Principles of Democracy
“Supreme Law of the Land” In the United States, the US Constitution is the Supreme Law. No law and no person can override the Constitution. In the United States, the US Constitution is the Supreme Law. No law and no person can override the Constitution.
The Principles of Democracy Are the basic rules that the people of the United States live by. We made our US Constitution and all of our laws follow these principles. Are the basic rules that the people of the United States live by. We made our US Constitution and all of our laws follow these principles. Are 7 basic principles or rules for all of us to follow in order to peacefully live together as one nation. Are 7 basic principles or rules for all of us to follow in order to peacefully live together as one nation.
Principles of Democracy POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY Limited Government Limited Government FEDERALISM FEDERALISM Republicanism Republicanism SEPARATION OF POWERS SEPARATION OF POWERS Checks and Balances Checks and Balances INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
Click on the Principles below to continue Principles Popular SovereigntyLimited Government Federalism Separation of Powers Individual RightsChecks and Balances Republicanism Finished ALL of the above? Then click here for review
Popular Sovereignty Popular Sovereignty Political power rests with the people who can create, alter and abolish their government. Political power rests with the people who can create, alter and abolish their government. In our country, this principle is found in the Constitution’s __________ In our country, this principle is found in the Constitution’s __________
Preamble “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, …. do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, …. do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
We, the People can … Amend the Constitution to keep up with today’s generation Amend the Constitution to keep up with today’s generation Elect our representatives to go to Congress to express our wishes Elect our representatives to go to Congress to express our wishes Petition the government to do something we want Petition the government to do something we want And lots more!! And lots more!!
Remember – Popular Sovereignty means We, the People control our government! Popular Sovereignty means We, the People control our government! Return to “Principles”
Limited Government Does this mean we can tell our government what to do or what not to do? Does this mean we can tell our government what to do or what not to do?
YES!!! In the Constitution, the people established the government to serve us. We were tired of the abusive King and fought for independence. We did not want to be abused by another king or government so we made rules for government. In the Constitution, the people established the government to serve us. We were tired of the abusive King and fought for independence. We did not want to be abused by another king or government so we made rules for government.
Powers granted Government can only do certain things like Government can only do certain things like Pass new laws or taxes if a majority of our representatives in Congress agrees Pass new laws or taxes if a majority of our representatives in Congress agrees Coin money Coin money Make treaties with foreign nations Make treaties with foreign nations Raise an army and navy Raise an army and navy Regulate trade between the states [interstate commerce] Regulate trade between the states [interstate commerce]
Powers denied Government can NOT do certain things Government can NOT do certain things We have no titles of nobility in the United States We have no titles of nobility in the United States Congress cannot pass a law today that says what we did yesterday was wrong (ex post facto) Congress cannot pass a law today that says what we did yesterday was wrong (ex post facto) Only the national government can declare war Only the national government can declare war
Limited Government Congress and the state governments are restricted by what the Constitution says. Congress and the state governments are restricted by what the Constitution says. -- Think of the Constitution as the government’s parents! Click to return to “Principles ”
Federalism o Is the distribution of power between the national government, the states’ governments and local governments. Refers to the different levels within our government. Refers to the different levels within our government.
Federalism Compare to a building with 3 floors … Compare to a building with 3 floors … National State Local
Each level of government has its own responsibilities. Each level of government has its own responsibilities. Sometimes, these responsibilities are shared or overlap [known as concurrent powers]. For example, taxes: national = income tax, state = sales tax, local = property tax Sometimes, these responsibilities are shared or overlap [known as concurrent powers]. For example, taxes: national = income tax, state = sales tax, local = property tax
Sometimes, these responsibilities belong to just one level. For example, Sometimes, these responsibilities belong to just one level. For example, National = can declare war, National = can declare war, States = can determine driver’s license requirements or high school diploma requirements States = can determine driver’s license requirements or high school diploma requirements
Federalism you are a citizen of the United States (National) you are a citizen of the United States (National) you are a resident of the state of Texas (State) you are a resident of the state of Texas (State) You are a resident of Travis County (Local) You are a resident of Travis County (Local) … 3 governments working under one Constitution Click here to return to “Principles”
Republicanism A form of government where the people vote for representatives to make laws and run the government on their behalf [to take care of the people] A form of government where the people vote for representatives to make laws and run the government on their behalf [to take care of the people]
Republicanism’s tie to Popular Sovereignty? The People control the government by voting for elected representatives The People control the government by voting for elected representatives the representatives meet with other representatives to make laws for the public good the representatives meet with other representatives to make laws for the public good if the representatives abuse the people, the people take back their “consent” and vote them out of office if the representatives abuse the people, the people take back their “consent” and vote them out of office then the people vote for elected representatives …. then the people vote for elected representatives ….
Remember: in a Republic, the representatives work for the people! Return to “Principles”
Separation of Powers Each branch of government is given an equal, but different, set of powers Each branch of government is given an equal, but different, set of powers The US Constitution is divided into different Articles (like chapters in your book) The US Constitution is divided into different Articles (like chapters in your book)
Each of the first 3 articles deals with a different branch of government – Article I Legislature (Congress) Article II Executive (President) Article III Judiciary (Supreme Court and other courts)
Responsibilities Each branch has a different responsibility in our government --- o Legislative branch -- makes our laws o Executive branch – enforces our laws o Judicial branch – interprets our laws
This diagram illustrates the separation of powers US Constitution Legislative Branch Congress Makes Laws Executive Branch President Enforces Laws Judicial Branch Supreme Court Interprets Laws
o Separation of Powers o Think: each branch of government not only has different powers but also different buildings! o Capitol = Legislative o White House = Executive o Supreme Court building = Judiciary Return to “Principles”
Checks and Balances The ability of each branch of government to oversee the other branches, to prevent abuse and to keep everything in “balance” or… No branch is number one over the other two.
Example: Congress passes a law the President thinks is wrong. The President checks Congress by …
Using the VETO [to refuse to sign and make into law]. Using the VETO [to refuse to sign and make into law].
Congress thinks the President is wrong. Congress the President by … Congress thinks the President is wrong. Congress checks the President by …
Re-passing the law with a 2/3 vote or override. The Supreme Court thinks Congress or the President is wrong. The Court can …
Declare the law or action unconstitutional by using judicial review to compare the law or action to what the Constitution ‘says’. by using judicial review to compare the law or action to what the Constitution ‘says’. Return to question 2
Checks and Balances Keeps our system even Return to “Principles”
Individual Rights Each person in the United States has rights The Declaration of Independence spoke of The Declaration of Independence spoke of these as being these as being “unalienable” or “unalienable” or not separate from you
By limiting government and separating powers the Constitution provides …. For your Rights!
More protection is provided by….the Bill of Rights! The First 10 amendments to the Constitution Prohibits Congress or the national government from taking away your basic rights
Can you list some examples of your rights found in the Bill of Rights?
1st Amendment – Freedom of Speech Freedom of the Press Freedom of Assembly Freedom to Petition Free Exercise of Religion No Government Established Religion
4 th Amendment – no unreasonable search without a warrant 5 th Amendment – right to not incriminate yourself 6 th Amendment – right to attorney
These aren’t the only rights you have… In case they forgot to list some rights, the 9 th Amendment covers all other rights not listed in Amendments 1-8. Example: right to privacy
Are your rights absolute? Can you exercise your rights at any time?
Sorry, the answer is no. Your rights are limited by the rights of the person standing next to you. Are your rights absolute?
Think of your rights as a bubble that walks around with you. When you go down the hall, your rights bump into someone else’s rights! Think of your rights as a bubble that walks around with you. When you go down the hall, your rights bump into someone else’s rights! Return to “Principles”
Let’s review – PPPPrinciples of Democracy are… tttthe rules our society used to form our government tttthe rules we still use today to guide us
Principles of Democracy include … Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Individual rights Federalism Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Republicanism
Quiz: 1. Name the Principles of Democracy 2. What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution? 3. What is federalism? 4. What are the branches of government and what do they do? 5. Name 2 powers granted to the government by the Constitution.