VA POST Week 2 Note Cut and Paste Link
for a quiz: https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-
school/story.php?title=mjm3njk5mgwirp
Unitary System
most prevalent in the world today. Almost all power is held at the national level. Very
little power is held by political subdivisions such as provinces, counties or towns.
Example: China
Confederate System
least common system. Opposite of unitary systems - political subdivisions such as
states hold the majority of the power. The confederacy is the union of the states that
have equal power relative to each other. Very little power is held at the national level.
Conflicting interests of the states often lead to the breakdown of confederacies.
Example: Switzerland
Federal System
both the national government and political subdivisions hold significant power. Current
system of government in the U.S.
The Preamble establishes the scope of the Constitution:
To form a more perfect Union (than had existed under the Articles of Confederation),
and
To secure blessings of liberty for future generations
Number of Colonies
13
Parliament imposed ________ to pay for war debt.
taxes
Colonists felt they had
no representation
September 5, 1774
The Colonists established an alternate form of government: The First Continental
Congress
In 1776 the Continental Congress declares the colonies free and independent
states in the
Declaration of Independence
When were the Articles of Confederation were ratified?
The Articles of Confederation are ratified by the 13
states in 1781
Articles of Confederation
The new nation is named "The United States of America."
Established an extremely limited federal government.
States are sovereigns and as such retain all power not expressly delegated to the
federal government
Under the Articles of Confederation the states are
Sovereigns
,Articles of Confederation Congress May:
Congress may:
Wage war
Conduct foreign and commercial relations
Enter into treaties
Settle disputes between states
Appoint a "President of Congress"
Request money from the states
The Confederate Government
ended in 1789 when
the U.S. Constitution went into effect
We the people ...
Preamble to the Constitution
Federal Gov't gets its power from
The Constitution
The Articles of the Constitution seek to
strike a balance between a weak and ineffective federal government and a tyrannical
one
Powers granted to the federal government by the
Constitution
Powers granted to the federal government by the
Constitution:
Wage War
Tax and Spend
Regulate Interstate Commerce
What else does the Constitution say the federal government can do?
Necessary and Proper Clause
...and place into execution means
that are "necessary and proper" to
carry out these enumerated
powers.
How did the Supreme Court interpret the Necessary and Proper Clause
broadly -
basically Congress has the authority to enact
laws that are convenient, useful, or conducive
to carrying out an enumerated power.
The _____________ retain all powers not specifically
delegated to the federal government.
States
Is there a general federal police power?
No
The general police power is reserved to the states.
The federal police power is MILD:
Military
Indian reservations
, Land (i.e. VA Property)
D.C.
The federal government is
solely vested with the powers
specifically enumerated in the
Articles of the Constitution
Powers granted to the federal government by the
Constitution by which Amendment
The 10th Amendment
Article 1: The Legislative Branch
Congress is a bicameral legislature consists of Senate and House of Representatives
House of Representatives:
435 representatives allocated among the 50 states based on population
Initiates all bills pertaining to revenue
Has the power of impeachment
Representatives must be at least 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and a resident of
the state they represent
Serve 2 year terms
Speaker presides over the House
Article 2: The Executive Branch
Elected by the Electoral College
Must be 35 years old, a natural born citizen, and a resident of the U.S. for at least 14
years
Serves 4 year terms
Pay may not be decreased while in office
Commander in Chief of the military
The Executive powers are vested in a President.
Appoints Ambassadors, Cabinet Secretaries, Federal Judges and Justices, and all other
officers of the U.S. whose appointments are provided by law.
Enters into treaties with advice and consent of the Senate.
Fills Senate vacancies during recess.
Can convene Congress under exigent circumstances.
Commissions military officers
Required to make a State of the Union address, "from time to time."
May be impeached by Congress for treason, bribery, or other "high crimes and
misdemeanors."
Senate:
100 Senators - two from each state
Has the power to try impeachments
Senators must be 30 years old and a citizen for 9 years
Senators serve 6 year terms. One-third are elected every 2 years
Vice President presides over the Senate
Congress is vested with powers relative to:
Immigration and naturalization
Bankruptcy
Coin money
for a quiz: https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-
school/story.php?title=mjm3njk5mgwirp
Unitary System
most prevalent in the world today. Almost all power is held at the national level. Very
little power is held by political subdivisions such as provinces, counties or towns.
Example: China
Confederate System
least common system. Opposite of unitary systems - political subdivisions such as
states hold the majority of the power. The confederacy is the union of the states that
have equal power relative to each other. Very little power is held at the national level.
Conflicting interests of the states often lead to the breakdown of confederacies.
Example: Switzerland
Federal System
both the national government and political subdivisions hold significant power. Current
system of government in the U.S.
The Preamble establishes the scope of the Constitution:
To form a more perfect Union (than had existed under the Articles of Confederation),
and
To secure blessings of liberty for future generations
Number of Colonies
13
Parliament imposed ________ to pay for war debt.
taxes
Colonists felt they had
no representation
September 5, 1774
The Colonists established an alternate form of government: The First Continental
Congress
In 1776 the Continental Congress declares the colonies free and independent
states in the
Declaration of Independence
When were the Articles of Confederation were ratified?
The Articles of Confederation are ratified by the 13
states in 1781
Articles of Confederation
The new nation is named "The United States of America."
Established an extremely limited federal government.
States are sovereigns and as such retain all power not expressly delegated to the
federal government
Under the Articles of Confederation the states are
Sovereigns
,Articles of Confederation Congress May:
Congress may:
Wage war
Conduct foreign and commercial relations
Enter into treaties
Settle disputes between states
Appoint a "President of Congress"
Request money from the states
The Confederate Government
ended in 1789 when
the U.S. Constitution went into effect
We the people ...
Preamble to the Constitution
Federal Gov't gets its power from
The Constitution
The Articles of the Constitution seek to
strike a balance between a weak and ineffective federal government and a tyrannical
one
Powers granted to the federal government by the
Constitution
Powers granted to the federal government by the
Constitution:
Wage War
Tax and Spend
Regulate Interstate Commerce
What else does the Constitution say the federal government can do?
Necessary and Proper Clause
...and place into execution means
that are "necessary and proper" to
carry out these enumerated
powers.
How did the Supreme Court interpret the Necessary and Proper Clause
broadly -
basically Congress has the authority to enact
laws that are convenient, useful, or conducive
to carrying out an enumerated power.
The _____________ retain all powers not specifically
delegated to the federal government.
States
Is there a general federal police power?
No
The general police power is reserved to the states.
The federal police power is MILD:
Military
Indian reservations
, Land (i.e. VA Property)
D.C.
The federal government is
solely vested with the powers
specifically enumerated in the
Articles of the Constitution
Powers granted to the federal government by the
Constitution by which Amendment
The 10th Amendment
Article 1: The Legislative Branch
Congress is a bicameral legislature consists of Senate and House of Representatives
House of Representatives:
435 representatives allocated among the 50 states based on population
Initiates all bills pertaining to revenue
Has the power of impeachment
Representatives must be at least 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and a resident of
the state they represent
Serve 2 year terms
Speaker presides over the House
Article 2: The Executive Branch
Elected by the Electoral College
Must be 35 years old, a natural born citizen, and a resident of the U.S. for at least 14
years
Serves 4 year terms
Pay may not be decreased while in office
Commander in Chief of the military
The Executive powers are vested in a President.
Appoints Ambassadors, Cabinet Secretaries, Federal Judges and Justices, and all other
officers of the U.S. whose appointments are provided by law.
Enters into treaties with advice and consent of the Senate.
Fills Senate vacancies during recess.
Can convene Congress under exigent circumstances.
Commissions military officers
Required to make a State of the Union address, "from time to time."
May be impeached by Congress for treason, bribery, or other "high crimes and
misdemeanors."
Senate:
100 Senators - two from each state
Has the power to try impeachments
Senators must be 30 years old and a citizen for 9 years
Senators serve 6 year terms. One-third are elected every 2 years
Vice President presides over the Senate
Congress is vested with powers relative to:
Immigration and naturalization
Bankruptcy
Coin money
