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The Trinity of American Government• Declaration of Independence– A document that is used to separate a country from another

country. EXAMPLE: Texas from Mexico, the U.S.A. from the U.K.

• Constitution– A document that lists and divides the powers of Government. EXAMPLE: Texas Constitution of 1845, US Constitution

• Bill of Rights– An addition to the Constitution that list the rights of the people. EXAMPLE: First 10 Amendments to the US Constitution

• Sets forth responsibilities of the government

• Places limits on the governments powers

• Explains what a government can do and cannot do.

• It divides the federal government into three branches (or parts)

The Constitution

•The U.S. Constitution was written in 1787.

7 Principles of the Constitution

Popular Sovereignty• Definition – A government in which the people

rule.• This means the people participate by voting.• Example – People can run for office, campaign

for individuals who run, or protest decisions made by others.

Republicanism

• Definition – People vote for people to represent their views. (Representative Government)

• You can’t have the whole population vote on everything, so you vote on people who share similar beliefs and allow them to vote.

Federalism• Definition – A system of government in which powers

are shared by the state and national government.• These include setting up courts, creating and

collecting taxes, building highways, and borrowing money.

Separation of Power• Definition – Divides the roles of

government into 3 branches, Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

• Why? So that one person or one group of people do not control everything and become to powerful.

Federal Government:

Executive: President

Legislative: Congress

Judicial: Courts

Texas Government:

Executive: Governor

Legislative: Congress

Judicial: Courts

Check and Balances

• Definition – Each of the 3 branches of government “check” on what each other are doing to keep power in “balance” or to make sure that any one branch doesn’t get too much power.

• This is another way to assure that our government is limited.

• Example – Federal judges are nominated by the President, but have to be approved by Congress.

• Both the Federal Government and Texas Government have this system of Checks and Balances.

Limited Government

• Definition – Everybody has to follow the same laws, even members of the government.

• If a Representative killed a man, he would face a trial just like everybody else.

Individual Rights

• Definition – Personal liberties and privileges that people are born with and can not be taken away.

• The U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution both have a Bill of Rights – a list of laws that are YOUR rights as people living in the U.S. and Texas.

• The Bill of Rights was included in our constitution to protect your individual rights/freedoms.

• These rights limit the power of our federal and state governments.

The U.S. Bill of Rights is the first ten Amendments to the U.S.

Constitution

The Texas Bill of Rights is the first thirty four sections of the Texas

Constitution

Other Terms

• Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed in the Constitution

Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights• Describes and protects the individual rights of the citizens • The 1st ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are called the

Bill of Rights• Examples:

– Texas is a free and independent state – All political power is inherent in the people – All free men have equal rights – Freedom of worship is guaranteed – Freedom of speech and the press is guaranteed – No unreasonable searches and seizures – Trial by jury

• These were not originally in the constitution but were added later

A Texas Bill of Rights• The Texas Bill of Rights is Article 1 of the Texas constitution• Its much like the U.S. Bill of Rights and covers a lot of the same rights •The Texas Bill of Rights is much more specific than the U.S. Bill of Rights

Amendment

an addition to a formal document such as a constitution

Bicameral

composed of two legislative chambers or branches (House of Representatives and Senate)