Transcript AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Intro/Rules/Assignments
YOU MUST PASS THIS CLASS TO
GRADUATE!!!
Read …..
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Grades and Extra Credit
Discipline, Lateness, School Policies, Research, Pet
Peeves, Senioritis
The GOLDEN rule of life applies in here—
“Do good…. it goes in the bank. Lie, cheat, steal
don’t expect equal treatment”
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Why study American Government?
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It is real world…..it is right now!
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1) Who represents us in the United States
Congress? Matthew Cartwright
2) Who represents us in the General Assembly in
Harrisburg? Joe Emrick
3) Who runs Northampton County? County Exec.
4) Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
John Roberts
5) Name the Speaker of the House? John Boehner
6) Who represents PA in the Senate? Pat Toomey
& Bob Casey Jr.
7) Name one member of the Cabinet? Sec. of Def.
Chuck Hagel, Sec. of State John Kerry
ROVIDES AND
ROTECTS
THE PEOPLE WITH POWER, WHO DECIDE
WHAT GETS
ROVIDED AND
ROTECTED
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Democracy:
The people have the
power.
Governments have
consent of the people.
Dictatorship:
Oldest, most common
form of Gov’t.
Gov’t. Has ALL POWER
Can be Oligarchy or
Autocracy
Vladimir Putin
Kim Jong il
Saddam Hussein
Fidel Castro
Adolph Hitler
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MUST HAVE:
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Population
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Defined borders
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Organized
Government
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Sovereignty
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Largest:
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China 1.7 Billion
World: Population
now..... 6.9 Billion
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Smallest:
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 San Marino (Bounded
on all sides by Italy
24,000
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Largest: Russia 6.6
million sq. miles
Followed by:
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Canada
China
US
Brazil
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Has SUPREME & ABSOLUTE power within
it’s territory.
SO HOW DID THIS IDEA OF
GOVERNMENT
BEGIN???????????
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FORCE THEORY: Person or small group used
force to take control…
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Evolutionary Theory Head of family…head of
clan….head of tribe….HEAD OF STATE!
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Divine Right Theory… God gives those of
royal birth the right to rule….
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State exists out of free
will.
Exists to serve.
Government should
be limited.
When government no
longer serves…the
people can withhold
power from the
leaders.
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We made it…we can break it!!!!!
THE GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION
OF POWER:
Unitary Government
~ All powers held by a single
central agency
Federal Government
~ Division of Powers
(Central – States)
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An economic system in which the
production and distribution of goods are
controlled substantially by the government
rather than by private enterprise.
Countries who declared themselves to
be socialist states under the MarxistLeninist definition (Communist states)
at some point in their history.
Countries whose constitutions contained
some references to socialism (under a nonMarxist definition) at some point in their
history.
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There are many varieties of socialism.
Some socialists tolerate capitalism… others
insist on an abolition of private enterprise.
All communists are socialists, but not all
socialists are communists.
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People's Republic of China, North
Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Cuba, Nepal
and Moldova
Communism:
(THEORY) all means of
production are owned in
common, rather than by
individuals.
(PRACTICE) a single
authoritarian party
controls both the
political and economic
systems.
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An economic system in which the means of
production and distribution are privately or
corporately owned.
Promoted in democratic countries.
Creates vast wealth….
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Inequality in a society: Capitalism
allows some people to get rich but also
allows others to become poor.
Production of “Negative” Goods: Ex.
allows cars that get very low gas
mileage to be produced even though
they help cause global warming.
Capitalism allows industries to pollute
the environment.
Pure capitalism allows people to lack
basic needs such as health care.
Unregulated capitalism allows for
financial crisis because it doesn't
prevent businesses from acting in
destructive ways
Let us take a look back at
government…..
There are 2 types of
democracy practiced….
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Pres. Chosen independently of Legislative
branch.
Pros and Cons????????????
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Winner Takes all system….
Prime Minister (majority party)
leader.
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Stays in power as long as majority of parliament supports
him/her.
A “vote of no confidence” means leaders must resign.
This type of Gov’t. is the majority worldwide.
Avoids deadlock between Legis. & Executive.
SO LETS
TALK …
DEMOCRACY
THE BASICS
1. We ALL have worth……
so don’t speed (speed limits)
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2. We ALL deserve an
equal shot…not equal goods.
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The new Trump Plaza, NYC
3.Majority rule….provided minority has a
shot to become majority.
Like:
 Mexico
 India
 Ukraine
 S. Korea
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5. Individual freedom…..unless you mess
with another persons.
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SO HOW DID WE COME UP WITH SUCH A
GREAT IDEA???
Concepts that came from….
• Ordered Government
•To prevent overlap of responsibilities.
•Offices of Sherriff, coroner, assessor, justice of peace, grand
jury, counties, townships, etc.
•Example: The Fire Company…..
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Limited Government
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“Government is not
all-powerful” so it
cannot take away
certain individual
rights.
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Representative Government
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Government should be FOR THE PEOPLE
MAGNA CARTA
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Barons forced King John to
sign in 1215.
This was the first time
anyone has ever limited the
King’s rights.
 rights included:
 Trial by jury
 Protection against the
arbitrary taking of life,
liberty, or property.
Initially only for the
privileged people.
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1648 Charles I signed the
Petition of Right (for $$$)
King could not:
impose martial law (rule by
the military) in time of peace
 Require home owners to
shelter the king’s troops
without their consent.
 Imprison without lawful
judgment of his peers or by
the law of the land.
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Challenged divine right
theory
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Established (1688) to prevent
the abuse of power by
monarchs
The Bill of Rights
prohibited:
 Standing army in peace.
 Suspending laws by regal
authority, without consent
of Parliament
 Levying money for or to
the Crown
The Bill of Rights
guarantees:
 Right to a fair trial
 Freedom from excessive
bail
 Freedom from cruel and
unusual punishment
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ROYAL: were the most controlled by the king,
who named a governor to each colony and a
council to assist him.
Govenors Palace
Williamsburg, Va.
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PROPRIETARY: were
grants of land in the
form of a charter, or a
license to rule, for
individuals or groups.
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Used by the Crown to
repay a debt to, or
bestow a favor upon,
a highly placed
person.
William Penn
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CHARTER: colonies
were promoted for
private enterprise under
charters from the
crown.
They had more control
over their own affairs
than did the other types
of colonies, which were
ruled more directly by
the British.
Connecticut State Capitol
R
P
R
R
CC
R
P P
R
R
R
R
R = Royal
C = Charter
P = Proprietor
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New England
Confederation: league
of “friendship” to
defend against native
attacks (dissolves in
1684).
The Albany Plan of
Union: Franklin’s idea
of common military,
regulation of trade &
duties. (Ahead of it’s
time…turned down by
colonies)
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Stamp Act Congress: resistance to the new
Stamp Act, resulted in Boycotts and the Boston
Massacre.
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Met in Phil., every
colony but Ga., in
reaction to the
“Intolerable
Acts”….to discuss
ways to make the
crown stop punitive
action.
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Declaration of
Independence (1776)
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Like a break-up
letter!!!
Determined how they
would self govern &
fight the war.
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Was the “de facto”
government for the
first several years.
it's too late......
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24 of the 56 signers of The Declaration of Independence had been
educated and employed in law & included 2 future presidents.
11 were merchants and 9 were large plantation owners.
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9 died during the Revolutionary War.
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Twelve had their homes ransacked or destroyed during the war.
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Signer John Hart had his home looted during the war & his wife
died as a result. He invited over 12,000 soldiers to camp on his
yard in 1778 in the middle of growing season as they prepared
for battle.
Thomas Nelson's home served as headquarters for General
Cornwallis during the siege of Yorktown & Legend has it that he
advised Washington to fire on it. The home was destroyed.
Several leading figures of the Continental Congress, including
its first signer, John Hancock, had special rewards placed on
them for their capture.
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Were too weak…no
executive or judicial
branch!!!
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There was no way to
raise money (taxes).
States began to
distrust each other
…were undercutting
each other via
commerce.
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Plans offered:
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Virginia Plan (Big State Plan):
population to determine
representation in Legislature. (Bicameral).
New Jersey (Small State Plan):
One house (unicameral). States
representation equal=all states
had the same power.
BIG = big states
get more power.
Small = small
states
get equal power.
The Oldest written constitution in the world
The Preamble—The
Introduction to the
Constitution
Two main Questions
found in the Preamble:
….to form a
more perfect
union
What are the
goals to be
reached?
1. Establish
Justice
2. Insure
Domestic
Tranquility
3. Common
Defense
4. Promote the
General Welfare
5. Secure
the
Blessings
of
Liberty
CONSTITUTION
How The Constitution is divided:
1. Articles – the MAJOR divisions
2. Sections – divides the article
3. Clauses – divides up the sections
Article I---Legislative Branch
Bicameral Legislature--- (2 houses)
• House - population
• Senate -2 per state
Article II
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Executive Branch - President
"Full Faith and Credit Clause", addresses the
duties that states within the United States have
to respect the "public acts, records, and judicial
proceedings of every other state."
VI: Federal power…
Constitution = top dog!!
VII:
Ratification (approval)
Introduction to the U.S. Constitution
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Written in Philadelphia
Original intent was to revise the Articles of
Confederation. (THEY WERE TOO WEAK)
James Madison was the “Father” of the
Constitution
39 men signed it in 1787
Principles of the
Constitution
I. Popular Sovereignty
People hold the power
Matt Cartwrigh
A representative democracy lets the people
elect leaders to make decisions for them.
Matt Cartright, Bob Casey, Jr. andPat Toomey
are our elected officials in Congress
II. Limited Government
Limit the power of the government
Leaders who overstep can be removed
III. Federalism
Power is shared between the state and federal
government
Government is Top Dog!!
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
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
Executive Branch
The President of
the United States
Chief Executive
Chief of State
Chief Legislator
Commander in Chief
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”
V. Checks and Balances
Prevents the abuse of power in
government
Each branch can check each
other branch
Executive Checks
•Propose laws to Congress
•Veto laws
•Negotiate treaties
•Appoint federal judges
•Grant pardons to federal
offenders
Legislative Checks
•Override president’s veto
•Ratify treaties
•
•Confirm executive Appointments
•Impeach officers and judges
•
•Create lower federal courts
Judicial Checks
Declare executive acts unconstitutional
Declare laws unconstitutional
Declare acts of Congress unconstitutional
The Supreme Court holds the final check
First
Freedom of speech, assembly,
religion, the press and to petition
the government
Bill Gazzo, 81, of Hampton, was furious
when he got his new property tax
assessment in 2000. After an appeal,
Allegheny County cut his assessment.
Then, for the next year, it rose again. That's
when he picked up a sign and headed
Downtown to the City-County Building with
a few dozen others. Gazzo had never taken
part in a demonstration before. "It was OK.
It was a little noisy, cold. There were a lot of
others." His assessment has since been
rolled back to the 2001 level and he just got
a letter from Allegheny County saying it will
stay at that level until 2005. Did the
picketing help? "I don't know. I hope it did. I
think it helped."
Second
The right to bear arms
When she took up arms herself a few years
back, Catherine Montest of Coraopolis "was
scared to death" at the idea of carrying a gun.
Her job in industrial sales sometimes took her
to places she found worrisome. Her husband
encouraged her to get training and now, on
some travels, she takes along a handgun. "I've
got these two really neat kids that I would like
to come home to," she explains today. Like
many in the midst of the debate over
handguns, Montest believes the founders
intended the Second Amendment as a
guarantor of individual liberties. "You look at
these amendments and they all speak to
individual rights. It's not second by mistake.
They put it up there right behind the First
Amendment because it was that important. I
don't think they randomly numbered them."
Third
No quartering of troops in
homes except in time of war
Two-hundred-thirteen years later, when Sgts.
Matthew Friedline, left, and Greg Gittner
prepared to deploy to Fort Dix, N.J., in
response to the terrorist crisis, nobody
thought for a moment about posting them with
an area family. The Army reservists
bivouacked at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at
Pittsburgh International Airport
Fourth
No search without a warrant
Before the Pittsburgh narcotics squad burst through the door of this
home in Brighton Heights in July, they took care to describe their reasons
before a judge who would decide if they had sufficient cause.
They took away narcotics paraphernalia and arrested two people for
cocaine possession. Such a search would have been forbidden without
a warrant and, had the warrant been defective, the evidence
found would not have been admissible in court.
Fifth
Due process and protection
of property
Today, the due process rights that protect property from arbitrary seizure have meant a long delay as the
Urban Redevelopment Authority tries to take, by eminent domain, the run-down porn movie house called
The Garden Cinema on the North Side. Its owner, George Androtsakis, has fought in court since 1997 to
keep the city from taking the property as part of an urban makeover of the decaying neighborhood along
North Avenue.
Sixth
Trial by jury
The right to a jury trial is part of the everyday routine at the Allegheny County Courthouse. On Aug. 7,
Richard Morris, right, with defense lawyer Robert Stewart at his side, sat across the table from prosecutor
Ed Borkowski as prospective jurors were sworn in to hear Morris' trial on charges that he killed his
girlfriend. Morris later pleaded guilty before the trial began. The jurors were sent back to their roles as
private citizens.
Seventh
Jury trial in civil cases
Carrie Johnson, an employee of
the Jury Office at the U.S. District
Court in Downtown Pittsburgh,
spent a summer workday
preparing jury summonses for the
civil cases that come before the
court. As many as 250
summonses, based on voter
registrations throughout Western
Pennsylvania, go out every two
weeks.
Eighth
No cruel and unusual punishment
The "injection room" at the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution at Rockview, Centre County,
opened for business in 1995, replacing the electric chair last used in 1962. Later, the room was moved to a
former hospital a quarter-mile from the main prison building. Three men, all convicted of murder and all
"volunteers" who gave up further appeals, have been put to death on this table since capital punishment
returned to the state. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, however, still refuses to say what
chemicals are used.
Ninth
Rights not specifically
mentioned in the constitution
should not be assumed not to
exist
Almost 30 years after the decision, Norma McCorvey
reversed her own position and now denounces legal
abortion. During a visit to seminarians at Gilmary
Diocesan Center in Coraopolis, Aug. 21, she prayed
and then declared, "I was a pawn in the pro-abortion
movement." Before her conversion -- first to
Protestant Christianity and, later, to Roman
Catholicism -- McCorvey worked as a volunteer at a
family planning organization. It was there that she
was persuaded to change sides by protesters who
were exercising their rights under the First
Amendment.
Tenth
Rights of the states
A good example of powers remaining with the states can be found
hiding behind billboards and trees along any highway. Ever been
pulled over by the FBI for a moving violation? There's a reason
why you haven't: Enforcing traffic laws is, generally, a power
residing in the states. Jessica Adler found that out this past
summer when she was stopped at a DUI checkpoint run by a
municipal task force in Pine Township. "It was my fault," Adler
later explained. She faces formal arraignment in January.
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Rap it to Remember it...............
Extra credit anyone……
11th
Sovereign immunity
Through the years, sovereign immunity has been tested
repeatedly. It is often difficult to sue the state when you must first
obtain the state's permission. It was such a case against
Pennsylvania that forced the Shaler School District to
accommodate Matthew Burda, a severely disabled 10-year-old
with mental deficits and who is deaf. The Burdas won their case in
the late 1970s. Today, Burda, 37, lives in Shaler and sorts mail at
RAMS Mailing Service in the Strip District. From a time when
public schools could refuse education to disabled students,
society has moved into the era in which all can be educated. To do
so, they had to test the limits and meaning of an amendment that,
on its face, first appears to be an impenetrable barrier.
12th
Electoral college reform
Today, each state sends electors
equal in number to its members in the
House and Senate, to cast the official
and constitutionally binding ballots
for president. In Pennsylvania,
electors are selected by state leaders
and vote, by tradition unanimously,
for the candidate who won the state's
popular vote. If no candidate emerges
from the Electoral College with a
majority of votes, then the House of
Representatives chooses the
president and the Senate selects the
vice president.
13th
Slavery abolished
By the end of the Civil War, the congregations that had harbored fugitive
slaves, such as the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, could
abandon their role in the Underground Railroad that smuggled escaped
slaves to Canada. Winning full rights of citizenship for the descendants of
those slaves would be the new battle. At prayer on Oct. 27 at the Hill
District church are the Rev. Dr. James H. McLemore, pastor, and
parishioner Carolyn Williams.
14th
Equal protection under law
and due process of law
For Abhinav Maddipati, born Aug. 9 at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, the amendment guarantees the full
rights of a U.S. citizen. It is uncharted territory for his father, Chakravarthy Maddipati and mother, Sirisha
Mahankali. His name, after all, is Sanskrit for "a new idea." Abhinav and his parents might someday share
citizenship. Mahankali and her husband, both born in India and physicians in training at Mercy Hospital,
are thinking about applying after a few years. "Do I like him being a citizen?" she asks. "Yes. It's a really
great country. That's why we are here."
15th
Right to vote shall not be
abridged
because of color or previous
servitude
Born and raised in Atlanta, Mattie Hightower is the granddaughter of a slave and
never cast a vote until she arrived in Pittsburgh in 1940. Her parents voted, but only
because Congress acted to break down the state-level barriers that kept out black
people. Today, Mother Hightower, as the 104-year-old widow is called, votes every
year. Ordinarily, she walks to her polling place at Grace Memorial Church Hall in the
Hill District where, after voting, she is served a lunch by the staff there. "God has
been good to us," says Hightower. "Now I'm 104 years old."
16th
Income Tax
Today, the federal income tax deadline of April 15, gives millions
such as Jeanne R. Candee, right, of Monroeville, if not a
constitutional crisis, certainly a few personal moments of stress.
"I'm a widow. My husband never complained about paying taxes
because we're living in the best country in the world," said
Candee. "His theory was you never fool around with the IRS." He
also didn't believe in paying one minute earlier than necessary.
"He said, 'You don't pay the government a day early for your
taxes.' That's what I do." Millions do likewise. Looking over
Candee's tax return is Shirley Kohn at H&R Block in Monroeville.
17th
Election of senators
Popular election has made the Senate less homogenous. In
Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum, left, a conservative from
Western Pennsylvania, and moderate Arlen Specter, from
Philadelphia, work side by side, differing on such issues as
legal abortion, the impeachment of President Clinton and some
judicial nominations. Both are Republicans. Specter was
elected to the Senate in 1980 and Santorum joined him 14
years later.
18th
Prohibition
Certainly Prohibition was not being enforced on Fourth Avenue
in Patton, Cambria County. There, a butcher shop featured a
trap door that led downstairs to a dank, but well-stocked cellar
where trusted visitors could enjoy a range of high-octane
beverages smuggled from Canada. When the supply ran short,
a bartender could skitter through the tunnel that ran from the
basement, under the alley and into a garage where the cases
were kept. Scott Scheirer, above, and partner Cory McNutt
bought the place a few years back. "I realized what was going
on when I noticed parts of the yard collapsing," Scheirer says.
Today the tunnel is sealed, the Miners' Rest Hotel is a
restaurant and, under powers delegated to the states when
Prohibition ended, is still waiting for a license to serve alcohol.
19th
Women's suffrage
The year Wilson demanded the Senate act, Winnie Green Davis
was a 20-year-old bride, living in Atlanta, where she cast her first
vote. "I voted for Harding -- but you know, we didn't have any
Republican party down there." Today, Winnie Davis, 103, lives in
Country Meadows, a retirement home near Bridgeville. She still
votes, though by the absentee ballot she holds here. Looking
back on her first vote, she remembers it as no big deal. "I thought
it was fine. Nobody around me objected," she says. But getting
the results was a bit different. In those days, people crowded
outside the offices of the local newspaper to await results. Winnie
stayed away. "Ladies didn't go in crowded places like that," she
says.
20th
Terms of office for president and
Congress
It is in early January, then, that new members of Congress,
such as Melissa Hart, a Republican from Pittsburgh's suburbs,
are sworn in. Hart's 19th-century predecessors needed as
much as a week to get by horse or carriage from the hills of
Western Pennsylvania to the District of Columbia. Today, she
travels over a federally financed interstate and makes it in four
hours.
21st
Prohibition repealed
Before Prohibition, individual counties licensed bars and retailers.
Under the 21st Amendment, Pennsylvania gave itself a monopoly
on the sale of liquor and wine, establishing a series of "State
Stores" to sell those items, while the sale of beer was assigned to
licensed distributors and bars. Ashlynn Rose Miller, 8 months old,
won't enjoy the fruits of the 21st Amendment for another 20 years
and 4 months. For now, she's content do go along for the ride as
her father, Dave, selects a bottle of wine at the State Store near
their home in Penn Hills.
22nd
Presidential term limits
Just months into his fourth term, Roosevelt died and, with him,
the idea of unlimited terms for presidents. An amendment,
promoted heavily by the Republican party and by others nervous
at the idea of a permanent presidency, was passed in 1947. It was
ratified by the states four years later. The amendment limits a
president to two four-year terms. Today, in the city over which
Roosevelt presided for 13 years, youngsters such as Nordina
Blackburn, 6, of Norcross, Ga., can visit the monument to the first
-- and last -- president to serve more than two terms.
23rd
District of Columbia suffrage
Since the days when they could not vote, District of Columbia residents who consider
themselves second-class citizens have been at odds with lawmakers uneasy with giving the
seat of the federal government its own state. Recently, city council changed the official motto
on the license plate to make their objections clear.
24th
Poll taxes abolished
In Pennsylvania, the vote was once limited to property owners, the kind who visited
this 19th-century voting house in Westmoreland County. In eight states in the South,
more than 100 counties used some form of legal blockade or intimidation to keep black
voters from registering. The 24th Amendment passed with little trouble in 1964. Black
voter registration surged by 40 percent. In subsequent years, federally enforced Civil
Rights acts made that amendment function. Now, with such restrictions outlawed, Joan
Ebert, minority inspector, enters the Simpson Polling House in Derry Township and
expects all eligible citizens.
25th
Presidential disability
Vice President Dick Cheney, left, meets with President Bush at a cabinet meeting on Nov.
13 in the White House. After the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington,
presidential succession became so important that Cheney and Bush are rarely seen in
the same place. Since that time, Cheney has spent numerous days secured in what
officials will only call "an undisclosed location" assuring a continuity of leadership in the
event Bush should be incapacitated. At the meeting, Bush was flanked by Secretary of
Defense Donald Rumsfeld, right, and Secretary of State Colin Powell.
26th
Voting at age 18
Thirty years after her age group was given the vote, Cherice Tillman,
18, of Homewood, voted in the May 7 primary at the Baptist Temple
in Pittsburgh's 13th Ward. Tillman was taken to the polls by a van
run by an organization devoted to getting teenagers to vote, even
showing them how the machine works.
27th
Congressional pay raises
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives,
shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened
Ratification:

Article VII required that
conventions of 9 of the 13
original states ratify the
constitution.


Amending:
A two-part process:

NH (the 9th.) ratified on June 21,
1788.
Operations under the
Constitution began on March 4,
1789.

Proposal
 There are 3 methods however
in all but 1 case , A 2/3rds.
majority vote in both
houses of Congress has been
used.
 The 21st. was ratified by
special convention.
 The 3rd. method has never
been used.
Ratification
 ¾’s of states approval is
required by either the state
legislatures or by special
convention.