units 1 and 2 citizenship and the foundations of government
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UNITS 1 AND 2Citizenship and the Foundations of Government
Basic Concepts of Democracy
Popular sovereignty
Equal justice under law
Equality of all people
Individual rights and liberties
Patriotism
Limited government
Representative government
Citizenship
To fully participate in civic and political life, you must be a citizen of the U.S. and a resident of your state and locality.
Citizens’ Privileges: Voting Serving on a jury Running for office
Citizens
American citizenship provides full political participation in your state and locality.
You must live in a state/locality for a certain amount of time to receive full participation rights. Virginia: no residency duration requirement.
Most states are 30 days.
Some privileges of citizenship can be denied for major federal crimes. Example: Treason
Individuals may keep their official residency in areas where they don’t currently reside. Examples: Active duty military,
college students
Citizenship by Birth
Any individual born on U.S. soil Includes territories of
Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
jus soli
Any individual with at least one U.S. citizen as a parent jus sanguinis
Naturalization
The process for non-citizens to gain citizenship varies.
Current requirements:
Permanent resident at least 5 years
Ability to read, write, speak
basic English.
Knowledge and understanding
of U.S. history and government.
(Citizenship Test)
Good moral character
Belief in the principles of the U.S. Constitution
Influences on American Government
Athens, Greece (7th - 5th Century B.C.E.) Direct democracy
Each individual votes on everything
Romans (5th - 3rd Century B.C.E.) Indirect democracy/republic
Individuals select representatives to vote for them
The Magna Carta (1215)
Limited power of government
Fundamental rights
Trial by jury
Due process of law
English Petition of Rights (1628)
Supported the ideas that men have rights and
established the concept of rule of law
Trial by jury
No Martial Law
Protection against
quartering of troops
Protection of private
property
English Bill of Rights (1689)
Limited power of the monarch
No standing army in peacetime
Free elections
Right of petition
Parliamentary checks on power
Philosophers’ Influence
Locke (1689) Social Contract Consent of the governed Natural Rights: life, liberty, and property
Rousseau (1762) All men are equal
Hobbes (1651) Strong government
Montesquieu (1748) Separation of powers Checks and balances
Voltaire (1759) Freedom of religion
Question: What two major U.S. documents were greatly influenced by these philosophers?
The Declaration of Independence The U.S. Constitution Also, the Constitution of Virginia
Other Influences
Charters of the Virginia Company of London (1607) The basic rights of Englishmen were
guaranteed to the colonists by the charters.
Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776)
George Mason All Virginians should have certain
rights, including freedom of religion and the press.
Basis for the U.S. Bill of Rights
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1777) Thomas Jefferson All people should be free
to worship as they please
First protection of religious freedom by law
Basis for the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
“The Father of the Constitution” (1787) James Madison Authored the “Virginia Plan”
which proposed three separate branches of government. (legislative, executive, and judicial)
Authored much of the Bill of Rights
Comparative Governments Federal System
Powers are shared between levels of government Powers are separated and shared among the branches
of the national government Examples: U.S. and Mexico
Unitary System The central government possesses all power Under a parliamentary system, they may delegate
some authority The legislative branch holds both legislative and
executive powers. Examples: United Kingdom and People’s Republic of
China
The Political Spectrum
Anarchy Dictatorship
Democracy
RepublicOligarchy
More Governmen
t
Less Governmen
t
Dictatorship
Oligarchy
Republic
Democracy
Anarchy