Origins of American Government

Basic Concepts of GovernmentLimited Government

Restrictions on government Individual rights

Representative Government Serve the will of the people People should have a voice

Ordered Government-Breaking up the institution of government into

smaller, more manageable pieces that result in an orderly relationship with one another.

Examples: creation of local offices – sheriff, coroner, justice of the peace, grand jury, counties….

These concepts can be traced back to documents in English History

Magna Carta- 1215- Seeking protection from the king- Included trial by jury and due

process of law (protection against arbitrary taking of

life, liberty, or property)- Does this sound familiar???

- Monarch is not absolute ruler

Petition of Right (1628) Demanded that king no longer imprison or punish

any person without a jury trial King could not impose martial law in time of

peace No requirement of homeowners to shelter the

king’s troops without consent No taxes without consent of Parliament Challenged the idea of the divine right of kings

English Bill of Rights 1689 The king could NOT raise taxes or raise

an army without the consent of Parliament.

It guaranteed trial by jury. It outlawed cruel and unusual

punishment.

English Colonies “13 Schools of Government”

Virginia 1607- Savannah 1733- Charter- written grant from king- 3 kinds of colonies

1. Royal colonies- controlled by monarchy- King appointed governor and his council - Laws approved by governor and king

2. Proprietary Colonies- proprietor- given land by king, appointed the

governor- Issues could be taken to king for a decision

3. Charter colonies- charter granted to colonists themselves- self governing- elections

Britain’s Policies King ruling colonies London– colonial defense and foreign

affairs, money and trade George III new taxes “Taxation without representation”

Road to Independence

State ConstitutionsCommon features:

1. Popular sovereignty2. Limited government3. Civil rights and liberties4. Separation of powers and checks and

balances

Popular sovereignty

Limited government

Basis of every state constitution

Government can exist and function only with the consent of the governed

The people hold the power and the people are sovereign

Feature of every state constitution

Restricted power of government

Civil rights and liberties

People have rights that govt must respect

Bill of rights

Separation of powers and checks and balances

Three branches of state government

Checks and balances

State Constitutions

Declaration of Independence

- Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776

- Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people.

- The political philosophy of the Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by John Locke and the Continental philosophers.

- Jefferson summarized this philosophy in "self-evident truths" and set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country.

National Archives

Articles of Confederation “firm league of friendship” Each state remained independent Came together for the common defense

A.O.C. cont’d Simple government Unicameral- no executive or judicial branch Congress would choose a president to act

as chair Congressional powers included: make war

and peace, money system, settle state disputes, etc.

States agreed to abide by A.O.C. and acts of Congress.

States protect life and property

Weaknesses of A.O.C.

Congress didn’t have the right to tax No power to regulate interstate trade Couldn’t make the states obey the A.O.C. Articles could only be changed with the

unanimous consent. No executive to enforce the laws No judicial to interpret the laws. “We are one nation today and 13 tomorrow.”-

George Washington