Studied by 4 people
5 Freedoms
religion, speech, press, assembly, petition of the government
Due process of law
government must follow rules & established procedures
Non enumerated rights
individual’s have other rights not stated in the constitution
Amendment 1
freedom of expression
ratified: 1791
Amendment 2
right to bear arms
ratified: 1791
Amendment 3
quartering of soldiers
ratified: 1791
Amendment 4
unreasonable search & seize
ratified: 1791
Amendment 5
due process of law
ratified: 1791
Amendment 6
right to a fair trial
ratified: 1791
Amendment 7
trial by jury in civil cases
ratified: 1791
Amendment 8
cruel and unusual punishments
ratified: 1791
Amendment 9
non-enumerated rights
ratified: 1791
Amendment 10
states rights
ratified: 1791
Limited Government
government’s power is limited to protect freedoms of America
Popular Soverneignty
governments authority is sustained by the consent of the people
Checks & Balances
each branch of government checks the powers of the other branches
Separation of Powers
powers are divided between three branches of government
Article 1
Legislative branch:
-makes laws
-congress
House of Representatives
2 yr term 25+ years old 7+ years as US citizen
(435 members) Representation by population Power to impeach
Highest officer: speaker of the house
Senate
6 yr term 30+ years old 9+ years as US citizen
Representation 2 per state Power to try impeachments
Highest officer: vice president
Powers of Congress
collect taxes
coin money
grant patents & copyrights
declare war
President
US natural born citizen 4 yr term 35+ years old
14+ years US resident
Powers: -commander & chief of military -grants pardons
-appoints supreme court justices, cabinet members and ambassadors
Article 2
Executive branch:
-president
-enforces laws
Article 3
Judicial Branch:
-interprets laws
-supreme court
Supreme Court
9 justices lifetime term no minimum age
Article 4
State:
-each state is equal to one another
-apply to congress for statehood
-republic form of government
Article 5
Amendment Process:
-can be proposed by state or congress
-allows constitution to change
Article 6
Supreme Law of the Land:
-supremacy clause: federal laws have priority over state
Article 7
Ratification Process:
-9/13 states
Federalism
governmental power is divided between the national and state government
Individual Rights
people retain certain rights & freedoms
Expressed/Implied powers
-declare war
-print money
-raise and support army
-regulate trade between states
-conduct relations
-govern territories
-all laws necessary and proper art. 1 sec. 8 cl. 18
-est. post office
-set copyrights and patents
Concurrent Powers
-build roads
-est. courts
--protect wealth and welfare of people
-make and enforce laws
-collect taxes
-set values & weight & measures
Reserved Powers
-issue drivers & marriage licence
-marriage laws
-regulate education/run public school
-est. local government
-provide police and emergency services
-borrow money
-conduct elections
-make rules about inside trade within a state
Constitution
a rulebook for a country's government.
Limits government by telling how a country’s laws are made
- Tells how government functions
- Lists the rights and responsibility of citizens.
Rule of Law
laws are fair, enforced and nobody is above the law
Limits government by the law applies to everyone
- Even the president must follow the law
- There are procedures to make sure the law is enforced
Consent of the governed
citizens give their permission to be governed
Limits government by citizens have the right to vote
- Citizens can use their vote to change the government
- Citizens can even change the government by voting!
Separation of Powers
divides power among three different branches of government.
Limits government like this: No branch gets too much control
Each branch can “check” what the other branches can do
Each branch is responsible for a different government function
Rights of the Minority
protects the rights of all citizens.
Limits government like this:
Limits the power of the majority
Makes sure everyone is treated fairly
Protects even small or unpopular groups
Limited Government
-Divides power among several branches of government
Limited Government
-has a written constitution
Limited Government
-The rights of smaller, or minority groups, are protected.
Limited Government
-Requires even the government to follow the law
Limited Government
-protection of individual rights
Limited Government
-courts are independent of the leader
Unlimited Government
One political party
Unlimited Government
laws do not apply to the leader
Unlimited Government
Dictatorship
Unlimited Government
nobody is above the law.
Unlimited Government
Controlled or no elections
Unlimited Government
government uses intimidation and fear
Note