WELCOME TO ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP IN THE 21ST

CENTURY

Course Description  We will investigate government, the

Constitution, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States.

During this course you will learn: Technology, media and current events The function of local, state, and federal

government The goals and principles of the Constitution The legislative process The art of debate, comprimise and conflict

resolution The use of technology in the democratic process

Grades and Homework

Grades: Quizzes: 50 points Tests and projects: 100 points                Tests and quizzes below 80% will be sent home

for parent signatures.

Homework: You can expect twenty to thirty minutes of

homework on Monday through Thursdays. Any missing homework will result in an open zero.  Late homework will receive half credit. Homework is always listed on the board.

We the People

The preamble of the Constitution is the introduction which states the goals of the document. Check out School House Rock…

Break down and discuss each underlined term We the People of the United States, in Order to

form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

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Articles and Amendments

After the preamble there are seven sections or articles of the Constitution. The constitution can also be changed or amended. The first 10 amendments called the Bill of Rights were added in 1791. In total there have been 27 amendments .

ArticlesArticle 1: Legislative Branch: the U.S. Congress

makes the laws for the United States. Congress has two parts, called "Houses," the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Article 2: Executive Branch: the President, Vice-President, Cabinet, and Departments under the Cabinet Secretaries carry out the laws made by Congress.

Article 3: Judicial Branch: the Supreme Court decides court cases according to US Constitution. The courts under the Supreme Court decide criminal and civil court cases according to the correct federal, state, and local laws.

Article 4: States' powers: States have the power to make and carry out their own laws. State laws that are related to the people and problems of their area. States respect other states laws and work together with other states to fix regional problems.

Article 5: Amendments: The Constitution can be changed. New amendments can be added to the US Constitution with the approval by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress (67, 281) and three-fourth vote by the states (38).

Article 6: Federal powers: The Constitution and federal laws are higher than state and local laws. All laws must agree with the US Constitution.

Article 7: Ratification: The Constitution was presented to George Washington and the men at the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787, Representatives from twelve out of the thirteen original states signed the Constitution. From September 1787 to July 1788, the states meet, talked about, and finally voted to approve the Constitution.

7 Basic Principles of the Constitution 1. Popular Sovereignty: People have the right

to alter or abolish the government. 2. Limited Government: The government has

only the powers the Constitution gives it. 3. Separation of Power: The government is

divided into three branches. 4. Checks and Balances: Each branch of the

government has the power to limit the power of the other two.

Federalism: Division of power between national and state government.

6. Republicanism: Citizens elect representitives to carry out their will

7. Individual Rights: Freedom of speech, religion and trial.

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/branchesofgovernment/preview.weml

Legislative Branch 8.2 The House of

Representatives has 435 members and is based on population. Representatives serve for two years. The house is led by the “Speaker” who is 3rd in sucession to the presidency. To be a representative you must be 25, a resident of a state and a citizen for at least 7 years.

The Senate is composed of 100 senators, two from each state. Senators serve six year terms and are led by the Vice President of the US.

Who represents you in the Legislative Branch?

http://house.gov/

http://www.senate.gov/

Powers of Congress

To make laws….How does a bill become a law?

Coin money Collect taxes and borrow money Fix weights and measurements Declare war Ratify a treaty “make all laws which shall be necessary

and proper for carrying out its specific duties.” (The elastic clause.)

The Executive Branch The Executive Branch is led by the

President, Vice President and the cabinet. The President is responsible for

carrying out the nation’s laws Serving as the commander and chief of the

armed forces Suggesting laws to Congress and calling

special sessions Directing foreign policy make treaties vetoing or signing laws

Electing the President The President is elected for a

four year term and can serve two full terms. When Americans vote for a president they vote for a group of electors known as the electoral college. The number of electors each sate has is based upon the number of congressmen each state has. The electoral college meets a few weeks after Election day to cast their vote.

The Judicial Branch The Judicial branch has lower and higher

courts on the federal. If a party disagrees with a decision it may appeal the decision to a higher court. The Supreme Court is the top of the Judicial Branch and is composed of 9 judges chosen for life. Decisions on the constitutionality of an issue are based on majority rule. The job of the Supreme Court is to interpret the law and the Constitution.

Checks and Balances

The Amendment Process 8.3 To change, or amend the Constitution one

must propose the change with 2/3 of both houses of Congress. The amendment must then be approved by ¾ of the states or by ¾ special state conventions.

The Bill of Rights

1. Congress can't make any law about your religion, or stop you from practicing your religion, or keep you from saying whatever you want, or publishing whatever you want (like in a newspaper or a book). And Congress can't stop you from meeting peacefully for a demonstration to ask the government to change something.

2.Congress can't stop people from having and carrying weapons, because we need to be able to defend ourselves.

3. You don't have to let soldiers live in your house, except if there is a war, and even then only if Congress has passed a law about it.

4. Nobody can search your body, or your house, or your papers and things, unless they can prove to a judge that they have a good reason to think you have committed a crime.

5. You can't be tried for any serious crime without a Grand Jury meeting first to decide whether there's enough evidence for a trial. And if the jury decides you are innocent, the government can't try again with another jury. You don't have to say anything at your trial. You can't be killed, or put in jail, or fined, unless you were convicted of a crime by a jury. And the government can't take your house or your farm or anything that is yours, unless the government pays for it.

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6. If you're arrested, you have a right to have your trial pretty soon, and the government can't keep you in jail without trying you. The trial has to be public, so everyone knows what is happening. The case has to be decided by a jury of ordinary people from your area. You have the right to know what you are accused of, to see and hear the people who are witnesses against you, to have the government help you get witnesses on your side, and you have the right to a lawyer to help you.

7. You also have the right to a jury when it is a civil case (a law case between two people rather than between you and the government).

8. The government can't make you pay more than is reasonable in bail or in fines, and the government can't order you to have cruel or unusual punishments (like torture) even if you are convicted of a crime.

9. Just because these rights are listed in the Constitution doesn't mean that you don't have other rights too.

10. Anything that the Constitution doesn't say that Congress can do should be left up to the states, or to the people.

Later Amendments The Constitution was amended 17 times

after the Bill of Rights. The 15th Amendment declared that African Americans could vote, the 19 amendment gives women the right to vote and the 26th amendment gave people 18 years old the right to vote.

Political Partiesand the spectrum

Many American affiliate with either the Democratic party or the Republican party.

Find out where you fall using the political compass.

State Constitutions 8.4

Each of the 50 states creates their own State Constitution. Each state has its own executive, legislative and judicial branch at the state level. In NJ there are forty legislative districts each with its own Senator and two Assemblymen . To change a state constitution a citizen can gather signatures on a petition. Once the appropriate number are gathered the issue goes before the legislature or voters.

Who are your state level legislators?

What services are provided by the state of New Jersey?

Services of NJ

Local Governement

Local governments can govern a town, village, county, or parish and operate based on the power given by the state. Local governments fund and operate schools, manage the police, fire, and EMS. Many local governments also maintain roads, operate libraries and provide basic services.

Rights and Responsibilities of a Citizen….

A citizen is a person who owes his loyalty to a particular nation and is entitled to all its rights and protections. You are a US citizen if you:

Born in the United States or at least one parent is a citizen

You are naturalized, or complete the process to become a citizen

You were 18 or younger when your parents were naturalized.

For aliens to become a US Citizen you must live in the US for five years pass the test….

Rights and Responsibilities

Citizens of the United States have equal rights under the law. Civic virtue is a willingness to work for the good of your community or nation. In a democracy we function based on the honesty, service, compassion and patriotism of the citizens.

Responsibilities of a Citizen

Respecting the laws of the nation

Taking responsibility for our actions

Being educated Having moral courage to

do the right thing Voting, selecting

representatives Defending the nation Serving on a jury Serving the community Paying taxes

Global Citizenship refers to the concept of looking beyond our borders to make peace and brotherhood. Global Citizens look to reduce inequality among people around the world.