Introduction to Introduction to GovernmentGovernment

The “Preamble”The “Preamble”

““We the People of the United States, We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility [peace], provide domestic Tranquility [peace], provide for the common defence, promote for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity [future generations], do our Posterity [future generations], do ordain and establish this Constitution ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”for the United States of America.”

DemocracyDemocracy Word is from ancient Greek words Word is from ancient Greek words

demosdemos, meaning the people, and , meaning the people, and kratiakratia, meaning authority., meaning authority.

Citizen is any member of a political Citizen is any member of a political system in which the people have a system in which the people have a voice in their government.voice in their government.

A person who is not a U.S. citizen by A person who is not a U.S. citizen by birth can become a citizen through birth can become a citizen through the process of Naturalization the process of Naturalization

A government that is shaped by what A government that is shaped by what the people believe and what the the people believe and what the people do is called people do is called popular popular sovereigntysovereignty..

Government is a Government is a social institutionsocial institution that is created to hold the society that is created to hold the society together. together.

It does so by using informal rules and It does so by using informal rules and formal rules to govern society.formal rules to govern society.

Constitution of the United StatesConstitution of the United States

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers – Divided – Divided into 3 branches: Judicial, Executive into 3 branches: Judicial, Executive and Legislativeand Legislative

FederalismFederalism – sharing of powers – sharing of powers between the national government between the national government and the state governmentand the state government

BicameralBicameral – Legislative branch is – Legislative branch is divided into 2 sub-categories: Senate divided into 2 sub-categories: Senate and House of Representativesand House of Representatives

U.S Government compared to U.S Government compared to Georgia State GovernmentGeorgia State Government

Executive Branch: Executive Branch: PresidentPresident 4-year 4-year term; term; Vice-PresidentVice-President – elected 4-year term– elected 4-year term

Legislative Branch Legislative Branch (Congress): (Congress): Senate Senate 6-6-year term; year term; HouseHouse 2- 2-year termyear term

Judicial Branch (9 Judicial Branch (9 Supreme Court Judges): Supreme Court Judges): Appointed for life by Appointed for life by the president with the president with Senate confirmationSenate confirmation

Executive Branch: Executive Branch: GovernorGovernor 4-year 4-year term; term; Lt. Governor Lt. Governor 4-4-year termyear term

Legislative Branch Legislative Branch (General Assembly): (General Assembly): SenateSenate 2-year term; 2-year term; HouseHouse 2 –year term 2 –year term

Judicial Branch: Judicial Branch: Elected 4- or 6-year Elected 4- or 6-year termsterms

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Distribution of PowersDistribution of Powers

Powers Reserved Powers Reserved to the National to the National GovernmentGovernment

Shared PowersShared Powers Powers Reserved Powers Reserved to the Statesto the States

Authority to issue coins and Authority to issue coins and paper moneypaper money

Declaration of WarDeclaration of War

Set up a Post OfficeSet up a Post Office

Establish rules for CitizenshipEstablish rules for Citizenship

Power to regulate business Power to regulate business between statesbetween states

Make treaties with other Make treaties with other nationsnations

Maintain an army and navyMaintain an army and navy

Other powers that Congress Other powers that Congress deems “necessary and deems “necessary and proper”proper”

Power to levy (set) and collect Power to levy (set) and collect taxestaxes

Establish courtsEstablish courts

Regulate public utilities,Regulate public utilities,

Take property for public useTake property for public use

Build highwaysBuild highways

Define crimesDefine crimes

Create local governmentsCreate local governments

Regulate marriage and Regulate marriage and divorcedivorce

Operate public schools and Operate public schools and collegescolleges

License occupations and License occupations and businessesbusinesses

Conduct electionsConduct elections

Regulate political partiesRegulate political parties

Protect persons and propertyProtect persons and property

Regulate traffic on public Regulate traffic on public roadsroads

Police powerPolice power: pass laws to : pass laws to protect public health, morals, protect public health, morals, safety and welfare safety and welfare

Political PartiesPolitical PartiesDEMOCRATDEMOCRAT REPUBLICANREPUBLICAN

SymbolSymbol DonkeyDonkey ElephantElephant

PhilosophyPhilosophy LiberalLiberal ConservativeConservative

Economic Economic IssuesIssues

Favor Favor minimum minimum wages and wages and progressive progressive taxation i.e. taxation i.e. higher tax higher tax rates for rates for higher income higher income brackets brackets

Believe taxes Believe taxes shouldn't be shouldn't be increased for increased for anyone anyone (including the (including the wealthy) and wealthy) and that wages that wages should reflect should reflect free market. free market.

Political PartiesPolitical PartiesDEMOCRATDEMOCRAT REPUBLICANREPUBLICAN

Military IssuesMilitary Issues Decreased Decreased spendingspending

Increased Increased spendingspending

Death PenaltyDeath Penalty Support for the Support for the death penalty is death penalty is strong among strong among democrats but democrats but opponents are a opponents are a substantial substantial fraction. fraction.

A large majority A large majority of Republicans of Republicans support the support the death penalty. death penalty.

Social and Social and Human IdeasHuman Ideas

Community and Community and social social responsibility responsibility based based

Individual rights Individual rights and justice and justice based based