The American System of Government

Focus Question:

•How do these items symbolizethe U.S. government?

The U.S. Government System

•Built on a number of principles▫Designed to protect natural rights

•But how to insure the government does not become too powerful?

Division of Powers

•Government Power is divided within the FEDERAL System▫Power is divided between the states and

national government Enumerated Powers Reserved Powers Concurrent Powers

•Form a system to check each level of government

Enumerated Powers

•Powers directly given (delegated) to the National Government▫Focus on issues facing the nation▫Include the “Supremacy Clause”▫Include various “Implied Powers”

Enumerated Powers include

•Coin Money•Operate Post

Offices•Regulate Interstate

Trade•Conduct Foreign

Relations

•Declare War and Make Peace

•Maintain the military

•Grant Patents•Immigration Laws

•And More!

Reserved Powers

•Powers held only by the states•Focus on local issues

▫Allow states to become “Laboratories of Democracy”

▫Reflect a fear of the centralgovernment

Reserved Powers Include!:

•Conduct Elections•Family Law•Education

•Provide for local government

•Regulate Commerce

•And more!!!

Concurrent Powers

•Powers shared by both ▫Powers needed to operate a government▫Keep the system running

Concurrent Powers Include

•Operate Courts•Levy Taxes•Borrow Money•Pay Bills

•Build Roads•Provide for Public

Safety•And More!!

Divided Government

•By dividing governmental powers, a system of checks and balances protects our liberty▫Prevents one level of the federal system

from gaining too much power

•The ultimate check is the people (Popular Sovereignty)

Summary

•In a short, two to three sentence response, describe what you learned in class today.