Unit 1: Introduction to Government

Limited Government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

Republicanism

A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.

Check and Balances

Kept any branch of government from becoming too powerful

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Anti-Federalists

The Anti-Federalists led by Thomas Jefferson argued against the expansion of national power. They favored small localized governments with limited national authority as was exercised under the Articles of Confederation. They generally believed a republican government was only possible on the state level and would not work on the national level. Another, and perhaps their most well-known concern, was over the lack of a bill of rights. Most Anti-Federalists feared that without a bill of rights, the Constitution would not be able to sufficiently protect the rights of individuals and the states. Perhaps the strongest voice for this concern was that of George Mason. He believed that state bills of right would be trumped by the new constitution, and not stand as adequate protections for citizens' rights. Reading: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/would-you-have-been-a-federalist-or-an-anti-federalist

Federalists

The Federalists, primarily led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, believed that establishing a large national government was not only possible, but necessary to "create a more perfect union" by improving the relationship among the states. Until this point, the common belief was that a republic could only function efficiently it was small and localized. The Federalists challenged this belief and claimed that a strong national republic would better preserve the individual liberties of the people. The federalists also wanted to preserve the sovereignty and structure of the states. To do so, they advocated for a federal government with specific, delegated powers. Anything not delegated to the federal government would be reserved to the people and the states. Ultimately, their goal was to preserve the principle of government by consent. Reading: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/would-you-have-been-a-federalist-or-an-anti-federalist

Alexander Hamilton

First Secretary of the Treasury under President Washington. He advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt.

James Madison

"Father of the Constitution," Federalist leader, and fourth President of the United States.

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence, and third President of the United States. Secretary of State under President Washington.

John Locke

English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property. Locke's work heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson, and the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.

Article I

Legislative Branch

Article II

Executive Branch

Article III

Judicial Branch

The 7 Articles of the US Constitution

Article I - The Legislative Branch. The principal mission of the legislative body is to make laws. ...

Article II - The Executive Branch. ...

Article III - The Judicial Branch. ...

Article IV - The States. ...

Article V - Amendment. ...

Article VI - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths. ...

Article VII - Ratification.

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation

Six Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation:

1. No central leadership (executive branch)

2. Congress had no power to tax

3. No national court system (judicial branch)

4. Congress had no power to enforce its laws

5. Congress had no power to regulate trade

6. Changes to the Articles required unanimous consent of 13 states

The Constitution

The Constitution of the United States contains a preamble and seven articles that describe the way the government is structured and how it operates

Shay's Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

1st Amendment

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

2nd Amendment

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

3rd Amendment

No quartering of soldiers

4th Amendment

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures

5th Amendment

Criminal Proceedings; Due Process; Eminent Domain; Double Jeopardy; Protection from Self incrimination

6th Amendment

The right to a Speedy Trial by jury, representation by an attorney for an accused person

7th Amendment

Right to a trial by jury in civil cases

8th Amendment

Protection against cruel and unusual punishment

9th Amendment

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Unalienable Rights

Rights that cannot be taken away life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Social Contract

A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules. Meaning that American society as a whole would agree to give up some freedoms to be protected by the federal government.

Representative Democracy

a system of government in which all eligible citizens vote on representatives to pass laws for them.

Initiative

A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.

Referendum

A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed constitutional amendment.

New Jersey Plan

William Paterson's New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral (one-house) legislature with equal votes of states and an executive elected by a national legislature. His plan also proposed that each state one vote in a new congress.

Virginia Plan

James Madison's Virginia Plan outlined a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The plan called for a legislature divided into two bodies (the Senate and the House of Representatives) with proportional representation.

The Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house.

Natural Rights

The idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

Purpose of Government

to protect those natural rights that the individual cannot effectively protect in a state of nature

State of Nature

The basis of natural rights philosophy; a state of nature is the condition of people living in a situation without man-made government, rules, or laws.

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 defense, 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.

Gettysberg Address

We highly resolve that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

In three brief paragraphs, the president proclaimed the principles upon which the nation was founded, honored the men who had given "the last full measure of devotion" in its defense, and challenged all citizens to a renewed commitment to freedom and democracy.

Ronald Reagan: Farewell Address

There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts

July 4, 1776

The Declaration of Independence was adopted, declaring the American colonies independent from Britain.

March 1, 1781

The Articles of Confederation went into effect, creating the first U.S. national government.

September 17, 1787

The U.S. Constitution was signed by the delegates at the Constitutional Convention.

April 30, 1789

George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States

February 14, 1912

Arizona became the 48th state to join the United States