U2C8L1: Our American Government

Question 1

Government

Answer 1

The people and system for exercising authority over a community.

Question 2

Constitution

Answer 2

A document that descripts the nature, functions, and limits of a government or other institution.

Question 3

Federal Government

Answer 3

The level of government that makes and enforces laws for the entire country.

Question 4

Direct Democracy

Answer 4

A governmental system in which all the citizens meet to debate government matters and vote.

Question 5

Representative Democracy

Answer 5

Governmental systems where citizens choose a smaller group to represent them, make laws, and govern on their behalf.

Question 6

What are 3 functions of the government?

Answer 6

• Security and Public Safety: Help solve conflict and prevent conflict from arising. Also enforces laws and protects from outside forces with Homeland Security and TSA.
• Providing Public Services: Creates libraries, schools, hospitals, and builds bridges/delivers mail. Keeps public healthy and safe like giving licenses for stuff and check for safety problems.
• Guiding the Community: Develops public policy (course of government action to achieve community goals) and sets laws. Makes sure to follow budget and communicates with other countries for trade, travel, and military pacts.

Question 7

What are the 3 levels of government?

Answer 7

1. Federal: enforces laws for the entire country, collects taxes and sends money to states for needs.
2. State: each state has one and they make laws for people in that state, like maintaining roads, making voting rules, and managing state lands/parks; state/federal laws are sometimes different.
3. Local: counties, cities, and towns that have leaders like mayors and representatives in charge of schools, maintenance, garbage collections, recycling, and so on.

Question 8

What are the different types of democracy?

Answer 8

• Direct democracy (All meet to debate matters, like in Athens, Greece more than 2,500 years ago. This worked because Athens was small and everyone were citizens.)
• Representative democracy (Citizens elect representatives to vote for them, make laws, and govern on their behalf.)

Question 9

What are the 5 fundamental principles our democracy is built on?

Answer 9

• Rule of Law (all people have to follow the law, including the President and other officials)
• Limited Government (the government only can do things that it has the power to do from the people)
• Consent of the Governed (citizens vote officials into office and indirectly legitimize them to give them power)
• Individual Rights (government protects the rights, like right to religion)
• Representative Government (elect people to make laws on their behalf, and this means majority rule while trying to protect the individual/minority rights)

Question 10

Explain what Abraham Lincoln said about our democracy.

Answer 10

He said it is a “government of the people, by the people, for the people”.
- Of the people: people who lead are citizens themselves
- By the people: they give government their authority by acting through their representatives; gov. only has power because the people allow it to
- For the people: the government serves people and makes US a better place to live; exists to take care of the people

Question 11

Preamble

Answer 11

The opening section of the US Constitution, which describes the general purpose of the government.

Question 12

Articles

Answer 12

The part of the US Constitution that describes how the government shall work.

Question 12

Amendments

Answer 12

Changes to the US Constitution.

Question 13

Explain the Preamble of the US Constitution.

Answer 13

Opening section that sets general purpose of government and why the Constitution was written. Also states 6 purpose of the government.
- “We the People of the United States…do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”
- To form a more perfect Union: unite states more effectively for good operation
- To establish Justice: create system of fair laws and courts for equal treatment
- To insure domestic Tranquility: maintain peace/order and keep citizens safe from harm
- To provide for the common Defense: protect country from outside attacks
- To promote the general Welfare: help people live happy/healthy lives
- To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity: guarantee rights of citizens

Question 14

What did the US Constitution create?

Answer 14

• A representative legislature
• The office of the President
• A system of courts
• A process to modify the Constitution when and if the people saw the need for change in how the government carried out its responsibilities

Question 15

What are the 3 parts of the Consitution?

Answer 15

1. Preamble
2. Articles
3. Amendments

Question 16

Explain the Articles of the US Constitution.

Answer 16

They explain how the government should work.
I: Explains how legislative branch works (has Congress, Senate, and House of Representatives) that make laws, declare war, and controls taxes.
II: Explains how executive branch has President, advisors, and departments to enforce laws.
III: Explains how judicial branch has Supreme Court/Federal Judicial Center to hold the judicial power.
IV: Explains states have to respect each others’ laws/court decisions and the process of making new states.
V: States how Constitution should be made with amendments.
VI: Explains that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land; if state courts disagree with federal law the federal law wins.
VII: Says that the Constitution should take effect when 9 states ratified it.

Question 17

Explain the Amendments of the US Constitution.

Answer 17

Has 27 amendments and the first 10 are called the Bill of Rights (1791).
1. Protects freedom of press, religion, speech, assembly, and petition of government.
2. Protects the right to own guns.
3. Says military cannot force homeowners to give them room/board.
4. Protects people from unreasonable searches/seizures.
5. Protects from being committed of a crime once or twice, no need to testify against yourself, loss of property.
6. Guarantees right to speedy trial/impartial jury, witnesses, and a lawyer.
7. Jury trial is allowed in federal civil court cases.
8. Punishments should be fair, not cruel.
9. Other rights aside from those listed exist.
10. Any power not granted to federal government is given to the people.

Question 18

What are the steps to amending the Constitution?

Answer 18

1a. Vote of 2/3 of members in both houses.
1b. National Convention called by 2/3 of 50 state legislatures.
2a. Approved by 3/4 of 50 state legislatures.
2b. Approved by 3/4 of ratifying conventions held in 50 states.

Question 19

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

Answer 19

States that Congress can make laws that are necessary and proper to carry out duties, but can also use implied powers not listed in the Constitution.

Question 20

What is Interpretation Through Court Decisions?

Answer 20

States that Supreme Court has final authority and has interpreted the Constitution in many ways.

Question 21

What is Interpretation Through Congressional and Presidential Actions?

Answer 21

States that Congress has interpreted Constitution differently through impeaches, and the President has interpreted the Constitution differently by going into office untimely, making decisions without Congressional approval, and used executive orders to change the effect of laws or add to them, not to the laws themselves.

Question 22

What is Interpretation Through Customs?

Answer 22

Interpretations have changed based on customs that have been developed, like how political parties have not been listed in the Constitution but have had a big effect on the population and election.

Question 23

What have courts ruled regarding privacy and interpretation of the Constitution?

Answer 23

Privacy is protected from…
- Intrusion upon seclusion or solitude, or into private affairs
- Public disclosures of embarrassing private facts
- Publicity which places a person in a false light in the public eye
- Appropriation of name or likeness