1. Georgia and the American Experience
Chapter 14:
With Liberty and Justice, the Federal Government
Study Presentation
©2005 Clairmont Press

2. Georgia and the American Experience
Section 1: Toward a New Constitution
Section 2: The Legislative Branch of Government
Section 3: The Executive Branch of Government
Section 4: The Judicial Branch of Government
©2005 Clairmont Press

3. Section 1: Toward a New Constitution
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What were the main elements of the Constitution of 1787?

4. Section 1: Toward a New Constitution
electoral college
sovereignty
Federalists
Antifederalists
electorate
constitutionalism
separation of powers
checks and balances
federalism
What words do I need to know?
conservative
infrastructure
republic
proportional representation
Great Compromise
Three-Fifths Compromise

5. Toward a New Constitution
Articles of Confederation: rules that governed United States after the Revolutionary War
Weaknesses of the Articles:
congress could not pay soldiers
states could not be forced to pay
trade between states not regulated
trade with other countries not controlled
George Washington and other leaders agreed to gather to discuss the problems

6. The Constitutional Convention
1787: Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia
Fifty-five representatives attended
George Washington presided over the convention
Most members well-educated and conservative
Delegates knew problems of the weak national government and sought solution

7. A Republican Form of Government
Delegates studied many types of government
republic: a form of government in which power resides with the citizens who elect representatives to make laws
James Madison described a government in which a large number of people voted for the representatives

8. Organizing Government
Large states and small states had different interests
Virginia Plan:
strong national government
three branches (legislative, judicial, executive)
legislative branch (House of Representatives and Senate) elected by proportional representation (large states get more votes)
Small states did not like Virginia Plan because they could be dominated by large states
New Jersey Plan: gave more power to small states, but had a weak national government

9. The Great Compromise
Equal Representation: each state would have equal votes in Congress – favored by small states
Great Compromise, or Connecticut Compromise: House of Representative would have “proportional representation” and Senate “equal representation”

10. Compromises on Slavery
Slaves were a large part of population in the South
Debate as to whether to count slaves in “proportional representation” of House of Representatives
Three-Fifths Compromise: States were allowed to count 3 of every 5 slaves in their census for purposes of representation
Agreed to stop importing slaves after 1808

11. Compromise on the Presidency
Should citizens or Congress elect the President?
Decided on electoral college system:
Each state’s legislature allowed to have as many “electors” as they had members of Congress
State representatives voted for the electors who would vote for President and Vice-President

12. Ratification ratification: to approve or make valid
September 17, 1787: Constitution approved
Federalists: people who wanted a strong national government
Antifederalists: wanted states to have more power than national government
By 1791, ten amendments approved – known as The Bill of Rights – to protect citizens’ rights
Delaware was first state to ratify; Georgia was the fourth state to ratify
June 1788 – Constitution ratified by 9 states and becomes the framework for US government

13. Principles of the U.S. Government
Sovereignty: supreme power of government rests with the people
electorate (voters) choose leaders to make laws and run the country
US is not a “democracy” but a representative democracy or republic
Constitutionalism: all representatives are bound by the rules of the Constitution
lawmakers cannot just make up laws as they see fit
Federalism: national government and state governments share power and authority
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14. Chapter 14: Section 1 Review
How many attended the Philadelphia Convention in 1787?
What is the definition of conservative ?
The Articles of the Confederation was ratified in _____.
The Articles of the Confederation intentionally established what type of government after ratification?
Name two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Define republic.
Describe the term infrastructure.
What was another name for the Great Comprise?
The Virginia Plan called for a what?
Who drafted the Virginia Plan?

15. Chapter 14: Section 1 Review
Explain the Three Fifths Compromise.
The people vote during elections, but who really elects the president of the United States, the citizens or Congress?
The electoral college is composed of who?
What is patriotism?
Define federalists.
Define anti-federalists.
How many amendments are their in the Bill of Rights?
Define amendments.
Georgia was the ______ state to ratify the Constitution in 1787.

16. Chapter 14: Section 1 Review
What is a representative democracy?
Define separation of powers.
Define checks and balances.
The U.S. government is based on the principle of ______.
What is the difference between a representative democracy and a direct democracy?
Who were the federalist and the anti-federalists?

17. Section 2: The Legislative Branch of Government
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What is the role of the legislative branch of government?

18. Section 2: The Legislative Branch of Government
What words do I need to know?
expressed powers
implied powers
elastic clause
bill
veto

19. The Members of Congress
First article of the Constitution described the legislative branch
Congress is at the head of this branch
Congress is “bicameral” or has two bodies (parts): House of Representatives and Senate

20. The Senate 100 members – two from each state Qualifications:
30 years old
citizen of US for nine years
must be resident of state represented
Senators elected by the people (17th Amendment)
six year term
one third of senators are up for re-election every two years
Vice President of US is president of the Senate – presides over sessions
President Pro Tempore, majority leader, minority leader are other senate leaders

21. House of Representatives
435 members – the number of representatives is based on a state’s population
Reapportionment happens every 10 years
Georgia has 13 representatives based on the 2000 census
Qualifications:
25 years old
citizen of US for seven years
must be resident of state represented
two year term
Speaker of the House and majority leader are leaders in the House

22. The Powers of Congress expressed powers: written in the Constitution
implied powers: derive from the expressed powers, but not written specifically
elastic clause: Article 1, Section 8 stretches the power of Congress to include implied powers
House may impeach, but Senate holds impeachment trials
House must start revenue bills, but Senate must ratify treaties and confirm presidential appointments

23. How Congress Operates Committees used to organize work of Congress
standing committee: monitor federal agencies
select committee: deal with specific issues and can be formed at any time
conference committee: works out compromises between the House and Senate
joint committee: members from House and Senate to deal with a national issue
Congressmen sit on several committees
subcommittee: part of a larger committee assigned to a particular task
Committees do their work through hearings and investigations

24. How Laws are Made bill: a proposed law
Bills must be introduced by a sponsor (Congressman) who will work to get the bill voted into law
Subcommittees and Committees will discuss and modify the bill before it is voted on
The House and Senate must agree on the bill before it can go to the president to sign or veto
If the president signs the bill, it becomes law; if it’s vetoed, it can only become a law if two-thirds of vote of each house of Congress
Note: if the president fails to sign or veto within 10 days, the bill becomes law
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25. Section 3: The Executive Branch of Government
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What is the role of the executive branch of government?

26. The Executive Branch of Government
The president has enough power to do the job, but the Constitution keeps him from having too much power
Founding fathers did not want another king
In the beginning, the Electoral College had the job of choosing the president

27. The Electoral College
electors: members of the Electoral College chosen from each state
Electors vote for the president; citizens vote for electors, not directly for the president
538 electors: number matches the number of senators and representatives from each state
The candidate with the most votes in a state gets all the electors
Electors are not legally bound to vote for the candidate chosen by the state’s citizens
Electors meet in their state’s capitol; votes sent to the president of the Sentate
Inauguration Day is January 20 following the election in November

28. Parts of the Executive Branch
President & Vice President Qualifications
35 years old
natural-born citizen
resident of US for 14 years
limited to two consecutive terms (22nd Amendment)
Vice president takes over if president dies, resigns, or is removed from office
Speaker of the House and other leaders in line to take over if vice president cannot take over
Executive bureaucracy: Office of the President, Cabinet, independent agencies, regulatory commissions, government corporations

29. Executive Office of the President
Leaders serve the president and can be fired at any time
Includes:
Office of Management & Budget
National Security Council
Council of Economic Advisors

30. The Cabinet Members advise the president
Serve as heads of the executive departments
Members appointed by the president and approved by the Senate
Currently 15 members

31. Independent Agencies
Serve public interest and keep government running smoothly
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency – example of independent agency, supervises efforts to clean air and water
GSA: General Services Administration – oversees spending by the government

32. Federal Regulatory Commissions
Have power to make rules and punish violators
Leaders appointed by the president
Examples:
FCC: Federal Communications Commission
SEC: Securities & Exchange Commission
FDA: Food & Drug Administration

33. Government Corporations
Established to provide products or services for the American people
Examples:
FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – insures bank deposits and protects banking customers
USPS: United States Postal Service
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34. Section 4: The Judicial Branch of Government
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What is the role of the judicial branch of government?

35. Section 4: The Judicial Branch of Government
What words do I need to know?
judicial review

36. Judicial Branch of Government
Supreme Court
Lower federal courts a part of this branch
Decide the meaning and interpretation of the Constitution and laws
Protects citizens from mistreatment by other branches of government

37. The Supreme Court Highest court in USA
Chief justice plus eight associate justices
Decides cases involving foreign countries or between states
Reviews decisions of lower courts
judicial review: ability to set aside actions of the legislative or judicial branch
Chief justice presides over impeachments

38. Other Federal Courts
Congress established federal circuit court districts
Georgia has three district court regions
US Court of Appeals for 11th Circuit is in Atlanta
Bankruptcy courts are a part of this system

39. Special Courts Courts for special purposes Examples: Tax Court
US Court of Appeals for Armed Forces
US Court of International Trade
US Court of Federal Claims

40. The System of Checks and Balances
Constitution keeps the branches of government equally important
Sometimes the branches of government do not get along well – conflicts can arise if one branch tries to find a way around another
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