Term: Senators serve unlimited 6 year terms, elected by

popular vote**• Powers

Approve presidential nominations to the federal courts (including the Supreme Court, by majority vote)

• Approve presidential appointments to federal positions (by a majority vote)

• Approve treaties (by 2/3 vote) • Serve as jury in impeachment trials ********* • Select a Vice-President if the electoral college fails to

House of Representatives• Term: Representatives serve unlimited 2 year terms,

elected by popular vote • Representation: Each state's number of representatives is

proportional to population. The number of Representatives is fixed at 435 and division among the states is determined by the census (population count) conducted ever 10 years as required by the Constitution

• Powers:• Originate all spending ($$) bills • Serve as prosecution in impeachment trial • Select a President if the electoral college fails to

• Under the provisions of the original United States Constitution, the most democratically selected body was the

• a. Senate• b. Supreme Court• c. Cabinet• d. House of Representatives

Executive Branch President, his advisors and all federal agencies and their

heads• Chief Executive• Enforce the laws passed by Congress • Issue executive orders, enforcing the law • Nominate judges (including those to the Supreme Court,

requiring Senate confirmation) • Chief Diplomat• Make treaties with foreign nations (require 2/3 vote in

Senate for approval)

Chief Legislator• Propose a federal budget • Recommend/approve proposed laws to Congress • Veto legislation Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces• Supreme commander of all branches of US military

• Terms: President serves a maximum of 2 terms of 4 years (**note: the original Constitution allowed of unlimited terms of service, this was revised by the 22nd amendment in 1951) FDR

• Requirements: President (or Vice-President) must over 35, a natural born citizen and a 14 year resident of the United States.

• Which feature of the Presidency is a result of a constitutional amendment?

1. two-term limit in office

2. power to appoint ambassadors

3. duty to act as Commander in Chief

4. responsibility to nominate Justices to the Supreme Court

Judicial Branch• The judicial branch of US government is composed of the

Supreme Court and all of the lower federal courts as created by Congress.

• The most significant power of the judicial branch is that of judicial review, first stated by Chief Justice John Marshall in the 1803 case of Marbury vs. Madison, but not expressly granted the court by the Constitution.

• Main roles and powers:• Interpret the law • Exercise the power of judicial review

• Jurisdiction (Supreme Court):• The Supreme Court hears cases of appeal from lower

federal and state courts • The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction (may hear a

case first) in cases involving a state vs. state matter or a branch vs. branch matter

• Judicial review:• Determine if laws passed by Congress are allowable by the

Constitution • Determine if treaties negotiated by the President and

approved by the Senate are allowable by the Constitution • Determine if actions by the President in enforcing the law

are allowable by the Constitution • Determine if laws passed by states are allowable by the

Constitution

• The decision of the United States Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the power of the

1. House of Representatives to impeach the president

2. Congress to override a presidential veto

3. president to veto congressional legislation

4. Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of laws

Federalism• Federalism within the United States system is the balancing

of power between a Federal Government and State Governments.

• Within this system the Federal Government is superior to the State Governments.

• For example, a state could not pass a law that directly contradicted a law passed on the federal level.

• Within these principles, power is divided among the federal and state governments.

Divided Powers in US Government• Delegated Powers - To delegate means to specifically assign, in this

case delegated powers are those powers specifically assigned to the Federal Government. These are also referred to as enumerated powers.

• Reserved Powers - To reserve is to save, in this case all powers not specifically delegated the Federal Government are to be reserved or saved for the State Governments.

• Concurrent Powers - Concurrent means "at the same time" powers are those that both the federal and state governments have simultaneously.

• Implied Powers - These are powers that are NOT specifically delegated in the Constitution, but are understood to be necessary or allowed. The elastic clause or necessary and proper clause allows these by stating that Congress has the power "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers"

• Which United States governmental principle includes the concepts of reserved powers, delegated powers, and concurrent powers?

• a. the amending process• b. judicial review• c. federalism• d. the unwritten constitution

• Under the United States Constitution, those powers not delegated to the federal government are

• a. exercised only by state governors• b. concerned only with issues of taxation• c. reserved to the states or to the people• d. divided equally between the states and the

national government

The Unwritten Constitution • The "Unwritten Constitution" refers to the ideas and

processes that are accepted as a needed part of American government, regardless of the fact that they are not actually in the Constitution. These ideas and processes came about through the custom and precedent

• President's CabinetGeorge Washington was the first to have a cabinet of advisors to aid him in making decisions for the nation

• Political PartiesThe first political parties arose from the debates over Constitutional ratification

• Judicial ReviewThe most important power of the Supreme Court, that of Judicial Review or the ability to declare laws unconstitutional, is not in the Constitution. The power of Judicial Review was a precedent set in the 1803 Marbury v. Madison decision

• The term "unwritten constitution" is best defined as

• a. political customs and traditions that have become part of the United States Government

• b. the government of the United States before the Articles of Confederation c. powers reserved for state governments

• d. government policies that are based on Supreme Court decisions

• What political development in the United States is considered part of the “unwritten constitution”?

• a. the system of checks and balances• b. the formation of political parties• c. the President’s power to grant pardons• d. the power of Congress to issue patents