Forms of Government PDF
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This document provides an overview of different forms of government, such as monarchy, democracy, and dictatorship, and breaks down their characteristics and examples. It is suitable for high-school students studying various forms of government.
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Forms of Government Kahoot Review (12 Questions) https://create.kahoot.it/my-library/kahoots/f38a0707-ccc4-497b-8ca4-adf1672143ea Gummy Bear Activity to Follow (Next Day) Monday, September 16, 2024 Today’s Learning Objective: Analyze and compare various forms of government Today’s Agenda: Weeken...
Forms of Government Kahoot Review (12 Questions) https://create.kahoot.it/my-library/kahoots/f38a0707-ccc4-497b-8ca4-adf1672143ea Gummy Bear Activity to Follow (Next Day) Monday, September 16, 2024 Today’s Learning Objective: Analyze and compare various forms of government Today’s Agenda: Weekend Wrap-up Forms of Government Discussion/Videos Practice Reminders: Start the Week off on the right track. Bell Ringer Whose mind would you like to read the most? Introduction… Different forms of governments are categorized based on who exercises authority and how power is organized All forms of government have their problems, and all have the power to do great harm or good to those under their rule One thing in common between all types of government is that someone is in charge, or has authority The three classic forms of government covered today are monarchy, democracy, and dictatorship Monarchy The government is headed by one person, such as a king or queen, who exercises authority The leader is often referred to as a “monarch” Monarchs inherit their position and their power by being born into a royal family The current king or queen’s oldest child becomes the next king or queen. There are 2 types of monarchies Constitutional Absolute Constitutional Monarchy A monarch serves as the head of state within the limits of a constitution Power of the monarch is limited by law or a formal constitution The real power lies in another branch of government The monarch’s role is largely ceremonial May have symbolic duties like opening and dissolving the parliament The day-to-day governance of the country is carried out by an elected government Example: United Kingdom Absolute Monarchy In an absolute monarchy, the monarch holds supreme and absolute authority over the government and the state The monarch’s powers are not limited by a constitution or laws The monarch makes decisions on matters of governance, legislation, and policy The authority is typically inherited, passing from one generation to the next within the royal family Democracy A form of government in which the power to govern comes from the people Citizens have the right to participate decision-making, typically through voting The term democracy means “rule by the people” There are 2 types of democracies Direct Republic/Representative Direct Democracy In a direct democracy, eligible citizens actively participate in decision-making processes and vote on laws and policies directly There are no elected representatives Allows citizens to have a more immediate and direct role in shaping legislation and governance The decision making process often involves open discussions, debates, and deliberations among citizens Example: Ancient Greece (Athens) Republic/Representative Democracy In a representative democracy, eligible citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf These representatives represent the people’s interests in legislative bodies in congresses Representative democracies operate under the rule of law, where laws are applied equally to all citizens, including elected officials Example: United States Dictatorship A system of rule in which one person, a dictator, or a small group of people can hold unlimited power over government Holds absolute authority and makes all decisions Dictators often achieve power by violently overthrowing a government Dictators maintain power by force, prohibiting even peaceful opposition with varying degrees of repression and brutality Most dictators head authoritarian regimes, under which people are subject to various forms of control Example: Cuba 2 types covered today: Oligarchy Theocracy Oligarchy An oligarchy is a form of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of a small, privileged group of individuals or families These individuals, often referred to as oligarchs, typically hold significant influence and control over political, economic, and social aspects of society Decision-making and governance are predominantly in the hands of this elite few Oligarchy is a Greek word that means “rule by a few” Sometimes this means that only a certain group has political rights, like members of one political party or social class Example: In some societies, only noble families who owned land could participate in politics. In an oligarchy (OH-lih-gar-kee), a small group of people has all the power. Oligarchy is a Greek word that means “rule by a few.” Sometimes this means that only a certain group has political rights, such as members of one political party, one social class, or one race. For example, in some societies, only noble families who owned land could participate in politics. An oligarchy can also mean that a few people control the country. For example, a junta is a small group of people—usually military officers—who rule a country after taking it over by force. A junta often operates much like a dictatorship, except that several people share power. Theocracy A government that is under the rule of a small group of religious leaders “Theo” is a Greek word that means god Religious law is used to settle disputes and rule the people Opposite of the United States, there is little to no separation of Church and State Modern theocracies are usually found in countries where the population is strongly religious Example: Iran A theocracy is a government that recognizes God or a divine being as the ultimate authority. (“Theo” is a Greek word that means god.) In a theocracy, religious law is used to settle disputes and rule the people. A theocracy can also be a democracy, dictatorship, monarchy, or just about any other kind of government. For example, the Republic of Iran recognizes Islamic law, but Iran’s citizens vote to elect their leaders. Modern theocracies are usually found in countries where the population is strongly religious. Anarchy No government Nobody is in control - everyone is in control of themselves Can be described as the human state of existence before any governments developed Similar to the way animals live in the wild, with everyone looking out for themselves There are no countries that have anarchy as their form of government In an anarchy, nobody is in control—or everyone is, depending on how you look at it. Sometimes the word anarchy is used to refer to an out-of-control mob. When it comes to government, anarchy would be one way to describe the human state of existence before any governments developed. It would be similar to the way animals live in the wild, with everyone looking out for themselves. Today, people who call themselves anarchists usually believe that people should be allowed to freely associate together without being subject to any nation or government. There are no countries that have anarchy as their form of government. This video is just an overview of the forms of government that was covered in the lecture. Discussion What are the advantages and disadvantages of a direct democracy where citizens participate directly in decision making? When it comes to the United States, do you think our current form of government is the best form possible, or is there a better alternative? Why? Advantages include having your voices heard more directly instead of through representatives. Citizens could also become more aware on political issues since they have a real voice. Direct democracy provides a platform for civic education, as citizens must be informed about various issues to make well-informed decisions. This can contribute to a more politically literate society. Disadvantages include tyranny of the majority - It may lead to decisions that favor the preferences of the majority, neglecting the rights and needs of minorities. Citizens may be susceptible to manipulation through misinformation or emotional appeals Good video for an extension activity - most students said they didn’t think we needed a different form before watching this, and said the same after watching this. Discussion Cont. Now that you watched that video, do you think the United States should become a monarchy? Or a different form of government? Have you changed your mind to the previous question about if our current form of government is the best form possible? This went ok…perhaps change this discussion question This video connects the public good billboard, public services, etc. that was covered throughout the week to an anarchy. Activity: Mix n’ Match Memory Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Today’s Learning Objective: Understand and model various forms of government. Today’s Agenda: Kahoot Review Gummy Bear Govts. Reminders: You matter. Bell Ringer Unpopular opinion: Pineapple belongs on pizza! Agree or disagree? Gummy Bear Governments https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f96Y0w25u8MjzTMaJoB2gsyau032B6dl/view?usp=sharing Monarchy Dictatorship Student Example https://docs.google.com/document/d/1elqjRJBnZXafPchEFQRLIcmG-pTFr5-zRU3iX1zOTwY/edit Wednesday, September 18, 2024 Today’s Learning Objective: Students will understand and explain the democratic authoritarian continuum and recognize the types of government associated with each side. Today’s Agenda: Self Quiz Democratic and Authoritarian Continuum Reminders: Turn in Gummy Bear Governments Bell Ringer What is the weirdest food combination you love? First, I lied to you guys… :( And you may be upset Activity *Part 1 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JnZpSYmmOSrUOhEejwh6W3Wuy7wlzumO/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110605658169252038295&rtpof=true&sd=true Introduction For thousands of years, people have been ruled by governments We categorize government based on who holds governmental power as well as by how power is distributed among the branches that make up the government Ranges from concentration of power to power shared among many These systems have significant consequences for the relationship between government and their people Authoritarian System Authoritarian governments have few checks on their power Leaders hold titles like president or prime minister, but their elections are not free or fair Authoritarian governments often ignore rules, restrict freedoms of speech, and use violence to impose their policies Democratic backsliding is the gradual erosion of democratic rules Ex. North Korea Characteristics of an Authoritarian System Citizens have few or no protections for civil rights or human rights Citizens cannot effectively take part in government Citizens cannot express their views freely Rulers often use force to put down opposition Rulers are not limited by law They can simply change or ignore constitutions or laws that restrict their power Can lead to a totalitarianism government Government controls every aspect of public and private life Economic planning, all organizations, all media, all industry, etc. Ex. China Democratic System A democratic system is a system where the people choose their leaders This gives people a central role in governance Democratic systems can be classified into three categories: Presidential Parliamentary Presidential-Parliamentary Presidential System Presidential systems have an executive branch that is largely separate from the legislative branch Separate elections for the president and legislature In this system, presidents serve both as head of state and as head of government Presidents are usually elected by the people Ex. United States Parliamentary System In a parliamentary system, power is centered in the legislative branch, which chooses the chief executive Parliamentary governments do not have many of the checks and balances of presidential governments People only vote for members of Parliament The majority party appoints the prime minister Ex. United Kingdom Presidential-Parliamentary System Mixture of two leadership roles: The President Prime Minister The President is like the big boss elected directly by the people Foreign affairs and defense The Prime Minister runs the daily show, dealing with domestic issues and policies The political party that has the majority in the parliament selects its leader to become the Prime Minister Ex. France Characteristics of a Democratic System Democratic systems tend to have social welfare policies Independent court systems and a free press protect the rights of citizens Judges are expected to make decisions based on the law and legal principles rather than being influenced by political pressure or interference Journalists and news organizations can operate without undue interference or control from the government Strong democratic countries can generally withstand national crises such as war, economic trouble, or civil unrest without major changes to their basic systems or structures Democratic Government Authoritarian Government How do they select leaders? Leaders chosen in free and fair elections. Rulers inherit their position or take power by force. How much power do they have? Government is limited by the constitution and laws. Citizens’ rights and freedoms are protected. Rulers have unlimited power. May impose an official ideology and control all aspects of political, economic, and civic life. How do they ensure obedience? Government relies on rule of law. Government relies on state control of media, propaganda, military or police power, and terror. Are there any political parties? Multiple parties can/will compete for power. Power lies with a single party. Opposition is prohibited. Forms of Government Placement Absolute Monarchy Theocracy Oligarchy Constitutional Monarchy Direct Democracy Representative Democracy Either individually or in a group, place the following types of government into the democratic or authoritarian category…(Hint: There are 3 in each category) Theocracy, Direct Democracy, Constitutional Monarchy, Absolute Monarchy, Oligarchy, Representative Democracy Democratic Authoritarian Democratic-Authoritarian Continuum A spectrum of political systems that shape governments, rights, and societal structures All political systems fall on a continuum from the most concentrated amount of power to the least Some governments believe in limiting governmental power and protecting individual rights Other governments believe in limiting individual rights and increasing the amount of government control or power Where a government falls on a continuum will determine whether the voices of citizens are heard or ignored on important issues Activity *Part 2 Discuss the Following: *Be Prepared to share With the Class Discuss the importance of independent court systems and a free press in a democracy. Discuss the potential reasons why some people may prefer authoritarian governments over democracies. Discussion Cont. Discuss the importance of independent court systems and a free press in healthy democracies Independent court systems ensure that the government follows the law, and a free press helps hold the government accountable by providing information to the public. Discuss the potential reasons why some people may prefer authoritarian governments over democracies Some people may prefer authoritarian governments because they believe that decisive leadership can better promote economic growth and maintain order at home. Short Assessment -20 Questions -Write A/D for each scenario -Try Without notes first, then look back if needed Assessment Answers A 11. A D 12. A A 13. A D 14. A A 15. D D 16. D D 17. D D 18. A D 19. A A 20. A WEDNESDAY, September 18, 2024 Today’s Learning Objective: Today’s Agenda: Lecture Worksheet Reminders: 1 more Day! Bell Ringer What made you laugh today? Events Leading to the American Revolution: British Actions: As a response to the Boston Tea Party, the British pass a number of punitive measures in the spring of 1774. Boston Harbor is closed, British troops are quartered, self-rule in Massachusetts is ended, and Administration of Justice Act was made. Colonists’ Actions: The colonists call for a Continental Congress in 1774. The repeal of the Intolerable Acts would be the colonist’s primary demand until independence. The Intolerable Acts 1774 After the Intolerable Acts… Most American colonists hoped for a compromise, rolling back the harshest taxes. The Virginia and Massachusetts assemblies called for a general meeting of the colonies to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This meeting would be called The First Continental Congress The First Continental Congress Every colony except Georgia sent delegates to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1774. The delegates sent George III a document known as the Declaration and Resolves. Demanded a repeal of the Intolerable Acts, an end to British Military occupation, and the power of the colonies to impose their own tax laws. Congress also called for a boycott of British goods until the demands were met. The delegates agreed to meet again the following May should the king refuse to address their grievances. Why do you think most of the colonists wanted to reach a compromise with George III rather than break away from Britain? Most of the colonists did not want to reject their English heritage. Did the King accept or refuse to address the colonists grievances? The First Continental Congress (cont.) The British rejected the colonists’ demands. The colonists continued to organize resistance efforts against British policies, including more boycotts of British goods. They also began to establish local militias and stockpile weapons in preparation for potential conflict with British forces. In April 1775, British troops clashed with colonial militia at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. The clash become known as “the shot heard ’round the world” This was the first time the colonists met the British with armed resistance. The Second Continental Congress Fast forward 2 weeks after Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. Again, 12 of the 13 colonies attended. Many delegates no longer expected better treatment by the Crown, so they decided they were going to take stronger measures. Their first action was to organize the ragtag militia around Boston into an unofficial Continental Army. By a unanimous vote, delegates made George Washington its commander. The Second Continental Congress (cont.) Some delegates still clung to hopes of reconciliation instead of violence. In July of 1775, the Congress sent George III a final appeal called the Olive Branch Petition. In the Olive Branch Petition, the delegates pledged continuing loyalty and begged the king to ask Parliament to repeal the new measures (taxes). George III refused to read the petition, and on August 23, he proclaimed the American colonists to be in a full state of rebellion. Every effort would be made “to suppress such rebellion, and to bring the traitors to justice.” Congress’ New Job With the Revolutionary War now under way, the Congress assumed the role of a government. It had no legal grounds to do so, but it did so out of desperate necessity. During the Revolution, the Congress would raise troops, borrow money, send diplomats to Europe, and create a monetary system. Most importantly, it would declare the colonies independent from Britain. Do you think the Second Continental Congress made the right decision in breaking away from England? Yes, the colonists had tried to resolve their problems, but the king had ignored their efforts and refused to compromise. No, it led to a costly war with Britain, causing significant loss of life and property. The Common Sense of Democracy On January 10, 1776, a 47-page political pamphlet called Common Sense inspired widespread support for independence throughout Philadelphia. Written by Thomas Paine, and Englishman who had arrived in America only a year earlier. Paine made the case for a break with England. Blamed the colonial hostilities on Parliament. Argued that “a thirst for absolute power is the natural disease of monarchy.” For Paine, independence was the only “common sense” course of action for colonists to take. Within three months of its first printing, about 150,000 copies of Common Sense had flown off colonial presses. The Declaration of Independence The armed conflict would continue for months before independence was officially declared. On June 7, 1776, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee stood before the Congress and proposed a resolution to officially declare independence from Great Britain. No longer concerned with restoring their ‘rights as Englishmen,’ the delegates passed Lee’s resolution on July 2. The Declaration of Independence - Committee of Five Congress appointed a committee of five to write a formal statement justifying the move for independence. The committee of five included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wrote most of the document in little more than two weeks. The Declaration of Independence - Jefferson Jefferson claimed that he didn’t use a book nor a pamphlet to write the Declaration, but Jefferson likely drew on the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which was inspired by John Locke’s view of the social contract theory. Jefferson’s Declaration states that people have “unalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” that no government can take away because they are granted by their creator. Jefferson also argued that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” If a government disregards the rights of the people, then the people have a legitimate right to change their government. The Declaration of Independence On the evening of July 4, 1776, the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Britain's thirteen colonies ceased to exists and a new nation of sovereign states had entered the world stage. Talk with your group… What do you believe was the more pivotal event in laying the groundwork for American independence: the First Continental Congress or the Second Continental Congress? Why? Assignment https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-kZbXdW5D9iWhdu1n1AYEd-tyqGG7EaUJuwAs10QCZk/edit?usp=sharing FRIDAY, September 20, 2024 Today’s Learning Objective: Students will be able to understand the ARticles of Confederation and analyze the weaknesses behind it. Today’s Agenda: Articles of Confederation Grave Making Reminders: Have a fun and Safe Weekend Bell Ringer If You Could Switch Lives With Any Animal, Which One and Why? The Articles of Confederation The Declaration of Independence was not meant to provide a government for the new county In June 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee to draw up a plan of government – the Articles of Confederation In 1781, it was approved by the 13 states, and the government under the Articles went into effect. The Articles of Confederation A confederation is a loose association, rather than a firm union, of states Each state in the country was to have equal powers and in most ways to be independent of the other states The central, or national, government had very limited powers The majority of people in the 13 states did not want a strong central government They feared that such government might use its power to limit the freedom of the separate states. The Articles of Confederation Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government consisted of a lawmaking body of one house, called Congress The states sent representatives to congress, with each state having one vote in congress, regardless of the number of people living in the state The writers of the Articles of Confederation wanted to preserve the states sovereignty, or absolute power Thus, the Articles gave the power to enforce national laws to the states, rather than to the national government. The Articles of Confederation This arrangement stemmed from the people’s suspicion of strong leaders after their experience with King George III The articles also did not establish a national court system to interpret the laws and to punish lawbreakers The Articles also did not give the new government the powers it needed to solve problems. The Weaknesses of the Confederation There were many reasons for the weakness of the national government under the Articles of Confederation Congress had trouble passing laws because a vote of 9 of the 13 states was needed to pass measures Without a president or an executive branch, there were no officials to ensure the laws passed by Congress were carried out Without national courts, there were no means of interpreting the laws or judging those who broke them. The Weaknesses of the Confederation Changing the Articles to make the national government stronger was difficult Changes in the Article required the unanimous vote of all 13 states Congress lacked the power to collect taxes They could ask the states to contribute money to pay the national government’s expenses, but couldn’t enforce them Without money, Congress could not pay the country’s debt or carry on any government activities that might be needed Congress also could not pay the soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War The national government could not control trade between states or with foreign nations Most of the states issued their own money – no stable currency or banking system. As a result of these weaknesses, the states acted more like small, separate nation than as members of a confederation. This led to relations between the states and Congress to worsen. The Need for Change The Articles succeed in establishing a new country – a major achievement However, the government set up by the Articles failed in a number of important ways The main trouble with the Articles was that they did not give the national government enough power to operate effectively The states feared a strong central government and thus kept most of the real power in their own hands Another problem – the citizens of the new country lacked a national identity The residents of each state still thought of themselves as citizens of their particular state, not as Americans Change Many leaders began to favor strengthening the national government As a result, in 1787, Congress asked the states to send representatives to a meeting where revisions to the Articles could be discussed A new Constitution would soon be written. Assignment *You should easily finish in class so you won’t have homework. Monday, September 23, 2024 Today’s Learning Objective: Students will be able to understand how the Constitution came to be and compare and contrast the constitution to the AOC Today’s Agenda: Weekend Wrap-Up A New Constitution Reminders: Quiz on Friday Bell Ringer Rate the Weekend 1-10 The Death of the Articles of Confederation In May 1787, a group of the country’s most respected leaders from every state but Rhode Island met in Independence Hall in Philadelphia They had been sent as delegates, or representatives, of their states to find ways to improve the national government The delegates soon became convinced that changing the Articles of Confederation was not enough They decided to create a completely new plan of government – a new constitution. The Delegates The 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention included many of those who had aided the country’s struggle for independence George Washington, after leading the Continental Army to victory over the British, was chosen to preside over the Convention At 81 years of age, Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate to the Constitutional Convention Among the other delegates were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Roger Sherman, William paterson, and Edmund Randolph Thomas Jefferson was serving as US ambassador to France and was not present. An English Heritage These leaders were familiar with history, and they had learned many important lessons from the past The delegates wanted Americans to enjoy all of the rights the English people had fought for and had won during past centuries The following are things from the English heritage that the convention used. Magna Carta This heritage from England included the rights mentioned in Magna Carta. The English nobles had won these rights from King John in 1215 Magna Carta guaranteed that free people could not be arrested, put in prison, or forced to leave their nation unless they were given a trial by a jury of their peers It guaranteed that the citizens of England were to be judged according to English law only. English Bill of Rights The delegates also wished to guarantee Americans the rights contained in the English Bill of Rights of 1689. One of these rights was the right to petition, or request, the government to improve or to change laws. Another was the right to fair punishment if a citizen were to be found guilty of a crime. Parliamentary Government The delegates also carefully studied the example of parliamentary government in England Parliament, the lawmaking body of Great Britain, is bicameral, or consists of two parts, or houses. Parliament is made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. This system enables each house to check and improve the work of the other house. Secret Meetings Secret Meetings The delegates to the convention pledged to hold their meetings in secret and not to discuss any of the business of the convention outside of the convention Some delegates feared that if they spoke publicly on a particular issue, they would be pressured by outsiders. If the meetings were held in secret, how do we know today what took place during the Convention? James Madison We know what happened because of James Madison Madison kept a journal of the proceedings of each meeting His journal, which was kept secret until after his death, is the chief source of information about the Convention As Madison himself said of his record-keeping… “It happened…that I was not absent a single day, nor more than a casual fraction of an hour in any day, so that I could not have lost a single speech, unless a very short one.” Writing the Constitution The framers of the Constitution agreed that the national government had to be given greater power At the same time, the framers agreed that the states should keep the powers needed to govern their own affairs To achieve this balance, the framers established a system of government known as federalism, or a federal system A federal system divides a government’s powers between the national government and state governments It is much different from a unitary system, in which the national government possesses all legal power. Writing The Constitution The framers worked out the plan for a federal system at their meetings in 1787 There were some significant disagreements among the delegates, but they were committed to producing a constitution The most serious disagreement arose over the question of representation in the new national legislature, or lawmaking body The larger states favored a legislature in which representation would be based on population, whereas the smaller states wanted each state to have an equal number of representatives in the legislature After weeks of debate, both sides agreed to a compromise of a bicameral system. Bicameral System A bicameral legislature means that there are two houses of lawmaking bodies, together called congress In one house, the Senate, the states were to have equal representation Each state gets 2 senators In the other house, the House of Representatives, each state was to be represented according to the size of its population Census! This agreement became known as the Great Compromise. A Strong New Country Other compromises were reached as the delegates worked on the Constitution The framers increased the powers of the national government Print and coin own money, raised armed forces, regulate trade among the states and with foreign nations, and set taxes Provision was made for a president to carry out the country’s laws The Supreme Court and other national courts would interpret these laws. September 1787 By September 1787, the delegates had completed their work No delegate was satisfied with each and every part of the document On September 17, the Constitution was signed by 39 of the 42 framers present After a farewell dinner, the delegates left for home. Approving the Constitution The work of the members of the Constitutional Convention was not over when they left Philadelphia The Constitution now had to be sent to the states for their ratification, or approval Before the Constitution could go into effect, it had to be ratified by 9 of the 13 states The public was swamped with pamphlets, letters to newspapers, and speeches representing both sides of the debate. Federalists and Antifederalists Supporters of the Constitution, who favored a strong national government, were called Federalists The federalists argued that a strong national government was needed to keep the country united Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison were leading Federalists They published a series of articles known as the Federalist Papers to help increase support for the Constitution. Federalists and Antifederalists People who opposed the new Constitution and the federal system of government were called Antifederalists They feared that a constitution that established such a strong national government defeated the purpose of the Revolutionary War The Antifederalists believed that the proposed Constitution would protect neither the states’ power nor the people’s freedom. The Constitution is Ratified Gradually, Federalists gained support However, many citizens were upset that the Constitution did not contain a list of the rights of the people Some states suggested that such a list, or bill, of rights should be added if the new Constitution was ratified Most of the states ratified the Constitution in 1787 and 1788 The required ninth state ratified it in June 1788, and the new US government began to operate in March 1789 Two states, North Carolina and Rhode Island, did not approve the constitution until after it went into effect. Nation’s New Government New York City was chosen as the country’s temporary capital Members of the new Senate and House of Representatives arrived to begin their work On April 30, 1789, George Washington was sworn in as the first president of the US – the country’s new government was underway. Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Today’s Learning Objective: Students will be able to understand the ideals of the constitution and their meanings. Today’s Agenda: Notes Short Assignment Reminders: Quiz on Friday Bell Ringer If you could be any teacher for a day, who would you be and why? Consent of the Governed Government by popular sovereignty, or consent of the governed, is one of our most cherished ideals It appears in the opening sentence of the Constitution, which is known as the Preamble The preamble is an introduction that explains why the US Constitution was written Preamble The Preamble begins with the words “We the people” The framers of the Constitution wanted to emphasize the importance of the people These words stress that our government was established by the people of the United States As the Preamble clearly states, the American people “do ordain and establish this Constitution” “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America” Goals of the Constitution The Preamble itself is not law, rather it is a statement of 6 goals for the government of the United States To form a more perfect union Establish justice Insure domestic tranquility Provide for the common defense Promote the general welfare Secure the blessings of liberty To form a more perfect union The new government should be a better union of states than the union created under the Articles of Confederation. 2. Establish Justice The government should make laws and establish a system of courts that are fair to all. 3. Insure Domestic Tranquility The government should preserve peace within the country. 4. Provide for the common defense The government should work to protect the country from its enemies. 5. Promote the general welfare The government should help provide for the well-being of all the people. 6. Secure the blessings of Liberty The government should work to safeguard the freedom of the people.