Standard Indicator 8-3.3

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Standard Indicator 8-3.3

• The Basic Principles of Government

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ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 1783-1789

• derived its powers from the states
• too weak to meet the needs of the new nation

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UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

• drawn up in1787
• ratified in 1788
• went into effect in 1789
• Established a limited government
• Powers to govern shared between national state
  governments

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US CONSTITUTION cont..

• Bill of Rightswritten guarantee of individual
  rights
• Constitutionhighest law of land/supreme law of
  land
• All laws must conform to Constitution

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BASIC PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• Popular Sovereignty Democracy
• authority for government comes from the people
  (Amendment IX (9) Preamble)
• Individual Rights
• Unalienable rights guaranteed to all citizens
  (Preamble Bill of Rights)
• Federalism
• division of powers between national government
  state governments (10th Amendments)

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PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT

• Separation of Powers
• 3 branches of government to limit the power of
  any one branch
• Legislative Branch
• Congress makes the laws, bicameral
• Executive Branch
• headed by president carries out the laws
• Judicial Branch
• federal courts highest court is Supreme Court,
  it determines the constitutionality of laws

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PRINCIPLES CONTINUED

• Checks balances
• each branch can check the power of the other,
  checks keep any branch from becoming too powerful
  
• Example process of a bill becoming a law bill
  passed by Congress and president can sign or veto
  it, if vetoed Congress can override the veto with
  2/3rds vote
• Limited Government
• powers restricted by Constitution Bill of
  Rights

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PRINCIPLES CONTINUED

• Representative Democracy (republicanism)
  authority of the government comes from We, the
  people
• Voters hold the sovereign power but elect
  representatives to exercise power for them
• Includes president, Senators, Representatives
• Most state governments mirror the organization of
  the national government 3 branch government,
  concepts listed above