1. UNIT ONE: Philosophical & Historical Foundations of the American Political System

2. What did the Founding Fathers think about Constitutional Government?
Lesson One:
What did the Founding Fathers think about Constitutional Government?

3. The Student will be able to . . .
Terms:constitution limited Government unwritten constitution constitutional government Parliament written constitution democracy republic forms of government
The Student will be able to . . .
Describe the diverse features of the early American colonies and state and their populations
Explain what the Founders learned about government from history and their firsthand experiences with government
Describe the forms of constitutional governments
Evaluate, take and defend positions on the sources that should be consulted if a new constitution for the United Sates were being written today
Defend: Are the Founders’ concerns about abuse of government power still valid today?

4. Characteristics of Colonial America
Size
The colonies were bigger than England & Scotland
More than 1,000 miles from north to south of colonies
Diverse Background
Puritans to Quakers
Economic Reasons (poor to rich)
Different Languages (English, Dutch, French, Germany)
Social/Political Cultures
Huge estates to family farms (slavery in every colony)
Mostly Rural/Trade people

5. How did the Founding Fathers learn about government?
Greece and Rome
Aristotle, Cicero
Those who govern must be wise
Government should help people learn about and perform their civic and moral duties
Democracies begin well, but usually end in tyranny
Hobbes and Locke
Hobbes – “State of Nature”
Live in conflict/violent. Choose to set up a state to create order out of chaos
Locke – “Social Contract”
Government should protect “life, liberty and estate”
100 Years of self-government
Local self-government existed with a remote authority

6. What did the Founders learn?
Government should be the servant, not the master, of the people
A fundamental higher law, or CONSTITUTION should limit government

7. Forms of government to choose from
Every “STATE” must perform 3 functions:
1. Deliberate about what is to be done and decide what public policy should be
Legislative Function: Deliberating on and Enacting Law
2. Perform an executive function
Carry out Public Policy
3. Carry Out a Judicial Function
Interpretation of law are managed and applied to every day life

8. Aristotle’s Types of Government
Rule of
Right Form
Corrupt Form
ONE
Monarchy
Tyranny
FEW
Aristocracy
Oligarchy
MANY
Polity
(mixed constitution)
Democracy
(when poor take over from the ruling group)

9. Mixed Constitutions Polybius: A mix of the types of government
Rule of One; Rule of a Few; Rule of the Many
England
The Monarchy
Parliament
House of Lords
House of Commons
The Colonies
Elected Representatives

10. What is a CONstitution?
A plan that sets forth the structure and powers of government
The power of each instrument of government
How the constitution can be changed
Most constitutions are written out
Only 3 current democracies DO NOT have a single written out format of their government
England, Israel and New Zealand
Limited Government
Restraints on governmental powers

11. Higher Law The Founding Fathers saw the Constitution as “Higher Law”
1. It sets forth the basic rights of citizens
2. It establishes the responsibility of the government to protect those rights
3. It establishes limitations on how those in government may use their power with regard to citizens’ rights and responsibilities, the distribution of resources, and the control or management of conflict
4. It can be changed only with the consent of the citizens and according to established and well-known procedures

12. Lesson Review Get in your STUDY GROUPS
Discuss and answer the “Reviewing and Using the Lesson” questions on page 10
Each group must be ready to present the answer to a specific question, citing the book, to the class

13. Study Groups 1st Period Group One: Tanner, Ari, Mikel, Keziah
Group Two: Jacob, Patricia, Joseph, Ryan
Group Three: Brittney, Nadia, Nick, Rene
Group Four: Danielle, Drew, Jordan, Michael
Group Five: Kyle, Montoya, Katrina, Emma
Group Six: Garrett, Quinn, Scott, Nathan

14. Study groups: 4th period
Group One: Mariah, Meghan, Catherine
Group Two: Bridgett, Ashley, Rosamaria
Group Three: Joel, Adam, David
Group Four: Kori, Brett, Jeffrey
Group Five: Alex, Matt, Taylor, Mercedes
Group Six: Amanda, Alexis, Kristi

15. Lesson One: review
Identify at least three characteristics of the British colonies
What important lessons did the founding generation learn from political theory and political history?
What is the difference between “LIMITED” and “UNLIMITED” government? Do you think the difference is important? Why or Why Not?
What is a “CONSTITUTION?”
What is a mixed constitution? Explain the advantages and disadvantages of this type of government?
Why is a constitution considered a higher law, and what are the major characteristics of a higher law?
According to Aristotle, what are the differences between right and corrupt forms of government?