Changes

With all its [[regulation]]s, [[government]] can seem to be all-[[power]]ful. But actually our [[government]] is limited in [[power]]. There is much that it cannot do. It cannot seize our land, unless it pays us for it. It typically cannot enter our homes, unless it has a [[warrant]].

With all its [[regulation]]s, [[government]] can seem to be all-[[power]]ful. But actually our [[government]] is limited in [[power]]. There is much that it cannot do. It cannot seize our land, unless it pays us for it. It typically cannot enter our homes, unless it has a [[warrant]].

We constantly see the [[President of the United States of America|President]] on [[television]]. This gives the impression that he, too, is all-[[power]]ful. But [[Homo Sapiens|people]] pretend he has more control than he really does. He cannot pass [[law]]s. He cannot declare [[war]]. He cannot remove any [[judge]]s or [[congressman|congressmen]] from office. Usually he cannot even stay in his [[job]] as [[President of the United States of America|President]] for more than two terms.

We constantly see the [[President of the United States of America|President]] on [[television]]. This gives the impression that he, too, is all-[[power]]ful. But [[people]] pretend he has more control than he really does. He cannot pass [[law]]s. He cannot declare [[war]]. He cannot remove any [[judge]]s or [[congressman|congressmen]] from office. Usually he cannot even stay in his [[job]] as [[President of the United States of America|President]] for more than two terms.

There are also limits on what [[Congress]] and the [[Supreme Court]] can do. [[Congress]] cannot pass [[law]]s interfering with the [[power]]s of [[state]] [[government]]s. [[Congress]] can start [[war]]s, but cannot do much to stop them. The [[Supreme Court]], for its part, can only decide cases presented to it. The [[Court]] can declare [[law]]s passed by [[Congress]] to be [[unconstitutional]].

There are also limits on what [[Congress]] and the [[Supreme Court]] can do. [[Congress]] cannot pass [[law]]s interfering with the [[power]]s of [[state]] [[government]]s. [[Congress]] can start [[war]]s, but cannot do much to stop them. The [[Supreme Court]], for its part, can only decide cases presented to it. The [[Court]] can declare [[law]]s passed by [[Congress]] to be [[unconstitutional]].

Look on page 317 of your textbook. There it is, the entire [[United States Constitution]]. Without the [[Amendment]]s and signatures, it is only 12 pages long: pp. 317-28. If you truly learn those 12 pages, then you will know more than most [[Attorney|lawyer]]s, [[politician]]s, [[college]] graduates, and 99% of the population. It’s that simple.

Look on page 317 of your textbook. There it is, the entire [[United States Constitution]]. Without the [[Amendment]]s and signatures, it is only 12 pages long: pp. 317-28. If you truly learn those 12 pages, then you will know more than most [[Attorney|lawyer]]s, [[politician]]s, [[college]] graduates, and 99% of the population. It’s that simple.

If you ever want to be a [[Attorney|lawyer]], you will have to pass the [[Bar exam]]. One-quarter of the exam consists of [[question]]s about the [[Constitution]]. Most [[Homo Sapiens|people]], even after [[law]] school, don't know it very well. Most [[politician]]s don't know it at all. We will.

If you ever want to be a [[Attorney|lawyer]], you will have to pass the [[Bar exam]]. One-quarter of the exam consists of [[question]]s about the [[Constitution]]. Most [[people]], even after [[law]] school, don't know it very well. Most [[politician]]s don't know it at all. We will.

It will help you to read, and reread, those 12 pages, and constantly refer to them throughout the course. Put a post-it or paperclip on page 317 to mark it for easy reference. When you hear news about our national [[government]], refer to the [[Constitution]] see what it gives it a particular [[power]].

It will help you to read, and reread, those 12 pages, and constantly refer to them throughout the course. Put a post-it or paperclip on page 317 to mark it for easy reference. When you hear news about our national [[government]], refer to the [[Constitution]] see what it gives it a particular [[power]].

==IV. “Federal”==

==IV. “Federal”==

[[The Constitution]] set up our [[federal]] [[government]]. What does “ [[federal]] ” mean? In this context, it means national: the [[United States of America|United States]] [[government]] headquartered in [[Washington, D.C.]] [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush]]. [[Congressman|Congressmen]]. [[Senator]]s. [[U.S. Supreme Court]]. The [[Homo Sapiens|people]] you often see on [[television]] or in the [[newspaper]]. These terms have the same meaning: “national [[government]],” “ [[federal]] [[government]],” and “[[United States of America|United States]] [[government]].” They are completely different from “[[state]] [[government]],” and “[[city]] [[government]]” or “[[local government]].”

[[The Constitution]] set up our [[federal]] [[government]]. What does “ [[federal]] ” mean? In this context, it means national: the [[United States of America|United States]] [[government]] headquartered in [[Washington, D.C.]] [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush]]. [[Congressman|Congressmen]]. [[Senator]]s. [[U.S. Supreme Court]]. The [[people]] you often see on [[television]] or in the [[newspaper]]. These terms have the same meaning: “national [[government]],” “ [[federal]] [[government]],” and “[[United States of America|United States]] [[government]].” They are completely different from “[[state]] [[government]],” and “[[city]] [[government]]” or “[[local government]].”

The first [[political parties|political party]] in the [[country]] was the “[[Federalist Party]]”. It stood for a stronger [[federal]] [[government]]. [[Alexander Hamilton]] founded it to help pass his program of a national [[bank]] and assumption by the [[federal]] [[government]] of all the [[war]] [[debt]]s. He used it to impose a [[federal]] [[alcoholic drink|liquor]] [[tax]], which resulted in [[the Whiskey Rebellion]] in 1794. Look up the term “[[Federalist Party]]” on page 307 in the textbook.

The first [[political parties|political party]] in the [[country]] was the “[[Federalist Party]]”. It stood for a stronger [[federal]] [[government]]. [[Alexander Hamilton]] founded it to help pass his program of a national [[bank]] and assumption by the [[federal]] [[government]] of all the [[war]] [[debt]]s. He used it to impose a [[federal]] [[alcoholic drink|liquor]] [[tax]], which resulted in [[the Whiskey Rebellion]] in 1794. Look up the term “[[Federalist Party]]” on page 307 in the textbook.

How about the [[media]]? Which [[government]] does the [[media]] pay more attention to? The [[federal]] [[government]], by far. Why? Because it is more profitable for the [[media]], and easier. It much simpler and cheaper simply to wake up each day and report on what the [[President of the United States of America|president]] is doing, whether it is newsworthy or not. That is one quick story to tell to the entire [[country]]. To report on each [[state]] would require 50 different stories, at 50 times the expense. The [[media]] would go broke trying to do that. You’ll almost never see your [[mayor]], local [[school]], [[Congressman]] or even [[governor]] on [[CNN]] or [[Fox News]]. It doesn’t mean they are less important than the [[President of the United States of America|president]].

How about the [[media]]? Which [[government]] does the [[media]] pay more attention to? The [[federal]] [[government]], by far. Why? Because it is more profitable for the [[media]], and easier. It much simpler and cheaper simply to wake up each day and report on what the [[President of the United States of America|president]] is doing, whether it is newsworthy or not. That is one quick story to tell to the entire [[country]]. To report on each [[state]] would require 50 different stories, at 50 times the expense. The [[media]] would go broke trying to do that. You’ll almost never see your [[mayor]], local [[school]], [[Congressman]] or even [[governor]] on [[CNN]] or [[Fox News]]. It doesn’t mean they are less important than the [[President of the United States of America|president]].

The [[federal]] [[government]] has three branches: [[executive]] (the [[President of the United States of America|president]]), legislative ([[Congress]]) and the [[judiciary]] (the [[Supreme Court]]). Each branch employs [[powers of ten|thousands]] of [[Homo Sapiens|people]]. The [[executive]] branch even employs [[powers of ten|millions]], including the armed services.

The [[federal]] [[government]] has three branches: [[executive]] (the [[President of the United States of America|president]]), legislative ([[Congress]]) and the [[judiciary]] (the [[Supreme Court]]). Each branch employs [[powers of ten|thousands]] of [[people]]. The [[executive]] branch even employs [[powers of ten|millions]], including the armed services.

==V. U.S. [[Constitution]]==

==V. U.S. [[Constitution]]==

They began each session with a [[prayer]]. Their final product, the [[Constitution]], was a marvelous [[law|legal]] document. Together these 55 individuals created something much greater than any could have produced individually. It established a national, [[republican]] [[government]] with limited [[power]]s.

They began each session with a [[prayer]]. Their final product, the [[Constitution]], was a marvelous [[law|legal]] document. Together these 55 individuals created something much greater than any could have produced individually. It established a national, [[republican]] [[government]] with limited [[power]]s.

What is a [[republican]] [[government]]? It means the [[Homo Sapiens|people]] [[election|elect]] representatives to [[election|elect]] [[law]]makers and create [[law]]s. It has a layer of protection against a pure [[democracy]] in which the public directly decides [[issue]]s.

What is a [[republican]] [[government]]? It means the [[people]] [[election|elect]] representatives to [[election|elect]] [[law]]makers and create [[law]]s. It has a layer of protection against a pure [[democracy]] in which the public directly decides [[issue]]s.

Contrary to what you may hear today, our [[Founding Fathers|Founders]] did not like pure [[democracy|democracies]]. They worried about tyranny by the uninformed masses. They wanted a select group of [[Homo Sapiens|people]] making our [[law]]s.

Contrary to what you may hear today, our [[Founding Fathers|Founders]] did not like pure [[democracy|democracies]]. They worried about tyranny by the uninformed masses. They wanted a select group of [[people]] making our [[law]]s.

An example is our [[electoral college]]. [[Al Gore]] won more [[vote]]s than [[George W. Bush]], but [[George W. Bush|Bush]] won more [[vote]]s in the [[electoral college]]. Our [[President of the United States of America|president]] is not chosen directly by the [[Homo Sapiens|people]]. He is chosen by the [[Electoral College]]. Another example is the original procedure for choosing [[United States of America|U.S.]] [[Senator]]s. [[state]] legislators selected them, not the general public. (This was changed by the [[Seventeenth Amendment|17th Amendment]] in 1913 - see text[[book]] p. 334)

An example is our [[electoral college]]. [[Al Gore]] won more [[vote]]s than [[George W. Bush]], but [[George W. Bush|Bush]] won more [[vote]]s in the [[electoral college]]. Our [[President of the United States of America|president]] is not chosen directly by the [[people]]. He is chosen by the [[Electoral College]]. Another example is the original procedure for choosing [[United States of America|U.S.]] [[Senator]]s. [[state]] legislators selected them, not the general public. (This was changed by the [[Seventeenth Amendment|17th Amendment]] in 1913 - see text[[book]] p. 334)

The [[Constitution]] limits the [[power]] of the national [[government]] in several ways:

The [[Constitution]] limits the [[power]] of the national [[government]] in several ways:

<br>2. By creating three branches as “[[checks and balances]]” on each other.

<br>2. By creating three branches as “[[checks and balances]]” on each other.

<br>3. By making it difficult for one branch to act alone, without agreement by another branch.

<br>3. By making it difficult for one branch to act alone, without agreement by another branch.

<br>4. By later adding a [[Bill of Rights]] to protect the [[Homo Sapiens|people]] further.

<br>4. By later adding a [[Bill of Rights]] to protect the [[people]] further.

The original [[Constitution]] also includes a few restrictions on the [[state]]s, and even established a few individual [[rights]].

The original [[Constitution]] also includes a few restrictions on the [[state]]s, and even established a few individual [[rights]].