U.S. Government
Unit 1 Notes
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1
Name_____________________________________
Period ________ Date _____/_____/_________
Principles of Government, p. 1-24
1 Government and the State
What Is Government?
Government is the _________________________ through which a ___________________ makes and enforces its __________________ policies.
The State
The state can be defined as having these four characteristics:
Population
A state must have ________________, the ________________ of which
does not directly relate to its existence.
Sovereignty
Every state is sovereign. It has _________________________ and
absolute _______________________ within its own territory and
decides its own ___________________ and domestic policies.
Territory
A state must be comprised of _____________________—territory with
known and recognized _______________________________.
Government
Every state has a government — that is, it is politically
_______________________________.
Origins of the State
1.
2.
3.
4.
The Force Theory
a. The force theory states that one ______________________ or a small group took ____________________ of an area and forced
all within it to _________________________ to that person’s or group’s __________________________.
The Evolutionary Theory
a. The evolutionary theory argues that the ____________________ evolved ___________________ out of the early ________________.
The Divine Right Theory
a. The theory of divine right holds that _____________ created the state and that God gives those of _________________ birth
a “____________________ right” to rule.
The Social Contract Theory
a. The social contract theory argues that the state arose out of a ___________________________ act of _______________ people.
The Purpose of Government
The main purposes of government are described in the Preamble of the Constitution of the United
States:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect _________________, establish ______________________, insure
domestic ____________________________________, provide for the common ________________________, promote the general
______________________, and secure the Blessings of ________________________ to ourselves and our ______________________, do
__________________________ and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
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SECTION
2 Forms of Government
Classifying Governments
Governments can be classified by _________________ different _____________________________:
1. _______________ can _________________________ in the governing process?
2. The _________________________ distribution of the governmental ___________________ within the ___________________________.
3. The relationship between the _______________________ (lawmaking) and the ________________________ (law-executing) branches of
the government.
Classification by Who Can Participate
Democracy
1.
2.
3.
In a democracy, supreme _____________________ authority rests with the ___________________________.
A ____________________ democracy exists where the ________________ of the people is translated into law _____________________ by
the people themselves.
In an _____________________________ democracy, a small group of persons, ____________________ by the people to act as their
________________________________________, expresses the ___________________________ will.
Dictatorship
1.
2.
3.
A dictatorship exists where those who ___________________ cannot be held __________________________ to the will of the people.
An ____________________________ is a government in which a _______________________ person holds ___________________ political power.
An _________________________ is a government in which the power to rule is held by a _______________, usually self-appointed elite.
1.
Unitary Government- A unitary government has all powers held by a ______________________, central agency.
Classification by Geographic Distribution of Power
2.
3.
Confederate Government- A confederation is an _________________________ of _______________________________ states.
Federal Government- A federal government is one in which the powers of government are ______________________ between
a _________________________________ government and several _____________________ governments. An authority superior to both the
central and local governments makes this ___________________________________ on a _______________________________ basis.
Classification by the Relationship between Legislative and Executive Branches
Forms of Government
1.
2.
Presidential Relationship- Voters elect _______________________ and Chief ____________________________ who is part of Executive
Branch. Both branches are ______________________________ and _____________________________.
Parliamentary Relationship- Voters elect the _______________________. Chief Executive is chosen from the _____________________.
SECTION
3 Basic Concepts of Democracy
Foundations
The American concept of democracy rests on these basic notions:
1. A recognition of the ___________________________ worth and ____________________ of every _______________________;
2. A respect for the _________________________ of _______________ persons;
3. A faith in _______________________ rule and an insistence upon ____________________________ rights;
4. An _____________________________ of the necessity of ________________________________; and
5. An ___________________________ upon the ________________________ possible degree of individual ___________________________.
Democracy and the Free Enterprise/Market/ Capitalist System
1.
2.
3.
The free enterprise system is an economic system characterized by ___________________ or corporate ownership of
__________________ goods; investments that are determined by private _____________________ rather than by ____________________
control; and determined in a __________________ market.
Decisions in a free enterprise system are determined by the _________________________________________________________.
An economy in which private enterprise exists in ________________________________ with a considerable amount of government
______________________________ and promotion is called a __________________________ economy.
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Democracy and the Internet
1.
2.
3.
Democracy demands that the people be widely _____________________________ about their government.
Theoretically, the Internet makes _______________________ participation in democratic process ________________ than ever before.
However, all data on the World Wide Web is not necessarily ______________________, and the long-term effects of the Internet
on democracy have yet to be determined.
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2
Origins of American Government, p. 27-59
1 Our Political Beginnings
Basic Concepts of Government
The English colonists in America brought with them ______________ main concepts:
1. The need for an ___________________ social system, or government.
2. The idea of _______________________ government, that is, that government should not be all-powerful.
3. The concept of ____________________________ government—a government that serves the will of the ________________________.
Important English Documents
The way our government works today can be traced to important documents in history:
1. Magna Carta (1215)- Gave British _________________________ certain rights
2. English Bill of Rights (1689)- increased __________________ and expanded them to ________________________ people.
3. Virginia Bill of Rights (1776)- written when colonists still considered themselves __________________________ citizens.
The Thirteen Colonies
There were three types of colonies in North America: royal, proprietary, and charter.
1.
2.
3.
The royal colonies were ruled _____________________ by the English monarchy.
The King granted _____________________________ to people in North America, who then formed ___________________________ colonies.
The __________________________ colonies were mostly self-governed, and their charters were granted to the ______________________.
SECTION
2 The Coming of Independence
British Colonial Policies
1.
2.
3.
Until the _____________________, the colonies were allowed a great deal of ___________________ in their governments by the English
monarchy.
In ___________________, King ___________________ III imposed new __________________ and laws on the colonists.
The colonists started a ___________________________, proposed an annual ________________________, and began to _____________________.
Growing Colonial Unity
Early Attempts
In _______________, several New England settlements formed the New England ______________________________.
A confederation is a joining of several groups for a common purpose.
The Albany Plan
In _______________, Benjamin __________________________ proposed the Albany Plan of ___________________, in which an annual
congress of ______________________________ (representatives) from each of the 13 colonies would be formed.
The Stamp Act Congress
1.
2.
In ________________, a group of colonies sent delegates to the Stamp Act Congress in ____________________________.
These delegates prepared the Declaration of ___________________ and ______________________ against British policies and sent
it to the king.
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The Continental Congresses
First Continental Congress
1. The colonists sent a Declaration of Rights to King George III.
2. The delegates urged each of the colonies to refuse all _________________ with England until British tax and trade
___________________________ were __________________________, or recalled.
Second Continental Congress
1.
2.
In ___________________, each of the 13 colonies sent representatives to this gathering in _____________________________.
The Second Continental Congress served as the first _______________________ of the United States from 1776 to ____________.
1.
2.
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.
Between 1776 and 1777, most of the _____________________ adopted ___________________________ instead of charters.
1.
2.
3.
4.
_____________________ sovereignty- Government by ________________________ of the governed.
Limited Government- _______________________ on government _____________________________.
Civil Rights and Liberties- Certain __________________________ rights that government must ________________________.
Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances- Power ______________________ amongst 3 branches; each
____________________ can check the power of the other branches.
American Independence
Common Features of State Constitutions
SECTION
3 The Critical Period
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation established “a firm league of friendship” among the States.
1. Powers - Congress was given the power to declare ______________, deal with national _______________________ issues, and settle
________________________ among the States.
2. Obligations- The States promised to __________________ Congress, and to respect the laws of the other States. Most other
powers were ______________________ by each State.
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
One ______________ per state, regardless of ___________________.
Congress had no power to _______________.
Congress could not regulate foreign or interstate _________________________________.
No ____________________________ to enforce acts of Congress.
No national ______________________ system.
Amendment only with consent of ____________________ states.
_________________________ states (supermajority) needed to pass _______________________.
Articles only a “firm league of __________________________________”.
1.
2.
Representatives from Maryland and Virginia met at Mount Vernon, Virginia, in _____________ to discuss ________________ issues.
The meeting was so successful that the Virginia General Assembly requested a ____________________________ of all thirteen
States, which eventually became the Constitutional ______________________________ in Philadelphia.
A Call for a Stronger Government
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4 Creating the Constitution
Framers of the Constitution
1.
2.
3.
4.
James ________________________ was the co-author of the Articles of Confederation.
Gouverneur ___________________________ was a lawyer who helped develop the U.S. system of money.
Alexander _______________________________ was a lawyer who favored a strong ____________________________ government.
George _____________________________________ was the successful leader of the Continental _______________________.
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Different Constitutional Plans
The Virginia Plan
1. Three ________________________ of government
2. ________________________________ legislature
3. “National __________________________” and “National ______________________________”
The New Jersey Plan
1. _________________________________ Congress
2. ______________________________ representation for States of different sizes
3. More than _________________ federal executive
Constitutional Compromises
1.
2.
3.
The ______________________________________ Compromise
a. Delegates agreed on a bicameral Congress, one segment with ______________________________ representation for States,
and the other with representation ______________________________________ to the States’ populations.
The Three-Fifths Compromise
a. The Framers decided to count a ________________________ as three-fifths of a person when determining the
______________________________ of a State.
The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
a. Congress was forbidden from taxing _______________________ goods, and was not _____________________________ to act on
the slave trade for ____________ years.
Influences on and Reactions to the New Constitution
Influences
1. The Framers were familiar with the political writings of their time, such as works by Jean Jacques _________________________
and John _______________________.
2. They also were _______________________________, variously, by the Second Continental Congress, the Articles of Confederation
and __________________________ with their own State governments.
Reactions
1.
2.
When the Constitution was complete, the Framers’ opinions of their work varied. Some were disappointed, like George
______________________ of Virginia, who opposed the Constitution until his death in 1792.
Most agreed with Ben Franklin’s thoughts when he said,
a. “From such an assembly [of fallible men] can a ____________________________ production be expected? It…astonishes
me, Sir, to find this system ______________________________ so near to perfection as it does…”
SECTION
5 Ratifying the Constitution
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists
The Constitution was very ______________________________ at first, with some groups supporting it, and others ______________________ it.
1. Federalists thought that the Articles of Confederation were weak, and argued for the ____________________ of the Constitution.
2. __________________________________________ objected to the Constitution for many reasons, including the strong ____________________
government and the lack of a ______________________________________.
The Constitution is Ratified
1.
2.
3.
______________ States ratified the Constitution by June 21, 1788, but the new government needed the ratification of the
____________ States of __________________________________ and _______________________________.
Great ______________________ were held in both States, with Virginia ratifying the Constitution June 25, 1788.
New York’s ratification was _________________ fought. Supporters of the Constitution published a series of essays known as
_______________________________________.
Inaugurating the Government
1.
2.
The new Congress met for the first time on March 4, ________________________.
Congress finally attained a _____________________ (majority) on April 6 and counted the electoral votes. Congress found that
George Washington had been unanimously elected ____________________. He was inaugurated on April 30.
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3
The Constitution, p. 63-84
1 The Six Basic Principles
An Outline of the Constitution
1.
2.
3.
The Constitution sets out the basic __________________________ upon which government in the United States was built.
The Constitution is a fairly _______________________ document.
The Constitution is organized into ____________________ sections: the ______________________ and seven _____________________. The
original document is followed by ______________ amendments.
Articles of the Constitution
Section
Preamble
Article I
Article II
Article III
Article IV
Article V
Article VI
Article VII
Subject
States the ________________________ of the Constitution
Legislative branch
________________________________ branch
Judicial branch
______________________ among the States and with the National Government
________________________ the Constitution
National ____________________, ______________________ of national law, and oaths of office
_________________________________ the Constitution
Three of the Basic Principles
1.
2.
3.
The principle of popular __________________________ asserts that the people are the source of any and ___________ government
power, and government can __________________ only with the ________________________ of the governed.
The principle of limited government states that government is _______________________ in what it may do, and each
________________________ has rights that government ___________________________ take away.
______________________________ of powers is the principle in which the _____________________________, legislative, and
_________________________ branches of government are three _______________________________ and coequal branches of government.
More of the Basic Principles
1.
2.
3.
Checks and _____________________________ is the system that allows the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to check, or
_________________________, the actions of one another.
The principle of ___________________________ review consists of the power of a __________________ to determine the
________________________________________ of a governmental action.
Federalism is a system of government in which the powers of government are _____________________ between a
_____________________________ government and several ____________________ governments.
SECTION
2 Formal Amendment
Amending the Constitution
1.
2.
The Constitution provides for its own ________________________________—that is, for _______________________ in its written words.
Article V sets out _______________ methods for the proposal and _______________ methods for the ratification of constitutional
amendments, creating ______________ possible methods of __________________________ amendment.
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Formal Amendment Process
The four different ways by which amendments may be added to the Constitution are shown here:
1. Proposed by Congress, ___________ vote of both houses; ratified by 3/4 of state __________________________.
2. Proposed by ______________________, 2/3 vote of both houses; ratified by ______________ of state ______________________.
3. Proposed at national ____________________ requested by 2/3 of state legislatures; ratified by __________ of state
legislatures.
4. Proposed at national convention requested by _____________ of state legislatures; ratified by 3/4 of state
___________________________.
Amendments to the Constitution
Collectively, the first ___________ amendments are known as the ________________________________. They set out many of our basic
freedoms. Other __________ deal with _______________ rights, the power of the _______________________ government over the states,
_________________________ law.
SECTION
3 Informal Amendment
Informal Amendment Processes
The informal amendment process can take place by:
1. the passage of basic ___________________________________ by ___________________________; Ex:
2. actions taken by the _________________________________; Ex:
3. key decisions of the Supreme ______________________; Ex:
4. the activities of political ______________________; and Ex:
5. custom. Ex:
Executive Action and Court Decisions
1.
2.
Executive Action
a. Presidential actions have produced a number of important informal amendments, such as the use of the
_____________________ under the power of _____________________________ in chief.
b. An executive agreement is a ______________ made by the President directly with the _______________ of a foreign state.
Court Decisions
a. The nation’s courts, most importantly the United States Supreme Court, _______________________ and apply the
_____________________________ in many cases they hear.
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4
Federalism, p. 87-110
1 Federalism: The Division of Power
Why Federalism?
The Framers were dedicated to the concept of _____________________ government. They were convinced:
1. that governmental power poses a threat to individual ___________________________,
2. that therefore the exercise of governmental power must be _____________________________, and
3. that to ____________________ governmental power, as federalism does, is to ________________ it and so prevent its __________________.
Federalism Defined
Federalism is a ____________________ of government in which a written constitution __________________ the powers of government on
a ______________________________ basis between a central, or _______________________, government and several
_____________________________ governments, usually called _______________________ or provinces.
1. The Constitution provides for a _______________________ of powers, assigning certain powers to the National Government
and certain powers to the States.
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Powers of the National Government
The National Government is a government of _________________________ powers, meaning that it only has those powers delegated
(____________________________) to it in the Constitution. There are ___________________ types of delegated powers:
1. The expressed powers are those found ____________________ within the Constitution.
2. The _______________________________ powers are not expressly stated in the Constitution, but are reasonably
______________________, or implied by, the expressed powers.
3. The inherent powers belong to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign _________________
within the world community. There are few inherent powers, with an example being the National Government’s ability to
regulate _____________________________________.
Powers Denied to the National Government
Powers are denied to the National Government in _____________ distinct ways:
1. Some powers, such as the power to levy duties on __________________ or prohibit the freedom of religion, _____________________,
press, or assembly, are ______________________ denied to the National Government in the Constitution.
2. Also, some powers are denied to the National Government because the Constitution is ______________________ on the issue.
3. Finally, some powers are denied to the National Government because the _______________________ system does not intend the
National Government to carry out those functions.
The States
1.
2.
Powers Reserved to the States
a) The ____________ Amendment declares that the ______________________ are governments of reserved powers.
b) The reserved powers are those powers that the Constitution does _____________ grant to the __________________________
Government and does _______________, at the same time, __________________ to the States.
Powers Denied to the States
a) Just as the Constitution denies many powers the National Government, it also denies many powers to the States.
b) Powers denied to the States are denied in much the same way that powers are denied to the National Government;
both _________________________ and __________________________________________.
The Exclusive and Concurrent Powers
1.
2.
Exclusive Powers
a) Powers that can be exercised by the National Government ______________________ are known as the exclusive powers.
b) Examples of the exclusive powers are the National Government’s power to coin ______________________, to make
________________________ with foreign states, and to lay ________________________ (taxes) on imports.
Concurrent Powers
a) The concurrent powers are those powers that __________________ the National Government and the States
________________________ and exercise.
b) Some of the concurrent powers include the power to levy and collect __________________, to define ___________________ and
set __________________________________ for them, and to claim private _____________________________ for public use.
The Federal System and Local Governments
1.
2.
3.
There are more than ___________________ units of local government in the United States today.
Each of these local units is located within one of the _____________ States. Each State has created these ______________ through
its constitution and laws.
Local governments, since they are created by States, are exercising ________________ law through their own means.
The Division of Powers
The federal system determines the way that powers are divided and shared between the National and State governments.
1. National Powers- powers _____________________ to national government; EX:
2. Concurrent Powers- powers ___________________ by national and state governments; EX:
3. State Powers- powers _______________________ to the states; EX:
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The Supreme Law of the Land
The Supremacy Clause in the Constitution establishes the Constitution and United States laws as the “supreme Law of the
Land.”
1. When a national/federal law ___________________ with Constitution, the ___________________________ is supreme.
2. When a ______________________ law conflicts with national law, the ____________________________ law is supreme.
SECTION
2 The National Government and the 50 States
The Nation’s Obligations to the States
1.
2.
3.
Republican Form of Government
a) The Constitution requires the National Government to “guarantee to every State in this Union a
________________________________ Form of Government.”
Invasion and Internal Disorder
a) The National Government is also required to provide _______________________ of the States from foreign
_______________________, and aid in protecting against “domestic ___________________________” in the States.
Respect for Territorial Integrity
a) The National Government is constitutionally bound to respect the territorial integrity of each of the _____________________.
Admitting New States
1.
2.
3.
Only ___________________ has the power to admit new __________________ to the Union.
Congress first passes an _________________________ act, an act directing the people of the ______________________ to frame a
proposed ____________________ constitution.
If Congress agrees to Statehood after reviewing the submitted State constitution, it passes an act of
___________________________, an act creating the _____________ State.
Cooperative Federalism
Even though the basis of federalism is the division of powers between levels of government, there is still much cooperation
between them.
1. Federal Grants-in-Aid
a) Grants-in-aid programs are grants of federal _________________ or other resources to the States and/or their cities,
counties, and other ___________________ units.
2. Revenue Sharing
a) Revenue sharing, used between 1972 and 1987, gave an annual __________________ of federal tax _________________________
to the States and their local governments.
Federal Grants
1.
2.
3.
Categorical Grants are made for some specific, closely ___________________ purpose, such as school ____________________
programs or the _____________________________ of airports or water ________________________ plants. There are usually
__________________________, or “strings,” attached to regulate the use of these funds.
Block Grants are portions of money allocated to States to use for _______________________ purposes, such as health care, social
services, or _______________________. Block grants often are granted with __________________________ strings attached.
Project Grants are provided to States, localities, and sometimes private agencies that _______________________ for them. They
are used for a ______________________ of purposes ranging from _______________________ research to job ____________________________
and employment programs.
SECTION
3 Interstate Relations
Interstate Compacts
No State may enter into any ____________________, alliance, or __________________________. However, the States may, with the consent of
______________________________, enter into interstate ________________________—agreements among themselves and with
___________________________ states. More than 200 compacts are now in force, and range in a variety of uses from sharing
__________________________________ data to resource development and ________________________________.
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Full Faith and Credit
The Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution ensures that States ______________________________ the laws and, documents,
and court proceedings of the other _________________________.
There are _____________ exceptions to the clause though:
1. One State cannot _________________ another State’s ________________________ laws. And,
2. Full faith and credit need ________________ be given to certain ________________________ granted by one State to residents of
____________________________ State.
Extradition
1.
2.
3.
4.
Extradition is the legal process by which a ______________________ from ______________________ in one State is returned to that
State.
Extradition is ___________________ through Article IV, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution.
___________________________________ are the State executives that _________________________ the extradition process.
If a governor is _________________________________ to return a fugitive to a State, _________________________ courts can intervene and
______________________ that governor to do so.
Privileges and Immunities
1.
2.
3.
The Privileges and Immunities Clause provides that __________ State can draw ________________________________ distinctions
between its own ___________________________ and those persons who happen to live in _____________________ States.
States cannot, for example, pay lower ____________________________ benefits to ______________________ arrived residents than it
does to its long-term residents, Saens v. Roe, 1999.
However, States can draw ____________________________ distinctions between its own residents and those of other space, such
as __________________________ out-of-State residents higher ______________________ for State universities than
_________________________ residents.
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