Listen -- strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.

Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

1. An agreement to create a government and follow its laws is known as a a. natural agreement b. constitution c. social contract d. declaration of intent

2. Citizens who put the common good above their own self interests demonstrate a) democracyb) separation of powers c) balance of powers d) civic virtue

3. A constitutional government always includesa) strong executive b) limitation of powersc) a written constitutiond) the idea of judicial review

4. A constitution is considered a higher law if ita) must be obeyed by those running the governmentb) can never be changedc) comes from a divine sourced) keeps the government above the people

How can we organize government to prevent the abuse

of power?WTP2: L5

Vocabulary

• bill

• checks and balances

• executive branch

• judicial branch

• legislative branch

• separation of powers

How might people organizea government to preventthe abuse of power?

Separate the powers of government.

• Divide the powers btw branches.

Balance the powers among the branches of government.

Give each branch methods to check the use of power by the other branches.

TPS- Why did the Foundersfear the abuse of power?

p421. What does each quotation mean?

2. What view of human nature did all share?

3. Do you agree or disagree with these views of human nature? Why or why not?

4. If you do agree with these views of human nature, how would you organize our government to protect your rights?

How does separationof powers work?

A study of constitutional governments shows that they are often divided into three different groups or branches. This is called separation of powers. For example, we divide our government into the following three branches:

legislative branch has the power to make lawsexecutive branch has the power to carry out and

enforce lawsjudicial branch has the power to manage conflicts

about the meaning, application, and enforcement of laws.

How does a system of checks and balances work?

The phrase checks and balances means that the powers of the different branches of government are balanced.

No one branch has so much power that it can completely dominate the others.

Although each branch of government has its own special powers, the powers are checked because some powers are shared with the other branches.

Example of Check and Balance

The U. S. Supreme Court can check the power of Congress.

- declare a law to be in violation of the Constitution and, therefore, invalid.

Another Example

The U.S. Supreme Court can declare Executive Orders* to be contrary to the Constitution.

Ex. Executive Order 10340 by Truman, overturned in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, (1952)

Branch/Check Chart

Branch of Government

Powers Granted by Constitution

How are these powers checked by other branches

Legislative E:

J:

Executive J:

L:

Judicial L:

E:

Exit CardQ#1 Dividing the government into different branches is an example ofa. federalismb. constitutional governmentc. separation of powersd. private domain

Q#2 The system of checks and balances was established to:a. prevent political parties from being createdb. provide government officials with unlimited powerc. prevent branches of government from abusing powerd. guarantee that people’s rights are never limited