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Principles of Government in the United States

Explore the purpose of government, types of governments, key historical documents, and the major ideas of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Learn about democracy, freedom, laws, and the role of citizens in governance.

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Principles of Government in the United States

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  1. Foundations of Government (Ch.2)

  2. The Purpose of Government • The system of laws and authority that acts on a citizen’s behalf to protect his/her rights and freedoms. • Government provides society with laws and sets the expectations of what is and what is not acceptable behavior from its’ citizens. • In the United States, every citizen has a hand in making the laws, by electing officials, to act on their behalf.

  3. The Purpose… cont. • Creating and Enforcing Law – Without law, a society is not civilized. By enforcing the law, Government helps people cooperate and co-exist. • Providing Services – Government helps to ensure that basic services (Public Schools, Fire Companies, Police Departments, etc.) are online and reliable. • Guaranteeing Freedom – Government protects each citizen’s rights granted to them under the Bill of Rights… Each Citizen’s right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” is protected by the Federal Government and Supreme Court

  4. Types of Governments Non-Democratic Democratic • Monarchies • King or Queen of a Kingdom, power usually limited by a Constitution (Ex. England) • Dictatorship • One person with concentrated power, usually taken by force (Ex. Zimbabwe) • Theocracy • Government led by religious leaders • Direct Democracy • All voters have a vote and decide by majority (Dominican Republic) • Representative Democracy • Voters choose leaders to make decisions for them (United States)

  5. Planning The Government • The Declaration of Independence – America’s written plan for breaking away from GB and forming an independent nation. • The Articles of Confederation – The First attempt at setting up a new Government for America, but failed to form a unified American Government. (The Federal Gov’t was far too weak) • The United States Constitution – America’s SUCCESSFUL attempt to set up a Federal Government that allowed for checks and balances and gave some power to the states.

  6. The Declaration of Independence • The American Colonies finally declared their independence from England. • It was the first step in the creation of a new nation. • Written by Thomas Jefferson (the “silent” member of the Const. Congress. • Its considered one of the most important documents in American history – represents American Freedom.

  7. Major Ideas of the Declaration… • All men are created equal. “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. • Men are given by God certain unalienable rights. “They are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” • We have the natural right by God to declare our independence from England. “When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them…

  8. Governments derive their authority from the consent of the people. “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” • When a government abuses it’s power, the people have the right to overthrow it. “That whenever any form of Government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…” • The colonies tried repeatedly to compromise with King George, but has been a tyrant. “Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.”

  9. The Constitution • America’s plan for a new Federal Government. • The Constitution was written in 1787 by 55 men we call the Framers of the Constitution. • These men included” George Washington and Ben Franklin. • Begins with the Preamble: “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.” • Also includes the Bill of Rights – Rights given to each American citizen and protected by the Supreme Court… Amendments #1-10

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