Qualities of an Excellent Leader

GOVERNMENT IS AN INSTITUTION THROUGH WHICH A SOCIETY

MAKES AND ENFORCES PUBLIC POLICIES

What are public policies?

All the things a government decides to do

Legislative – Make LawsExecutive – Execute, enforce and administerJudicial – Interpret, determine meaning and settle disputes

3 JOBS OF GOVERNMENT

Political Spectrum

What does it mean to be a...

Gov'ts job...

Economy

Business

Extremist Ideologies

Origins of American Government

Greeks and Romans

 Greeks Democracy - Form of government in which people rule themselvesEach male had ability to participate and help make laws and policies

RomansRepublicPeople elect officials to represent them in government1 year terms

400-500 BC

ENLIGHTENMENT

A Period of European history of art and rebirth of Greek and Roman thought (da vinci, Michelangelo)

John LockeSeparation of Church and StateCannot force religion on people"Life Liberty and Property"

Jean-Jacques RousseauSocial ContractWe give up certain freedoms of the general good of all

Give up some freedoms for “The General Will”Voluntary actGov’t exists to serve the will of the people

SOCIAL CONTRACT

ENGLISH ORIGINS

Magna CartaKing is not above law1st document limiting power of King

English Bill of RightsSays Parliament (England's Congress) is more powerful then KingKing cannot change law without their approval

IDEAS FROM ENGLAND

Limited GovernmentGovernment is restricted in what it can doEach individual has rights the gov’t cannot take away

Representative Gov’tGov’t should be the will of the peoplePeople should have a say

COLONIAL ATTEMPTS AT GOVERNMENT

Mayflower CompactFundamental Orders of ConnecticutVirginia Assembly - 2 Houses - Council of State - Upper house, selected by governor - House of Burgesses - Selected by Colonists

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

1st attempt at a federal (national) government 1781Firm friendship between states

Positives of A of CProtected States RightsNo Strong Central Gov'tNorthwest Ordinance of 1787Creates system for bringing states into the unionPopulation of 60K, draft constitution, ask permission

Weaknesses of the Articles

Power to TaxRegulate commerce between statesRaise a militaryMake states obey (9/13)Make changes (amendments) (13/13)

ECONOMIC TROUBLE

England controls world trade - makes America go through themPlays each state against the othersStates in $$ trouble - print more money - inflation

SHAYS REBELLION

Farmers in Mass. rebel against high taxesAttack courts and shut them downResult - Proves A of C isn't working

Rip van winkle

US CONSTITUTION

BIG QUESTIONS!!Make small changes or totally re-write A of C?We need a leader - how much power should he/they have?What do we do with slaves?

Constitutional Convention - Philly 1787

How will the people be represented?

Option 1 - By PopulationVirginia Plan2 houses, each by populationSupported by big states

Option 2 - By equalityNew Jersey Plan1 house, each state gets equal votesSupported by smaller states

HMMMMMMMMM WHAT SHOULDWE DO??? ANYONE HAVE ANY GOOD IDEAS???????????

THE GREAT COMPROMISE

2 housesEqual votes in upper (Senate)Population in lower (House of Representatives)Slaves - 3/5 compromise3/5 slaves will be counted towards population

Approving the Constitution

NOT ALL AGREED WITH THE CONSTITUTION - MANY FELT IT DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF STATES AND PEOPLE

FederalistsPro-ConstitutionLiked the balance of powerFederalist PapersAnonymous

Anti-FederalistsAnti-ConstitutionToo much power in Central Gov'tNot enough personal liberties

Compromise

Bill of Rights

1st 10 Amendments (Changes) to the Constitution

1 - Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and redress2 - Right to bare arms3 - No Quartering4 - No illegal searches5 - Double jeopardy, testify against self, due process and eminent domain

6 - Speedy and public trial7 - Right to a jury in Civil suits8 - No cruel and unusual punishment or excessive bail9 - Gov't cannot take away any rights not in Con.10 - Anything not in the Constitution is up to the states

5 Principles of the Con.

1 - Popular Sovereignty2 - Limited Government3 - Checks and Balances4 - Judicial Review5 - Federalism

3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

Legislative Branch

Translate Public will into public policy through laws2 Houses - Senate and House of RepH of R - 25, 7 years a citizen, live in the stateSenate - 30, 9 years, live in state

Executive Branch

Administer Laws - Put them into practicePresident - 35, Natural born citizen, Resident for 14 years2, 4 yr terms (22nd amend.) - max is 10 years (FDR 12)Can Veto bills - overruled with 3/4 vote in congressImpeach - Bring charges against - twice, both not guilty

Roles of the President

Chief of State - Head of the CountryChief Executive - Boss of Exec BranchChief Diplomat - Foreign Policy LeaderCommander in Chief - Military leaderChief Legislator - Make policy for laws

Vice President

2 Constitutional dutiesTake over for PresidentBreak ties in the Senate“I am vice president. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything” – John Adams

“The most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived” – J.A.TR annoyed with the tinkling of the prisms of a chandelier in his study states: “Take it to the office of the Vice President. He doesn’t have anything to do. It will keep him awake.” – Still there today

Electoral College

System of voting for PresidentGives value to under-populated statesNumber of senators + number of Representatives from your state equal the amount of votes you getLeast is 3, most is California with 55Washington DC also gets 3 votes

Possibly Interesting Prez Facts

WASHINGTON - GENERALLINCOLN – LOSES ELECTION BUT GETS FAMOUSGRANT – FAILS OUT OF W.P. – GROCERY CLERKWILSON – PHD OF POLY SCI (JHU)TRUMAN – VP, SENATOR BUT WAS BANKRUPTCLINTON – SAX PLAYER, RHODES SCHOLAR, GOV.W BUSH – GOV, OWNER OF BASEBALL TEAM, SON OF PRES

Possibly Interesting Prez Facts

30 former soldiers12 generals17 governors4 sets of relatives14 formers vp’s16 senators19 house of reps

WASPsMALE2 WOMEN VP CANDIDATESMOSTLY PROTESTANTSJFK (RC)LIEBERMAN

PS Act (1967)25th AMENDMENT (1967)VP fills position of presidentWhat about disability?Reagan – removes tumor – Bush 1 pres for 8 hoursGarfield – 80 daysWilson - 7 monthsBush 2 - twice

Judicial Branch

A system of Courts to interpret the laws and settle disputesSupreme Court - Rules Constitutional or unconstitutional - Not guilty or not guilty

Supreme Court

9 JusticesServe Life terms - Why?Only see the most important cases each year

Chief – John RobertsHarvard Undergrad, Harvard LawAntonin ScaliaGeorgetown, Harvard lawAnthony KennedyStanford, Harvard LawClarence ThomasHoly Cross, Yale LawRuth Bader GinsbergCornell, Harvard Law, Columbia Law

Stephen BreyerStanford, Harvard law

Samuel AlitoPrinceton, Yale Law

Sonia SotomajorPrinceton, Yale Law

Elena KaganPrinceton, Harvard Law

Sandra Day O’Connor (R)David Souter (R)John Paul Stevens (R)

FUN FACT O’ THE DAY

4 born in NY including 3 in NYC2 born in Trenton, NJ2 from San Fran area of Cali1 Georgia