1. US Government Our Democracy:Federalism
Chapter 2
Pages 21-34

2. We live in a Democratic Society…
Representative Democracy
We elect our leaders
Majority Rule
Democracy protects the Minority

3. What is Federalism?
Division of power between the National and State governments
Purpose is to avoid giving too much power to any one person or group

4. History of US Government…
1776-Declare Independence from GB
New leaders attempt to create a government that eliminates the abuses of King George III
Articles of Confederation create a Confederal System: the states retain the major portion of power and the national government is very weak, no elected leader, Congress had very little authority, and needed to ask individual states for tax $.
1787-Call for a Constitutional Convention to amend the AOC, meets in Philadelphia, resulted in a brand new Constitution

5. A New Division of Power
Delegated (enumerated) Powers: Powers given exclusively to the Federal Government in DC (Coin $)
Reserved Powers: Powers given only to the States (Establish public schools)
Concurrent Powers: Powers that are shared between the Federal and State Governments (Levy taxes)

6. Federalism

7. Functions of the US Constitution
System of written laws and legal principles that establish the way a government is constructed
Sets limits on the powers of the government
Defines rights of the people
Public document that anyone can read

8. “The Constitution is the sole source and guarantee of national freedom”… C. Coolidge
Created in 1787
Ratified in 1788
No person is allowed to violate its principles
No state or local government is allowed to pass laws that violate it
Article VI, Section 2
Is “Supremacy Clause”…establishes the Constitution as the highest law in the nation

9. Creates a 3 Branch Government
Legislative (Congress, Law making)
Judicial (Court System, Law interpretation)
Executive (President, VP, Cabinet)

10. Separation of Powers
The framers of the Constitution wanted to make sure that no one part of the government would become too powerful
Each branch was given its own, separate powers, that are different from the other two branches

11. Checks and Balances
Each branch also given the responsibility of watching over the other two branches of government, and curb each others power
Examples of checks and balances are:
VETO POWER
JUDICIAL REVIEW

12. Diagram of Our Government