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Basic Principles of US Government

Basic Principles of US Government. Lesson Objectives. Identify the basic principles of US Government Explain why faction is a problem for government Describe the three branches of government according to their function Explain the principle of bicameralism. The Natural Rights Argument.

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Basic Principles of US Government

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  1. Basic Principles of US Government

  2. Lesson Objectives • Identify the basic principles of US Government • Explain why faction is a problem for government • Describe the three branches of government according to their function • Explain the principle of bicameralism

  3. The Natural Rights Argument • From the Declaration of Independence (1776) • All men are equally endowed with certain rights • Among these rights are • Life • Liberty • The pursuit of happiness • These rights are inalienable • No human institution can give anyone rights • No human institution can actually take rights away • The purpose of government: secure natural rights • The standard of justice: consent of the governed

  4. Faction • From Federalist #10: “By a faction I understand • A number of citizens • > ½ or • < ½ • United by a common interest • Act on their common interest • Their common interest adverse to the rights of others or • Their common interest adverse to the permanent and aggregate interest of the community • How to cure the mischiefs of faction • Eliminate causes of faction • Destroy liberty • Unwise: the purpose of government is to secure unalienable rights, including liberty • Destroying liberty turns government into a most dangerous faction • Give everyone the same opinion • Impossible: everyone has unique experiences which affect their opinions • Control effects of faction • The preferred method

  5. The Public Sector Problem • Government tends form a single body • Governments must have power to secure natural rights • Those who hold power are invariably led to abuse it (from Montesquieu) • Governments tend to emerge as a single faction, destroying liberty in the name of preserving it

  6. The Solution to the Public Sector Problem • Build upon factions that already exist in the United States • Establish a multiplicity of faction where it would not otherwise form • Set government and governments in tension with one another • Institutionalize political power in separate potentially factious bodies • Ensure regular pressure from interests outside government

  7. Question #1 • The US Government was established in order to eliminate faction. • True • False

  8. How to control “the mischiefs of faction” • To control majority faction, ensure that smaller factions may contest other factions • Factions thus hold each other in check • Ensure that factions can be heard • factions seek support, members, opportunity to grow • Encourage a multiplicity of faction where they are likely to form—the private sector • Institute opportunities for faction to form where a multiplicity is unlikely to form—the public sector

  9. How to Guarantee Multiple Public Sector Factions • Establish a Federal System • several governments share and exert power over citizens • Distinct sources of representation among elected officials • Distribute power into distinct departments (separation of powers) • Legislative Power (The Purse) • Executive Power (The Sword) • Judicial Power (The Scale) • Establish Legislative balances and checks • where the power to add or modify public acts depends on at least two legislative bodies with equal power to overwhelm the other • Charge a separate body with the resolution of disputes Central Government Chamber #1 Chamber #2 State A State B State C Enforcing Law Resolving Disputes Citizens Citizens Citizens Making Law Law

  10. The Basic Principles of Government in the US • Natural Rights • Equal rights to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness • Rule of Law • Government by consent of governed • Controlling the effects of faction • Representation and freedom to petition • Federalism • Separation of powers into legislative, executive and judicial departments • Legislative balances/checks

  11. Question #2 • Why is Congress divided into two houses? • To ensure representation of differing enduring factions, namely people and states. • To ensure representation of differing enduring factions, namely elites and masses. • To reduce the opportunity for conflict among differing enduring factions once laws are written. • To ensure division of the Congress into at least two parties.

  12. Question #3 • In order to become a law, a bill must be • Approved by both houses • Signed by the President. • Approved by the Supreme Court • Both a and b

  13. Question #4 Which of the following was the least clear? • The basic principles of US Government • The problem of faction in the public sector • The basic function of the three branches of government • The principle of bicameralism

  14. Activity • Using the following websites, find out who your representatives are in the US Congress and the Texas Legislature: • The US House of Representatives website, www.house.gov • The US Senate website,www.senate.gov • The Texas Legislature website, www.capitol.state.tx.us • Have this information ready for the next class period

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