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U.S. Govt. & Citizenship Week 4 Bell #3 09/14/12 List five principles that American government is founded upon. Hand in your Bells & Chapter 2.1 Study guide.
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Presentations Today –1 st pd: Courtney Larsen –3 rd pd: Brittanie Betzer Next Week –1 st pd: Maegan Dean 09/18 –3 rd pd: Sterling Wiser 09/18, Rosalie Roberts 09/20
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Constitution Crossword Correct Hand in
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An Outline of the Constitution The Constitution sets out the basic principles upon which government in the United States was built. The Constitution is a fairly brief document. The Constitution is organized into eight sections: the Preamble and seven articles. The original document is followed by 27 amendments.
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Articles of the Constitution Chapter 3, Section 1
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Constitutionalism Government must be conducted according to constitutional principles.
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The Principles of the United States Constitution
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I. Popular Sovereignty The people hold the ultimate authority A representative democracy lets the people elect leaders to make decisions for them. Orrin Hatch, Mike Lee, and Rob Bishop are our elected officials in Congress
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II. Limited Government Framers wanted to guard against tyranny Government is limited to the power given them in the Constitution. The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed
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III. Federalism The division of power between State and National Governments Some powers are shared The National Government has the “supreme power”
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IV. Separation of Powers No one holds “too much” power Legislative branch makes the laws Executive branch carries out the laws Judicial branch interprets the laws
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Legislative Branch Senate and House of Representatives Make our laws Appropriate Money Regulate Immigration Establish Post Offices and Roads Regulate Interstate Commerce and Transportation Declare War
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Executive Branch The President of the United States Chief Executive Chief of State Chief Legislator Commander in Chief
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Judicial Branch Supreme Court and other Federal Courts Preserve and protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution Considers cases involving national laws Declares laws and acts “unconstitutional”
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V. Checks and Balances Prevents the abuse of power in government Each branch can check each other branch
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Executive Checks Propose laws to Congress Veto laws made by Congress Negotiate foreign treaties Appoint federal judges Grant pardons to federal offenders
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Legislative Checks Override president’s veto Ratify treaties Confirm executive appointments Impeach federal officers and judges Create and dissolve lower federal courts
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Judicial Checks Declare executive acts unconstitutional Declare laws unconstitutional Declare acts of Congress unconstitutional The Supreme Court holds the final check
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Checks and Balances
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Rule of Law Everyone is subject to the law. No one is above the law.
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Amendment Process
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Informal Amendment Process Change may occur without going through the formal amendment process. –Legislative Actions –Executive Actions –Judicial Interpretations –Changing Customs
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