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Copyright Starline Press, Inc Government 1207 Unit Test 1 www.starlinepress.com S.7.23.13.IIE.P.23. VII. 13

American Government Social Studies 1207

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Unit Objectives………………………………………………..………..……..2

Vocabulary……………………………………………………….……….……2

Character Trait……………………………………………………………...…3

Chapter 1 – The Influence of History

Settling the New Country ..….…..….…………………..…..…….……..3

The Revolutionary War………….………………………….……….……7

Philosophical Influences ……………………………………………….11

The Constitution and Bill of Rights ……………………………………13

Character Activity ..………………….…………………..…….…….…16

Chapter 1 Review ..………………………………………………….…17

Chapter 2 – The Influence of Many Governments

The State Government …....………………………………...…….…18

The County …………….……………………………………………...21

Cities, Towns and Villages …..…………………….……..………....22

Character Activity ……..………………………………..………..…...25

Chapter 2 Review……………..…………………………...……….…26

Chapter 3 – Federalism

Defining Federalism…..….…..……………………..………………….27

The Federal System …….……………………………………………..29

National Power …………………………………………………………32

Character Activity …………..……………………………...……….….35

Chapter 3 Review……………..…………………………………….….36

Unit 1207 Review………………….…………………………..……..…37


OBJECTIVES

Learn the historical influences on the American government

Understand how the federal government is a blending of many governments

Understand the federal system

VOCABULARY Attorney General – Represents the state in court Bill – A proposed law Circuit Court – The second highest federal court City Manager – An individual hired to run the business of a city County – A subdivision of the state County Seat – A town or city where the county government offices are located Division – The name for counties in Alaska Due Process of Law – The same fair rules are followed in every criminal case District Court – Lowest level federal court House of Representatives – House of Congress based on a state’s population Impeached – Accuse a public official of misconduct in office and bring them to trial Parish – The name for counties in Louisiana Precedent – Similar court cases from the past Public Works – Government department responsible for highways, bridges, parks, and public buildings Secretary of State – Responsible for keeping the state records Senate – House of Congress with two representatives from each state Special District – An area that provides a special service State Treasurer – Responsible for managing state money Supreme Court – Highest court in the United States

CHARACTER QUALITY

Creative – Using my mind to bring something new into being.

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.

Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) US government official Comment to President Harry Truman; in "Newsweek," 20 Aug 1990.


What does the statement made by Einstein, on the previous page, mean to you? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 1: The Influence of History

Introduction

Men, women, and children came to the New World from England, Germany, Holland, Ireland, and Scotland looking for freedom, adventure, and economic opportunity. They settled in colonies along the East Coast of the new country. These original thirteen colonies in America were Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Each colony had its own government. The King and Parliament tried to control the colonies because most of those who came to the new country were English. There were weaknesses in the colonial governments but they were better than many of the governments of their time. Many individuals, beliefs, and events influenced the governmental system of the United States, as we know it today. In this chapter we will look at some of those influential people and the events that together built this great country.

Section 1: Settling the New Country

The London Company sent three ships in December 1606. In May 1607, 101 men and 4 boys landed at the mouth of the Powhatan’s River. They built a fort in a month on the banks of the river. The first settlement in the New World was named after King James I. It was called Jamestown. At first things went well then the heat came along with swarms of insects. There were also conflicts between the colonists. John Smith, one of the new colonists, seemed to be the only one who could keep peace in the colony and with the Indians.

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In 1609, more settlers came to Jamestown. They encountered a hurricane. Only 8 of the nine ships arrived at Jamestown. There were 400 people on the ships and added to the 104 colonists, already there, brought the population to a little over 500. That winter tragedy struck and only 12% of the colony survived, the rest died from the plague and starvation. In May 1610 there were only 60 settlers still alive. John Rolfe began growing tobacco in 1612. This was a turning point for the colony. In 1614 the first shipment of tobacco was sold in England. Separatists who had broken away from the Church of England immigrated to Amsterdam to escape harassment and religious persecution. Holland did not regulate religion so they found religious freedom there. They grew discouraged in Holland because of economic problems and the Dutch influence on their children. The decision was made to immigrate to America. The separatists negotiated a financial agreement with London iron merchant Thomas Weston to help them go to America. A small group of them went to England where they joined other Separatists. The group left Plymouth, England, September 1620 aboard the Mayflower. They were headed for Virginia where they had a land patent from the Virginia Company. After 65 days at sea they arrived at Cape Cod in New England. Historians refer to these individuals as the Pilgrims. These individuals were followers of the beliefs of John Calvin who disagreed with the teachings of the Catholics. He brought order out of chaos, mandatory garbage collection and instituted mandatory education when he was the city manager in Geneva. These individuals later were part of the Dutch Reformed Church and Presbyterian Church. The term Pilgrim was first used by William Bradford to describe the Separatists who were leaving Holland. Bradford became the second governor of Plymouth Colony in 1621. He was governor of the colony for 30 years. The Pilgrims and other colonists came to the New World looking for economic and political liberty as well as religious freedom. They were intelligent, creative people from all different backgrounds with a strong sense of independence. Some were poor, uneducated farmers while others were well educated, wealthy merchants. All of them were looking for some kind of freedom. Before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Harbor they drew up the Mayflower Compact because they were unable to reach the land they had contracted. They had no legal right to settle in the area so they wrote the Compact, which was a formal agreement to abide by “just and equal laws.” It bound them to live in a civil society. With this Compact they created their own government. It was signed by 41 of the 102 passengers. The Mayflower Compact was the first written law of the new country. The Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Harbor in December. It was winter and many of them died of disease or exposure while they were trying to build their settlement.


Those who survived hunted, fished, and learned from the Indians how to grow maize. Ten years later Puritan immigrants came to Massachusetts Bay. They had a grant from King Charles I to build a colony. These immigrants brought their charter with them. This charter provided that the Puritans would be the main political and religious power in the colony. Even though the Puritans were influenced by Calvin they were not united on every issue of religious doctrine. The Puritan rule was very rigid. The people began to question and protest its authority. One of the men who objected to these rigid laws was Roger Williams. He was forced to leave the colony. He bought land in what is now Rhode Island. This was the first colony where there was separation of church and state with religious freedom. Before long others were venturing into new areas. Settlements began developing in other parts of New England as more and more people came searching for freedom.

The Puritans began leaving Massachusetts looking for more opportunities. Many went to the Connecticut River Valley in search of good land for farming. As they spread out they established new communities and new governments. Most of these communities eliminated church membership as a requirement for voting and participating in the government. The beginnings of political parties were forming. In some areas there was one party or set of beliefs. In other areas there was more diversity and tolerance among the settlers. More people immigrated to the New World looking for freedom and opportunities. Most of the immigrants were English but there were also Germans, Dutch, Irish, and Scotch-Irish. A majority of the settlers were from the middle class and were adventuresome hard workers. Even though these settlers were a long distance from England, the king and the British parliament still attempted to govern the colonies. Many of the colonists began to feel that the British government was becoming tyrannical. These feelings grew as the English government began making more and more restrictive laws about what


the colonists could and could not do. They also imposed taxes on the colonists. As the British government increased its authority on the colonies, they became very indignant about the British political corruption and the pressures being put on them. The first significant act that planted the seeds of rebellion in the colonies was the Proclamation of 1763 signed by King George III. This act prohibited settlements west of the Appalachians. Soon after the Proclamation was signed, the Sugar Act was passed. This act increased the duties or taxes on imported sugar, coffee, wine, and indigo dye. A year later the Currency Act was passed. This prohibited the colonies from using paper money. These taxes and laws were the beginning of colonial resistance to the British crown. The result of this resistance was the Revolutionary War. 1. Name the original 13 colonies in America? ______________________________

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2. What was the first settlement in the new country? ________________________ 3. What was the first crop that was exported to England? ____________________ 4. What was the Compact that created the first American government? _________

________________________________________________________________ 5. What were the Pilgrims and Puritans and other settlers looking for when they

came to the New World? __________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

6. Who started the first colony where there was separation of church and state? ________________________________________________________________

7. Why did the settlers begin to feel the British government was becoming tyrannical? _______________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

8. What significant act did King George III sign, which caused the people to begin resisting British rule? _______________________________________________

Scoring: Score #1-8 now.


Section 2: The Revolutionary War

The beginnings of the revolution can be found in the economic, social, and political conditions of the mid 1700s. The American economy was growing and the colonies were becoming confident and independent. Another significant element was the lack of a rigid class system. They held strong beliefs about the importance of individual freedom and were willing to make any sacrifice, including death, for this freedom. There was no one act or event, which led to the beginning of the American Revolution. It was really a series of events:

The Proclamation of 1763 – denied settlement west of the Appalachians

The Sugar Act of 1763 – increased duties on imports such as sugar, coffee, wine, and indigo dye

The Currency Act of 1764 – prohibited issuing paper money

The Stamp Act of 1765 – the first direct tax paid to the King

The Stamp Act repealed in 1766

The Declaratory Act – said the British government had absolute authority over the colonies

The Townshend Revenue Acts in 1767 – tax on paper, tea, glass, lead, and paints

The Boston Massacre in 1770 – British soldiers killed 5 and injured 6 colonists who were harassing them

The Townshend Acts repealed in 1770 – the taxes were removed from everything except tea

The Tea Act in 1773 - continued taxation on tea and gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea

The Boston Tea Party in 1773 – colonists dumped tea from British ships into the harbor

The Coercive Acts in 1774 – ended self-rule in Massachusetts

The First Continental Congress in 1774 – every colony was represented and the Declaration of Resolves was passed. It stated the rights of the colonists and denied British rule over the colonies.

The New England Restraining Act of 1775 – said the colonies could only trade with England

Patrick Henry’s speech in 1775 saying, “give me liberty or give me death.” The Revolutionary War began in 1775 when British soldiers encountered Massachusetts’s militiamen. The British soldiers were on their way to destroy a weapons depot in Concord, Massachusetts. Someone fired a shot. No one knows whether it was British soldiers or the militiamen who fired that shot but it was the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. The Second Continental Congress appointed George Washington General of the Continental Army that year.


In 1776 the 13 colonies formed their own governments under the authority of the Continental Congress. The Declaration of Independence was written and signed that year. This document was then sent to the King. The costs of the war increased but in 1776 the colonists were able to get financial backing from France. Two years later France joined the colonies in the war against Britain. There was no national government up to this time only state governments. Many of the colonial leaders began to realize that for the war effort to continue and the colonies to be victorious a national government was needed. A national government would be able to unite the colonies. In 1777 the Continental Congress passed the Articles of Confederation. These Articles created the first national government for the 13 colonies. The Articles of Confederation gave some direction to the country during wartime. The Articles stated that each state would retain their “sovereignty, freedom, and independence.” Final power was given to the states. Under the Articles, the Continental Congress could declare war, negotiate peace, and maintain the military. Congress also had the responsibility of foreign affairs. The Articles did not provide for a leader of the government or give the Continental Congress the ability to collect taxes, regulate commerce, or enforce laws. In 1781 the Articles of Confederation were finally adopted by all of the 13 colonies. This was the same year that the British Parliament voted to negotiate peace and end the war. The peace treaty was signed in Paris in 1782. Two years later in 1784 the war was finally officially over and the British troops were gone. The new nation entered a period of unstable economic and political conditions. The economy was suffering and the British were charging high tariffs on items that were exported from America to England. There was unrest in the new nation. Government authority was limited under the Articles of Confederation. With the war ended, leaders began to realize that the Articles had some weaknesses. There was no provision for an executive branch. This meant that there was no leader or spokesman for the nation. The lack of leadership became evident when John Adams was sent to England as an Ambassador to represent the trade interests of America. The states were not united. It was impossible for one individual to negotiate trade for each state. Each state had its own taxes and currency. The Articles had no provision that regulated trade between the states and there was no national currency. Commerce within the country or with other nations was difficult. Congress did not have money to finance the military or pay the war debts. There was no provision to raise money for the expenses of government.


Another weakness of the Articles was the lack of a judiciary branch of government. The lack of national legal authority resulted in disputes between states as well as individuals within the states. There was no way to balance law and order. In 1786 hundreds of farmers led by Captain Daniel Shays rebelled against the state of Massachusetts. These farmers were revolting against the judgments for debts. These judgments were putting farmers in prison because they could not pay the mortgages on their property or the high land taxes. This is referred to in history as Shay’s Rebellion. The farmers were attempting to solve their problems by revolting. George Washington and other leaders of the new nation began to talk about the need of a stronger national government that would bring peace and order to the new nation. To survive the states needed to be united. Congress decided to organize a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation. Delegates were appointed by each state to attend this convention. It began in May of 1787 and lasted for the whole summer. The result was the Constitution. This document came after much debate and dissension among the delegates. There were several issues where they had trouble agreeing. One of the main issues they were trying to decide was the amount of representation that each state would have. Connecticut delegates proposed that each state should have equal representation in the Senate and be represented in proportion to its population in the House of Representatives. This became known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise and was adopted by the delegates of the convention. The compromise gave the larger states more representatives but gave the smaller states power as well. Another issue that required compromise among the delegates of the convention was slavery. The northern states were against slavery and the southern states felt that slaves were necessary. The Three-Fifths Compromise resolved this issue. This compromise counted three-fifths of the slaves, in a state, for population and taxation. They also agreed that Congress would not try to regulate slave trade for at least 20 years. The Executive Compromise stated that the new government’s leader would be a president. Because of their experience under the British Crown they decided there would be limits on the president’s power. The term of the president would be four years and Congress was given the power to remove the president from office. They also decided that citizens would choose electors that formed the Electoral College. These electors would choose the president. The Constitution was finally signed by 39 of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787. It was decided that as soon as nine states had approved the Constitution they would begin to organize the new government. The


delegates took the Constitution back to each of their states. The states then held special conventions to discuss and vote on the Constitution. Delaware on December 7, 1787, was the first state to approve the Constitution. The ninth state, New Hampshire, approved it on June 21, 1788. After Virginia approved it on June 25, 1788 and New York on July 26, the leaders began organizing the new government. February 4, 1789 the electors from the states named George Washington as the first president of the United States. The first Congress met in New York City March 4, 1789. Two states, North Carolina and Rhode Island, would not approve the Constitution or participate in the new government. They wanted a bill of rights added to the Constitution. James Madison suggested 15 amendments to the Constitution. Congress agreed to 12 of these amendments and the states accepted 10 of the 12 by December 1791. These amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, became part of the Constitution. The colonies had been under British rule which was a unitary system of government. This means the central government has the right to delegate or recall power. The Articles of Confederation created a confederate system of government, which is an association of states established for dealing with critical issues. With the signing of the Constitution a federal system of government was created. This means any changes to government must be decided by the people. Government only has the powers specifically delegated to it and power is divided between the national and state governments. Some have called America the “first new nation.” America is the first nation in history that derived its power from the people. Individuals had established this nation because of their strong beliefs in freedom and equality. These beliefs can be seen in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence…”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these rights are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” It also stated that government should carry out the wishes of the people. The balance between the classical republican concern with the promotion of the public good and the classical liberal concern with protecting individual rights can be seen in these documents. There is a blending of these beliefs in the Constitution, and Declaration of Independence.

1. What was the economic condition of the nation in the mid 1700s at the beginning

of the revolution? _________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

2. List at least five events that led up to the beginning of the Revolutionary War in 1775. ___________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________


3. What event in Concord, Massachusetts started the fighting? ________________ ________________________________________________________________

4. What country gave financial backing and joined in the fighting against Britain? ________________________________________________________________

5. What were the four weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? ____________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

6. What was another name for the Great Compromise? ______________________ ________________________________________________________________

7. What was the Great Compromise? ____________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

8. What was the Executive Compromise? _________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

9. Which was the first state to approve the Constitution? _____________________ 10. Which two states refused to approve the Constitution? _____________________

________________________________________________________________ 11. What was added to the Constitution for these two states? __________________

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Section 3: Philosophical Influences

Two English philosophers, Sir Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, strongly influenced the writers of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. These two gentlemen addressed the question, “what would the world be like if there were no government?” Sir Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679) was commissioned by the King to write a book defending the monarchy. His book, Leviathan, was written in 1651. When Hobbes was writing Leviathan the monarchy was abusing its power and losing its credibility with the people. The middle class was growing unhappy with the abuse of power by the King. In the book he stated that the “state of nature” was a time in which the life-sustaining needs and passions of individuals decided their interactions with each other. This “state of nature” was the time before there were governments. He thought that the violence and uncertainty of life in the “state of nature” motivated mankind to form governments. Hobbes believed that mankind gave up his sovereignty permanently when government was formed, and that the right to revolt was lost. He claimed that people in the state of nature were the original source of sovereignty. Hobbes book was read by many in America.


Another person had influence the writers was John Locke (1632 – 1704). He wrote Second Treatise of Civil Government. He believed that the purpose of government was to provide enough protection of life, liberty, and property so that people could enjoy these freedoms. Hobbes and Locke both agreed that government was necessary to rescue mankind from the “state of nature.” Locke went further with the argument by saying that the people were the ones who granted authority to the government as long as government provided protection from the dangers of the “state of nature.” Locke argued that the people were the source of government’s power. He emphasized individual rights. He thought that government only had authority as long as it protected the rights of the people. These thoughts were strongly supported by those who framed the Declaration of Independence. Both of these philosophers were widely read by the citizens of America. Colonial leaders were looking for a way to balance liberty and order. The founding fathers wanted a government that would protect the people, give them structure, and provide them the freedoms they believed in so strongly. They believed the answers to many of their questions were in the writings of Hobbes and Locke. Locke’s influence can be seen in the opening statement of the Declaration of Independence… “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Ancient Greek, Roman and Native American influence can also be seen in these writings. Athens was one of the first examples of a democratic form of government where decisions were made by a majority of the citizens through a fair elective process. The Romans also had a democratic form of government. Native American tribe of the Iroquois Indians had a representative form of government. Each tribe had representatives who attended the council of the whole Iroquois Nation and made decisions for the nation. The Constitution and Bill of Rights are discussed in the next section. Hobbes and Locke greatly influenced these important documents. 1. Who were the two English philosophers who influenced the Constitution and Bill

of Rights? _______________________________________________________ 2. What was the monarchy like when Hobbes was writing his book? ____________

________________________________________________________________ 3. What is the “state of nature?” ________________________________________

________________________________________________________________ 4. What did Locke believe the purpose of government was? __________________

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5. Why did Hobbes and Locke agree government was necessary?______________ ________________________________________________________________

6. What did the state of nature motivate mankind to do? ______________________


Section 4: The Constitution and Bill of Rights

The Constitution In 1787, a national convention met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. Most of the delegates felt that a new government plan should be written. As a result the Constitution was written in 1789. It contains

The fundamental laws of the country

The form of government

The rights of the people

The goals of government

How those goals should be achieved. The Constitution was written to replace the Articles of Confederation. As noted earlier in this chapter the Articles gave all of the power to the individual states instead of a structure to build a strong national government. They did not provide for an executive branch or give the Continental Congress the ability to collect taxes, regulate commerce, or provide a way to enforce the laws. The Constitution shows a balance between promoting the public good and protecting individual rights. The plan for the United States government was laid out in the Constitution. It is the highest law of the United States of America. The main philosophy of the Constitution is federalism. This refers to the division of power between the national and state governments. The other important philosophy of the Constitution was that the people ran the government. The people elect representatives who can make and change the laws. Every person in this country must follow the rules in the Constitution. This is in contrast to the British rule where the government had all of the power. The principle of inherent rights is another important principle. This refers to the right of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. People do not have to do anything to earn these rights. The principle of the separation of power is seen in the different branches of the government. There are three branches of government established in the Constitution. These branches are responsible for running the government. This division of power is called separation of powers and provides that no one person or group can have too much power. The three branches that share the power are:

Executive Branch – Led by the president; is responsible for carrying out the laws


Legislative Branch – Led by congress; is responsible for passing and making the laws

Judicial Branch – Led by the Supreme Court; is responsible for explaining and interpreting the law

Checks and balances were set up in the Constitution. They made it so that each branch of government can monitor the other two branches. No branch could become too strong or too weak. These checks and balances included the following:

The president can veto laws passed by congress and appoint federal judges.

Congress can override the president’s veto and refuse to approve a federal judge or remove a federal judge.

The Supreme Court can declare laws passed by Congress are against the Constitution and stop actions taken by the president against the Constitution.

The Constitution is considered the supreme law of the land. It is the result of the American’s fight for freedom and many compromises made by the founders of our country. This document provides for the country to be run by representatives who are elected into office by the people. The writers of the Constitution made it so that it was flexible and could be changed. It contains a preamble, 7 articles and 27 amendments. The first ten amendments are the Bill of Rights. These amendments limit the power of the federal and state governments. The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, explains the basic rights of the people. The rights protected in these amendments are:

1. Freedom of speech, press, religion, peaceable assembly and to petition the government

2. Right to own and carry guns 3. Citizens do not have to shelter soldiers in their homes against their wishes 4. Citizens are protected from having unreasonable searches by the

government 5. “Due process of law” (the same fair rules are followed in every criminal

case) 6. Right to a fair trial and other rights of the accused 7. Civil trial by jury 8. Prohibition of excessive bail and against cruel or unusual punishment if

found guilty of a crime 9. It does not take away any right already held by the people under the

constitution such as the right to live where you wish 10. States’ rights – residual power to the states and to the people

Amendments to the Constitution require two steps. First Congress proposes an amendment. Two-thirds of Congress must support the amendment. After Congress passes the amendment, the states have to accept the amendment within seven


years. At least three-fourths of the states must ratify the amendment for it to become part of the Constitution. The first ten amendments were added right away. Because of the changing needs of the people and the country there have been other amendments through the years. There are now 27 amendments. The last 17 amendments have been added over the past 200 years. Amending the Constitution was purposely designed to be difficult so that the nation would have to carefully consider the changes before approving them. The federal system set up in the Constitution divides the power between state governments and the national government. Federal powers in the Constitution include:

Right to collect taxes

Right to declare war

Right to regulate trade

Power to borrow and coin money

The power to legislate on the matter of divorce, marriage, and public schools is given to the states. The individual rights statement says that people have the right to own property, to be tried by a jury, and to pursue the job of their choice. The designers of the Constitution wanted to meet the needs and interests of all the people no matter their wealth, where they lived, or the kind of work they did. The rights of the individual were important. They believed in the rule of the majority but wanted to protect the rights of the minorities. This was achieved with the separation of power. Even though amendments have been added to the Constitution it has remained the same in spirit and wording. William E. Gladstone, a British statesman, said the Constitution is “the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.” 1. What five important points does the Constitution contain? __________________

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2. What document did the Constitution replace? ____________________________ ________________________________________________________________

3. What are the three branches of government laid out in the Constitution? _______ ________________________________________________________________

4. List at least four checks and balances between the branches of government. ___ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. How is the power divided in the Constitution? ____________________________ ________________________________________________________________

6. What are the federal powers provided in the Constitution? __________________ ________________________________________________________________


7. What other powers does the Constitution provide besides federal powers? ________________________________________________________________

8. What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called? _______________ ________________________________________________________________

9. Even though amendments have been made to the Constitution what has stayed the same? _______________________________________________________

10. What do you think William Gladstone meant by his statement? ______________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scoring: Score #1-9 now. Teacher score #10

Character Activity

Read the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. (They can be found in

an encyclopedia or on the Internet.) Tell what your first impressions were of these three

documents. How do you think creativity is demonstrated in these documents?

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CHAPTER 1 REVIEW 1. The document that created the first American government was called _________

________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________ gave financial backing and joined America in the

fight against Britain. 3. ________________________ and ___________________ were English

philosophers who influenced the Constitution and Bill of Rights. 4. The Constitution replaced the _________________________________ 5. _____________________ and _________________________ refused to

approve the Constitution. 6. The first colony where there was separation of church and state was organized

by _____________________________ 7. When life-sustaining needs and passions of individuals decides their interactions

this is referred to as the _________________________________________ 8. The three branches of government in the Constitution are the _______________

________________________________________________________________ 9. The _______________________________________ caused the people to begin

resisting British rule. 10. The amendments to the Constitution are called the _______________________ 11. Who do you know that is creative? Describe that person. ___________________

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Scoring: Score #1-10 now. Have the teacher score #11.

Teacher Initials

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Chapter 2: The Blending of Many Governments

The federal government was really the last unit that was created. The Constitution created the federal government but it also gave power to the state governments. When the settlers first started coming to America they formed colonies. Before the Revolutionary War the colonies were jointly governed by the British government. Although each colony had their own local government, they were each independent. Colonial governments began just before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Harbor. The first written government document was the Mayflower Compact, which the Pilgrims wrote before they landed at Plymouth. As more people immigrated to America the colonies grew and later became states. When the people began moving westward they established governments in the new settlements. Each village or outpost had its own government to help keep law and order and protect the citizens. The American government system is referred to by some as a government mosaic. It is really composed of a lot of governments. The federal government is made up of 50 states. State governments are formed of the counties, cities, towns, and villages within its boarders. The men who wrote the Constitution left this multi-layered government system intact. The federal government is what runs the nation but the rest of the layers of government are important too. These layers are closer to the people and more focused on their needs. The Bill of Rights limits the power of the federal government and state government. In this chapter we will look at the layers of government under the federal and state.

Section 1: State Government

In the beginning each colony or state was a unit by itself. These states could make their own money and determine import tariffs and duties. Some of the states even had their own armies. They were completely independent of each other. During the Revolutionary War they found that they needed to pull together and become united. Each of these states sent delegates to the Constitutional Convention. They were searching for a stronger national or federal government that would protect the states as well as pull the nation together. Today there are fifty states. These states vary greatly in size and resources. In the continental United States, Rhode Island is the smallest state and Texas is the largest. Alaska, however, is larger than Texas. Some of the states are rich in natural resources such as farm land, oil or coal. The resources of other states are the large concentrations of people in the cities where there are businesses and factories.


The Constitution leaves the state governments intact. No two states are alike so the needs and governments vary. Each state serves its own people. The states determine how their government is set-up. One of the conditions of the Constitution is that the state governments must be democratic in form. States can’t have any laws that contradict or violate the Constitution or the laws and treaties of the United States. The Constitution remains the highest law of the land. States do have powers that the federal government does not have. According to the Bill of Rights, states and the people have all of the powers that are not given to the federal government. States have the power to establish local government in towns and cities, create public school system and state court system. States can collect taxes to support programs within the state. The power to make laws to protect the health, safety and well-being of the citizens is also a power of the state. There are some powers that belong to the federal government instead of states. These include the ability to print money, declare war or make treaties. States cannot tax goods sent from one state to another. Each state has its own written constitution. These are different in detail but similar in pattern to the federal Constitution. They contain a government plan and a statement about the rights of the people. The state constitutions are usually more explicit than the federal Constitution. They address the operation of businesses, banks, public utilities, and charitable institutions in detail. The state constitutions all say that the final authority belongs to the people. State governments have three branches, just like the federal government. They have the executive branch, legislative, and judicial branch. The chief executive of the state is the governor who is elected by popular vote. In most states the governor serves for four years. In a few states the governor is elected for just two years. The chief executive is responsible for carrying out the laws of the state. They enforce the laws, advise the legislature of laws that are needed, and can pardon people convicted in the state courts. They are also over the state National Guard. Beside the governor the other state executives are the attorney general, secretary of state, and state treasurer. The attorney general represents the state in court. The individual who keeps the state records is the secretary of state. The state treasurer is in charge of the state’s money. The legislative branch in every state but Nebraska has a Senate and a Lower House called the House of Representatives, House of Delegates, or the General Assembly. Nebraska has only one legislative body. In most states, senators serve for four years and members of the Lower House serve two years. The state legislature is responsible for making the laws. Each state has a judicial branch. The judicial branch interprets state laws. They have a state and local court system that deal with most of the legal issues. State courts


hear civil cases and criminal cases. There are trial courts that deal with civil and criminal cases and appeals courts that decide if the trial court followed due process. The state supreme court is the highest level of the state judicial system. A decision made by the state supreme court is always final unless the case has to do with the U.S. Constitution. Legal issues are taken first to the local level. These are generally traffic tickets and small claims. The next level is the general trial courts followed by the appellate courts. The state Supreme Court is the highest-level court in a state. Appeals of the state Supreme Court are taken to the federal level. Money to run state government comes from several sources. Some of the money comes from the federal government. State taxes are another source of state money. There are several types of tax money income tax, sales tax, and property taxes. Businesses and corporations are also taxed. Lotteries in some states produce extra money as well. The costs of running the state vary depending on the services provided by the state. Generally the concerns of the state are transportation, communication, public utilities, industry and business issues, property regulations, working conditions in the state, education issues, and the state criminal codes and issues. The states are responsible for state police, health programs, welfare programs, highways, and education. There are many areas where the state and federal government programs overlap. In the twentieth century the overlap has increased in the areas of health, education, welfare, transportation and housing and urban development. The state and federal governments work in unison in these areas. 1. Why is the American government referred to by some as a mosaic? __________

________________________________________________________________ 2. Who sent delegates to the Constitutional Convention? _____________________ 3. How do the states differ? ____________________________________________ 4. How are the state constitutions similar to the Constitution? _________________

________________________________________________________________ 5. What branches of government do the states have? _______________________

________________________________________________________________ 6. Which state has only one legislative body? ______________________________ 7. Where does money come from to run the state government? ________________

________________________________________________________________ 8. Where do state and federal governments overlap? ________________________

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Section 2: The County

Most of the settlers lived on farms that were spread apart. The colony leaders were unable to keep in touch with everyone in the colony. They divided the colonies into large areas. These areas became counties and each formed their own county government. The counties were the local government for the settlers. They became a subdivision of the colony or state. Today the county is still a subdivision of the state and generally has two or more towns, villages, or cities within its boarders. A town or city within the county is designated as the county seat. All of the county government offices are located in this community and the board of commissioners or supervisors meet there. County revenues come from property taxes, special taxes, permit fees and state and federal funds. New York City is an exception. It has five separate counties or boroughs within the city limits. These are Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and The Bronx. Another exception is Arlington County, Virginia, next to Washington, D.C. It is a county and also a suburban area. It has a county government rather than a city government. Counties in the state of Louisiana are called parishes. In Alaska they are called divisions. Counties are different sizes. The number of counties for each state varies. There are about 3,000 counties in the United States. One thing counties have in common is that they all support the state government and services. Depending on the size of the county the executive branch, the board of commissioners or supervisors, are elected by the county as a whole. In larger counties, districts or communities select the board. In some counties the board elects a county manager or president who is responsible for the executive duties. Duties for the commissioners or supervisors vary between counties. County boards are responsible for running the business of the county. Planning the county budget and how money is spent is part of their responsibility. They are sometimes responsible for administering national, state, and county programs such as the welfare program. The board is also responsible for collecting county taxes, borrowing money when necessary, supervising elections, as well as building and maintaining highways and bridges. Counties can pass tax laws to collect taxes to pay for county services. Most counties have departments who are responsible for the local services. Officials responsible for these departments include the superintendent of schools, county clerk, recorder of deeds, county auditor, county assessor, district attorney, county sheriff, and county corner. Counties provide Services offered by counties differ according to their needs. Some of these needs may include police protection, libraries, county parks, county hospitals as well as other services.


1. Why were counties created for the settlers? ____________________________

_______________________________________________________________ 2. What do Alaska and Louisiana call their counties? ________________________

________________________________________________________________ 3. How do New York City and Arlington County differ from other counties? _______

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

4. What is the executive branch of county government? _____________________ ________________________________________________________________

5. What are the responsibilities of county boards? __________________________ ________________________________________________________________


Section 3: Cities, Towns, and Villages

Originally the settlers formed colonies and small settlements. Most of the people were farmers and lived in rural areas. The colonies became states. There were small settlements, which became villages and towns. Today most of the citizens of the United States live in cities or urban areas. This is the local government where citizens can have the most influence. People can see the results of their actions at this level. They can become more involved in the city, town, and village governments. Cities Cities directly serve the needs of the people. They provide police and fire protection, health regulations, education, public transportation, and housing. City governments are chartered by the state, but function independent of the state. In large cities there is cooperation between state and federal governments to meet the needs of the people. The business of running America’s major cities is extremely complex. New York City is an example of this complexity. There are only seven states that have populations larger than the city. The mayor of New York is the most difficult executive position in the country next to the presidency. As noted in the previous section, New York City is so large that it contains five counties. City governments vary widely. Most of them have a central council of some kind who are elected by the voters and an executive officer. These individuals manage the affairs of the city. There are three types of city government:

The mayor–council,

The commission


The city manager.

A combination of the three types. The oldest form of city government is the Mayor-Council. This structure is much like that of state and federal government. The people elect the mayor or chief executive and the council or legislative branch. The council represents the neighborhoods. The mayor is responsible for appointing city officials and department heads. The council passes ordinances, laws of the city, sets property tax rates, and divides money between the city departments. The mayor has the power to veto city ordinances and prepares the city budget. The Commission combines both the legislative and executive functions in one group of officials that are elected citywide. Each commissioner is responsible for supervising the work of one or more city department. One of the commissioners is named the chairman and is sometimes called the mayor. His/her power is equal to that of the other commissioners. In response to the increasing complexity of urban problems the city manager form of government was developed. A small elected city council makes the city ordinances and sets policy. They hire an administrator, the city manager, to carry out their decisions. The manager is a highly trained and experienced professional. This individual is responsible for the city budget and supervises most of the city departments. The manager serves as long as the council is satisfied with his or her work. Services provided by cities include police and fire departments, water treatment services, sanitation services, hospitals, sewage treatment, public works departments, public transportation, recreation departments, and traffic controls. Revenue for cities and towns comes from city taxes, property taxes, business taxes, charges for permits, fines and other special taxes. Some state and federal funds are allocated to cities for special projects. Small and large communities also have a judicial branch of government. These are the justice courts and magistrate courts in small communities and the municipal courts in cities. There are six types of municipal courts. They are: civil courts, criminal courts, traffic courts, small-claims courts, juvenile courts, and divorce courts. Minor cases are tried in these courts. The more serious cases are sent to the state courts. Towns and Villages Towns and villages are too small to qualify as cities. They deal with only the local needs of the people such as maintaining the streets, providing police and fire protection, garbage service, sewage and waste disposal, water services, and health services. They collect taxes and usually administer the local school system.


An elected board or council is responsible for the government of the town or village. The board may have a president or chairman or sometimes an elected mayor. A unique form of local government known as the “town meeting” is found mostly in New England. This form of government has existed for more than two centuries and is often cited as the purest form of direct democracy. The government power is exercised directly and regularly by all of the people. Once a year, sometimes more often if necessary, the registered voters of the town have a “town meeting,” where they elect officers, debate local issues, and pass laws for operating the government. They decide on road construction and repair, construction of public buildings and facilities, tax rates, and the town budget. Other Government Forms Special districts are sometimes created to take care of specific needs such as education, public utilities, sanitation, water, and park and recreation. These districts are not part of a local government. The forms of government covered in this Chapter are not the only forms of government in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Census identified 78,218 different types of government units in an article written in 1994. Americans have come to rely on government performing a wide variety of services. During colonial times the people did these services themselves. A man protected his own property and saw to his family’s needs. Today most Americans believe it is the responsibility of the community or government to provide police and fire protection, education, welfare, and health services. 1. Who charters city governments? ______________________________________ 2. What are the three main forms of city government? _______________________

________________________________________________________________ 3. Why was the city manager form of government developed? _________________

________________________________________________________________ 4. How long is a city manager’s term of service? ____________________________

________________________________________________________________ 5. What unique form of government is found mostly in New England? Describe it.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

6. How many forms of government were identified by the Bureau of Census in the early 1990s? _____________________________________________________



Character Activity

Creativity can be seen in the individuals who formed the first colonies and those who wrote

the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Many different forms of government have been studied in

this chapter.

Describe the ways you think creativity is demonstrated in the different types of government

that have been studied in this chapter.

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Teacher

Initials


CHAPTER 2 REVIEW Match the following: 1. _____ each of the colonies a Executive branch of county government. 2. _____ The state b American government is composed of

smaller government units. 3. _____ board of supervisors or

board of commissioners c Developed in response to the complexity

of urban problems 4. _____ as long as the council is

satisfied d Determines the city manager’s term of

service 5. _____ government mosaic e Sent delegates to the Constitutional

Convention 6. _____ city manager f Charters city governments

Describe the following: 7. What is the “town meeting” form of government found in New England? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. How does New York City differ from other cities? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. What is different about Arlington County, Virginia? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. Compare state and federal governments. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


11. What does creativity mean to you? ____________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scoring: Score #1-6 now. Have the teacher score #7-11.

Chapter 3: Federalism

Section 1: Defining Federalism

Webster defines federalism as the doctrine or organizational system of federal government or the advocacy of this system. Federal is defined as a union of states under a central government distinct from the individual governments of the separate states. Another definition of federalism is an association between free, independent states, or nations. It is an expression of political and philosophical ideals. The federal system established in the Articles of Confederation has been defined by some as a “loose league of friendship.” As noted in the first chapter, the Confederate Congress that attempted to govern the colonies had no authority or power. They could only request compliance from the colonies or states. A national government that had some power was needed, but the states resisted giving up any of their power to a national government. They were afraid that they would be absorbed. The federal philosophy was attractive to those who supported the Constitution. In fact, they called themselves “Federalists.” The government formed by the Constitution is not a federal or a national government but a combination of both. The writers were seeking the ideal relationship between government and the citizens that would share power and liberty as well as grow when the country grew. Federal and national, are often used interchangeably and government employees are referred to as federal employees. It is still difficult to understand and define federalism. By looking at some of the different federalism philosophies it might help to understand the struggle to find one definition of federalism that is agreeable to everyone. Dual federalism is a philosophy that says that there are two layers of government, a national layer and a state layer. Each layer is independent of the other and free from intrusions by the other. There are separate powers at each layer of government. This has also been called the “layered cake” theory of federalism. The philosophy of dual federalism was popular at the nation’s beginning. During the last part of the twentieth century it gained support from politicians again.

Teacher Initials

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