Qualities of an Excellent Leader

1. Qualities of an Excellent Leader

2. GOVERNMENT IS AN 
INSTITUTION THROUGH 
WHICH A SOCIETY MAKES AND ENFORCES PUBLIC POLICIES

3. What are public policies? All the things a government decides to do

4. 3 JOBS OF GOVERNMENT Legislative – Make Laws Executive – Execute, enforce and 
administer Judicial – Interpret, determine meaning 
and settle disputes

5. Political Spectrum What does it 
mean to be a...

6. Gov'ts job... Economy Business

7. Extremist Ideologies

8. Origins of American Government Greeks and Romans Greeks Democracy - Form 
of government in 
which people rule 
themselves Each male had 
ability to participate 
and help make laws 
and policies 400-500 BC Romans Republic People elect 
officials to 
represent them in 
government 1 year terms

9. ENLIGHTENMENT A Period of European history of art and rebirth 
of Greek and Roman thought (da vinci, 
Michelangelo) John Locke Separation of Church 
and State Cannot force religion 
on people "Life Liberty and 
Property" Jean-Jacques Rousseau Social Contract We give up certain 
freedoms of the 
general good of all

10. SOCIAL CONTRACT Give up some freedoms for “The 
General Will” Voluntary act Gov’t exists to serve the will of the 
people

11. ENGLISH ORIGINS English Bill of Rights Says Parliament (England's 
Congress) is more powerful then 
King King cannot change law without 
their approval Magna Carta King is not above law 1st document limiting 
power of King

12. IDEAS FROM ENGLAND Limited Government Government is restricted in what it can do Each individual has rights the gov’t cannot take 
away Representative Gov’t Gov’t should be the will of the people People should have a say

13. COLONIAL ATTEMPTS AT GOVERNMENT Mayflower Compact Fundamental Orders of 
Connecticut Virginia Assembly - 2 Houses 
- Council of State - Upper 
house, selected by governor 
- House of Burgesses - 
Selected by Colonists

14. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 1st attempt at a federal 
(national) government 1781 Firm friendship between 
states Positives of A of C Protected States Rights No Strong Central Gov't Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Creates system for bringing 
states into the union Population of 60K, draft 
constitution, ask permission

15. Weaknesses of the Articles Power to Tax Regulate commerce between states Raise a military Make states obey (9/13) Make changes (amendments) (13/13)

16. ECONOMIC TROUBLE England controls world trade - 
makes America go through them Plays each state against the 
others States in $$ trouble - print 
more money - inflation

17. SHAYS REBELLION Farmers in Mass. rebel 
against high taxes Attack courts and shut 
them down Result - Proves A of C isn't working Rip van winkle

18. US CONSTITUTION Constitutional Convention - Philly 1787 BIG QUESTIONS!! Make small changes or 
totally re-write A of C? We need a leader - how 
much power should he/they 
have? What do we do with slaves?

19. How will the people be represented? Option 2 - By equality New Jersey Plan 1 house, each state gets 
equal votes Supported by smaller 
states Option 1 - By Population Virginia Plan 2 houses, each by 
population Supported by big states HMMMMMMMMM WHAT SHOULD WE DO??? ANYONE HAVE ANY GOOD IDEAS???????????

20. THE GREAT COMPROMISE 2 houses Equal votes in upper 
(Senate) Population in lower (House 
of Representatives) Slaves - 3/5 compromise 3/5 slaves will be counted 
towards population

21. Approving the Constitution NOT ALL AGREED WITH THE CONSTITUTION - MANY FELT 
IT DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE INDIVIDUAL 
RIGHTS OF STATES AND PEOPLE Federalists Pro-Constitution Liked the balance of 
power Federalist Papers Anonymous Anti-Federalists Anti-Constitution Too much power in 
Central Gov't Not enough personal 
liberties Compromise

22. Bill of Rights 1st 10 Amendments (Changes) to the Constitution 1 - Freedom of speech, 
press, religion, assembly 
and redress 2 - Right to bare arms 3 - No Quartering 4 - No illegal searches 5 - Double jeopardy, 
testify against self, due 
process and eminent 
domain 6 - Speedy and public trial 7 - Right to a jury in Civil 
suits 8 - No cruel and unusual 
punishment or excessive 
bail 9 - Gov't cannot take 
away any rights not in Con. 10 - Anything not in the 
Constitution is up to the 
states

23. 5 Principles of the Con. 1 - Popular Sovereignty 2 - Limited Government 3 - Checks and Balances 4 - Judicial Review 5 - Federalism

24. 3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

25. Legislative Branch Translate Public will into 
public policy through laws 2 Houses - Senate and 
House of Rep H of R - 25, 7 years a 
citizen, live in the state Senate - 30, 9 years, live in 
state

26. Executive Branch Administer Laws - Put them 
into practice President - 35, Natural born 
citizen, Resident for 14 years 2, 4 yr terms (22nd amend.) - 
max is 10 years (FDR 12) Can Veto bills - overruled with 
3/4 vote in congress Impeach - Bring charges 
against - twice, both not guilty

27. Roles of the President Chief of State - Head of the Country Chief Executive - Boss of Exec Branch Chief Diplomat - Foreign Policy Leader Commander in Chief - Military leader Chief Legislator - Make policy for laws

28. Vice President 2 Constitutional duties Take over for President Break ties in the Senate “I am vice president. In this I 
am nothing, but I may be 
everything” – John Adams “The most insignificant office 
that ever the invention of man 
contrived or his imagination 
conceived” – J.A. TR annoyed with the tinkling of 
the prisms of a chandelier in his 
study states: “Take it to the office 
of the Vice President. He doesn’t 
have anything to do. It will keep 
him awake.” – Still there today

29. Electoral College System of voting for President Gives value to under-populated 
states Number of senators + number of 
Representatives from your state 
equal the amount of votes you get Least is 3, most is California with 
55 Washington DC also gets 3 votes

30. Possibly Interesting Prez Facts WASHINGTON - GENERAL LINCOLN – LOSES ELECTION BUT GETS 
FAMOUS GRANT – FAILS OUT OF W.P. – GROCERY 
CLERK WILSON – PHD OF POLY SCI (JHU) TRUMAN – VP, SENATOR BUT WAS 
BANKRUPT CLINTON – SAX PLAYER, RHODES SCHOLAR, 
GOV. W BUSH – GOV, OWNER OF BASEBALL TEAM, 
SON OF PRES

31. Possibly Interesting Prez Facts 30 former soldiers 12 generals 17 governors 4 sets of relatives 14 formers vp’s 16 senators 19 house of reps WASPs MALE 2 WOMEN VP CANDIDATES MOSTLY PROTESTANTS JFK (RC) LIEBERMAN

32. PS Act (1967) 25th AMENDMENT (1967) VP fills position of president What about disability? Reagan – removes tumor – Bush 1 pres for 8 hours Garfield – 80 days Wilson - 7 months Bush 2 - twice

33. Judicial Branch A system of Courts to 
interpret the laws and settle 
disputes Supreme Court - Rules 
Constitutional or 
unconstitutional - Not guilty or 
not guilty

34. Supreme Court 9 Justices Serve Life terms - Why? Only see the most important 
cases each year Chief – John Roberts Harvard Undergrad, Harvard Law Antonin Scalia Georgetown, Harvard law Anthony Kennedy Stanford, Harvard Law Clarence Thomas Holy Cross, Yale Law Ruth Bader Ginsberg Cornell, Harvard Law, Columbia Law

35. Stephen Breyer Stanford, Harvard law Samuel Alito Princeton, Yale Law Sonia Sotomajor Princeton, Yale Law Elena Kagan Princeton, Harvard Law Sandra Day O’Connor (R) David Souter (R) John Paul Stevens (R)

36. FUN FACT O’ THE DAY 4 born in NY including 3 in NYC 2 born in Trenton, NJ 2 from San Fran area of Cali 1 Georgia