Ch 7 Section 3 A More Perfect Union

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Ch 7 Section 3A More Perfect Union
The United States was the first nation to write a
constitution to set up a national government.
They took ideas about government from many
different sources.
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Ideas that shaped the Constitution

• The United States was the first nation to write a
  constitution to set up a national government.
  They took ideas about government from many
  different sources
• The Greeks were the first people to establish a
  republic, or nation in which voters elect
  representatives to govern them.
• The League of the Iroquois was a system of
  government that many American leaders admired.
• The Pilgrims wrote the first contract for
  self-government in North America-The Mayflower
  Compact.

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John Locke and Montesquieu

• The English philosopher John Locke stated two
  important ideas about government
• 1) All people had natural rights to life, liberty
  and property.
• 2) Government is an agreement between the ruler
  and the ruled.
• The French thinker Montesquieu urged that the
  power of government be divided among three
  separate branches. This ideas became known as
  the separation of powers.
• Such a division was designed to keep any person
  or group from gaining too much power.

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A Federal System

• The Constitution set up a federal republic in the
  United States.
• Federalism means that the powers of government
  are divided between the national government and
  the states. This system makes the national
  government stronger but still keeps some powers
  for the states. Copy
  Chart Below

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Electing the President

• Most of the delegates did not trust the people to
  make wise choices for President.
• They also didnt want a President who was too
  independent of Congress and the states.
• To solve these problems delegates set up the
  electoral college.
• The electoral college is made up of electors from
  every state who are pledged to cast ballots for
  the winner of that states presidential election.

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A System of Checks and Balances

• The Constitution set up a system of checks and
  balances in which each branch of the national
  government has some way to check or control the
  other two branches.
• For example, Congress writes bills, or proposed
  laws.
• The President can veto or reject a bill.
• Two-thirds of Congress can override, or reverse,
  the Presidents veto.

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Impeaching the President

• Congress also has the power to remove a President
  from office.
• First, the House of Representatives must impeach,
  or bring charges against, the President. The
  Senate then holds a trial. If two-thirds of the
  Senators vote for conviction, the President must
  leave office.

Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton are the only
Presidents to be impeached. Both were found not
guilty by the Senate.