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Timestamp: 2019-04-21 00:13:02+00:00

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2 WHY DO WE NEED GOVERNMENT? Learning Target: Students will evaluate why people form governments by exploring different views of human nature and how that human nature influences political philosophies. In your own words, 2-3 sentences, answer the question; What is Government? Allow each person to share in your table group. (SOLAR) Opening scene of Lord of the Flies Our Life on the Island (handout) answer as a table-group Ideas about Government, complete using your textbook, laptop or phone as an individual. Help each other as the need arises.
7 WHY DO WE NEED GOVERNMENT? Learning Target: Students will evaluate why people form governments by exploring different views of human nature and how that human nature influences political philosophies. Thoughts about Government Plato Aristotle Niccolo Machiavelli Thomas Hobbes John Locke Charles Montesquieu Jean-Jacques Rousseau In your table group, read the assigned philosopher. Record; 1. Their view of the NATURE OF MAN 2. PURPOSES of Government 3. What KIND OF GOVERNMENT would your philosopher create on the island?
16 COLONIAL INFLUENCES What s the big idea? Rule of Law o All people must follow the laws, and the laws should be enforced fairly. Self Government o People can make decisions on how their government should work. Due Process o People have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing laws and need to treat all people in the same way. Limited Government o A government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement. Rights o A set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions.
17 Cut-and-Fold Instructions 1. Put your name on the paper. 2. Flip the page over to see the side with the check list. 3. Carefully cut along the dashed lines only.
18 Cut-and-Fold Instructions 4. Fold the tabs towards the middle on the left side on the solid line. 5. Fold the tabs towards the middle on the right side on the solid line. 6. Turn the paper so you see a row of images. 7. Use the reading and class discussion to complete all the fields in this activity.
29 EXPLORING THE CONSTITUTION IDEA Defined Why is it there? Checks and Balances Several branches of government are created and power is shared between them. At the same time, the powers of one branch can be challenged by another branch. To protect against abuse of power Due Process Electoral College The idea that laws and legal proceedings must be fair. The idea that laws and legal proceedings must be fair. An assembly elected by the voters to perform the formal duty of electing the president and the vice president of the United States To protect fundamental rights and prevent government from acting arbitrarily. The right to due process of law has been recognized since 1215, when the Magna Carta was adopted. Historically, the right protects people accused of crimes from being imprisoned without fair judicial procedures and with established rules The founding fathers believed in the establishment of a body of wise men, who would not be swayed by emotion and partisanship, to meet and officially elect a president.
30 IDEA Defined Why is it there? Enumerated Powers Congress, and the other two branches of the federal government, have powers that are explicitly given to them in the Constitution. NOTE: The implied powers doctrine has expanded the powers of the federal government beyond those specifically listed. Anti-Federalist objection to the proposed constitution was their fear that the new federal government might have too much power. The Federalists countered that the Constitution contained only enumerated powers, effectively limiting the powers of the various branches. Implied powers arise from general language in the Constitution such as the Necessary and Proper Clause of Article 2, section 8. The Supreme Court first upheld implied powers, such as the power to create a national bank, in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). Justice Fairness and order. Since ancient times, philosophers have said that justice is achieved when everyone receives what is due to her or him. Federalism This is the division of governmental powers between a central national government and provincial or state governments within the country. Powers granted exclusively to the central government are supreme. Federalism differs from the unitary system of government, which has only one center of authority that prevails throughout the territory of the country. In a unitary system, subdivisions within the country are entirely subordinate to the national government and exist merely to administer or carry out its commands. In response to the problems under the Articles of Confederation, the Founding Fathers created a system of government that divided power between state and national governments. Similar to the system of checks and balances between the branches of government, the division of power between levels of government is further protection against abuse of power by one level or the other. When federal and state laws conflict however, Article VI of Constitution declares that federal law is supreme.
32 EXPLORING THE CONSTITUTION IDEA Defined Why is it there? Property Rights Religious Liberty Representative Government The right to own property. These are among the most basic rights in a free society. No right to property, however, is absolute in any society. This includes the right to free exercise of religion and the right to be free from government establishing a religion. It is considered a personal and private right. It is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to either autocracy or direct democracy Property rights were acknowledged by Enlightenment philosophers as one of the natural rights. Experiences with the British government, and with some state governments during the period of the Articles of Confederation, also solidified the importance of property rights to the founding fathers. Virginia Statute of Religious Liberties was the precursor to the religious liberty provisions in the First Amendment. The founding fathers saw religious liberty as an essential element of a free people. This reflects a balance between the Founder s commitment to the principle of Popular Sovereignty and the need to govern such a vast country. Democracy, in the traditional sense, would have been impractical, and monarchy was not palatable after the colonial experience.
33 EXPLORING THE CONSTITUTION IDEA Defined Why is it there? Reserved Powers Rule of Law Separation of Powers Social Compact The powers not granted to the United States were reserved to the States or to the people. In a limited government administered according to the rule of law, the rulers use power following established principles and procedures based on a constitution. By contrast, when the rulers wield power capriciously, there is rule by the unbridled will of individuals without regard for established law. The rule of law is an essential characteristic of every constitutional democracy that guarantees rights to liberty. It prevails in the government, civil society, and market economy of every state with a functional constitution. The constitutional doctrine that allocates the powers of national government among three branches: the legislative, which is empowered to make laws; the executive, which is required to carry out the laws; and the judicial, whose job it is to interpret and adjudicate (hear and decide) legal disputes. An actual or hypothetical agreement among the members of an organized society or between a community and its ruler that defines and limits the rights and duties of each Fear of a strong central government and unlimited government. Fear of arbitrary action by government based on colonists experiences with Great Britain such as suspending colonial laws and dissolving colonial legislatures. To prevent the majority, or a minority, from ruling with an iron fist. Based on their experience, the founding fathers shied away from giving any branch of the new government too much power. Basing their new government on ideas from the Enlightenment, the founding fathers consented to limit some rights in exchange for the preservation of their natural rights.
34 CONSTITUTIONAL COMPROMISES ISSUE OPPOSING ARGUMENT COMPROMISE REPRESENTATION Small States v. Large States * Small states wanted all states to have the same number of representatives to Congress (New Jersey Plan). * Large states wanted representation to be determined by the population of the state (Virginia Plan). The Great (Connecticut) Compromise: The Constitution creates a bicameral legislature. In the House of Representatives, representation is determined by population. A census is taken every ten years to determine the population of each state. In the Senate, all states have the same number of representatives: two.
35 CONSTITUTIONAL COMPROMISES ISSUE OPPOSING ARGUMENT COMPROMISE SLAVERY Representation and Taxes Slave Trade Southern States v. Northern States * Southern States wanted slaves to count as part of the population for determining representation but not to count when apportioning taxes. * Northern states wanted slaves to count for the purpose of taxation but not for representation. Northern Abolitionists v. Southern Slave Owners * Northern abolitionists wanted the Constitution to ban the (external) slave trade. They believed that slavery would eventually prove unprofitable and die out. *Southern Slave owners argued that slavery was vital to the economic survival of the South. The 3/5ths Compromise: Delegates agreed to count slaves as 3/5ths of a person when apportioning representation and taxation. Slave Trade Compromise: Congress was given the power to ban the slave trade after 1808.
36 CONSTITUTIONAL COMPROMISES ISSUE OPPOSING ARGUMENT COMPROMISE TRADE Southern Plantation Owners v. Northern Businessmen * Southerners opposed tariffs fearing they would damage the Southern economy which was heavily dependent upon trade. * Northerners wanted tariffs to protect their industries from foreign competition. The Commerce Compromise The Constitution regulates interstate commerce and foreign trade. The Constitution allows the federal government to tax imports but not exports.
37 CONSTITUTIONAL COMPROMISES ISSUE OPPOSING ARGUMENT COMPROMISE Powers and Election of President Some delegates believed the president should be elected directly by the people. Others believed that the people could not be trusted with such a decision. Opponents of direct election offered a number of alternatives including election by state legislatures. Compromise on Executive Elections: The president is elected indirectly by the Electoral College to a four year term of office.
38 CONSTITUTIONAL COMPROMISES ISSUE OPPOSING ARGUMENT COMPROMISE Ratification Federalists v. Anti-Federalists Federalists supported the Constitution. Anti- Federalists worried about too strong of a federal government without sufficient protection for individual rights, and were concerned about too strong of an executive and a loss of states rights. Compromise for Ratification A Bill of Rights would be added to the Constitution.
45 Examples of Civic Engagement 1. Write a letter to the editor explaining the problem. 2. Make a speech at a school board meeting. 3. Call or write your Congressperson. 4. Join a group that might be interested in addressing the problem. 5. Picket to protest the action. 6. Create a walk-a-thon or bike-a-thon to raise money and draw attention to the problem. 7. Organize a group committed to resolving the problem. 8. Speak to a policy maker about the problem. 9. Join a service-learning organization. 10.Generate newsletters or leaflets informing others about the problem. 11.Vote for policy makers who support your position. 12. Contribute money to an individual s campaign that supports your position on the issue. 13. Contribute money to a political cause that supports your position on the issue.
46 Examples of Civic Engagement 14.Join a political organization. 15. Voluntary with a community group that is trying to solve the problem. 16. Engage in a boycott. 17. Use social networking technologies to find others who share the same concern. 18. Run for office. 19. Give money to a charity. 20. Contact a reporter to publicize the issue. 21. Create a video and post it on YouTube to draw attention to the issue. 22. Shift your buying habits to support companies/organizations that support your views. 23. File a lawsuit. 24. Circulate a recall petition. 25. Collect signatures to put a referendum or ballot initiative.

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