Foundations of American Government

Foundations of American GovernmentWhat currency is Independence Hall located on the back of?

Independence Hall

Foundations of American Government1. Each person should have an index

card.2. Write a definition for the word

government. No looking it up.3. Mr. Popovich will look at them and

see who came up with a correct answer. Yours may be similar but only the one he picked that is correct will get candy.

Foundations of American GovernmentLearning Goals: : S1C4-PO4: Understand how the national government was created: Constitutional Convention, creation of the Bill of Rights, and the principles of federalism.

Writing Prompt: After identifying the qualities/characteristics of citizenship, select the one you feel is the most important and design a poster with a slogan advertising that trait. Make sure to write five sentences to explain your slogan.

Foundations of American GovernmentPicture Warm Up

Primary or Secondary Source? Why ?





Foundations of American Government

1. Rebellion and lawlessness changed Americans minds that the national government of the United States needed to be strengthened. Congress debated for over four years on what to do.

Foundations of American Government2. The preamble of the Constitution is an introductory statement which sets forth the general purposes of the American government. Nine states were needed to ratify the Constitution.

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish

Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, 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.”

Foundations of American GovernmentThink-Pair- Share

What do you think “consent of the governed” means? How many people do you feel give consent to be governed to the current form of government?

Foundations of American Government3. Separation of powers describes the division of government into three branches. The more distribution of power there is, the less chance of a dictatorship or corruption in government. The Founding Fathers made sure that no one had too much power. It is very dangerous to have one person hold so much power, because if they get corrupt they could use that power to gain more and more power and enslave the people.


Foundations of American Government4. The Executive branch of the government enforces the laws. It checks the other branches by allowing the president to check Congress through his power to veto bills, but Congress may override any veto by a two-thirds majority in each house. Either house or both houses may be called into emergency session by the president.

http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/fi/00000036.htm


What one question would you ask the President of the United States? Why?

Foundations of American Government5. The Judicial branch interprets the laws. Courts check both the executive and the legislative branch through judicial review. This concept is not written into the Constitution, but was envisioned by many of the Constitution's Framers. The concept was invented in the United States.

Foundations of American Government6. The legislative branch makes the laws. James Madison believed the legislative branch would be the strongest. He states “it is not possible to give to each department an equal power of self-defense. In republican government, the legislative authority necessarily predominates."


Foundations of American Government7. The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. These limitations serve to protect the natural rights of liberty and property. They guarantee a number of personal freedoms and limit the government's power in judicial and other proceedings.


Foundations of American GovernmentCLOSURE ACTIVITY

Read one of the learning goals for the unit and write a multiple choice test question based on the goal.

Documents

Foundations of American Government