The United States Government

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The United States Government
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Introduction

• Declared Independence from Great Britain July 4,
  1776
• Signed the Constitution September 17, 1787
• Created our government and explained the rights
  of every American
• Formed a Democratic Republic

• Democracy A government where the supreme power
  comes from the people
• Democratic Republic A government where the
  supreme power comes from representatives who were
  elected by the people

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Parts of the Constitution

• Preamble
• Articles
• Amendments

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Preamble

• The introduction it establishes 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.

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Preamble
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Articles

• Seven articles that outline how the government
  will be run

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Amendments

• Amendments There are 27 changes to the
  Constitution
• The first 10 of these make up The Bill of Rights
• Establish rights such as
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of religion
• Right to own a gun
• Right to a fair trial
• Freedom from being subjected to cruel and unusual
  punishment
• Freedom from having your property searched or
  taken

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Principles of Democracy

• A principle is a rule that needs to be followed
• When making a decision, the government abides by
  certain principles
• Popular Sovereignty
• Federalism
• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances
• Judicial Review
• Limited Government

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Popular Sovereignty

• Popular Sovereignty means that people are the
  source of the governments power
• Popular The common/majority view of the people
• Sovereignty Control/Power
• The common view of the people has power over the
  government

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Federalism

• Federalism means that the governments power is
  divided between
• National government Makes and enforces laws that
  affect the whole country (Ex. Military)
• State government Makes and enforces laws that
  affect an individual state (Ex. education)
• Local government Makes and enforces laws that
  affect an individual district or county (Ex.
  Local courts)
• Each level has its own purpose

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Federalism
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Separation of Powers

• The powers of the government are separated into 3
  branches
• The Legislative branch makes the laws
• Congress
• The House of Representatives and the Senate
• The Executive branch enforces the laws
• The President of the U.S.
• The Judicial branch reviews the laws
• The Supreme Court

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Branches of Government
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Checks and Balances

• Checks and Balances is when each branch of
  government keeps the others in line
• Example If the Legislative branch makes a law
  that the Executive branch (the president) doesnt
  like, then the president can veto the law
• Example If the Legislative branch makes a law
  that might violate the Constitution, then the
  Judicial branch can determine whether the law is
  good or not

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Judicial Review

• Judicial Review is when the Judicial branch
  reviews whether or not a law is constitutional
• Example When the Supreme Court overruled the act
  of Segregation in schools and other public places

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Limited Government

• Limited Government limits the government to what
  is written in the Constitution
• Example Police cant search or take your
  property without probable cause or a search
  warrant
• Example Reduce government spending

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548 billion dollars or 548,915,000,000 or ½ a
trillion dollars
672 billion dollars or 672,932,000,000
The U.S. government spends 1 million dollars
every 5 seconds, approximately 3.1 trillion per
year
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Random fact

• What is the National Debt?
• 13 trillion dollars, or 13,472,499,459,495.53,
  or approximately 43,570 per American

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Summary

• The people of the U.S. and the government share
  the power to rule. The people give the power to
  the government through elections while the
  government must follow the Constitution by
  respecting and guarding the rights of the people.
  This is the basis of Democracy rule by the
  people.