Civics_Ch2_web_howgovtworks

=**How your new government works**= Now you're ready to use your structure of the new government to explain how your new government will work.


 * 1. Checks and balances:** The majority of your delegates decided under principles that you wanted to put in a structure that allows each branch to make sure the others do not abuse their power. You set up a structure with separation of powers having separate branches of legislative to make laws, executive to enforce laws, and judicial to interpret law. It's time to set up this system. You'll need to set up a power that each branch has over the other two to make sure no one abuses power. Are you and the other delegates ready? Time to get to work!
 * (a)** __Legislative check over executive and judicial__ - The other delegates propose that the legislative body develop a power to remove any member of the executive branch or judicial branch if there is abuse of power. You need to work out the details by answering the following questions. What will actions by either the executive branch or judicial branch do you think would justify removal from power? How will the process work? What name are you going to call this process?
 * (b)** __Executive check over legislative__ - Do you want to give the executive some power over the legislative branch's power to make laws? If you answered yes, how will you give the executive branch power over the making of laws? If you answered no, what check will you give the executive over the legislative branch?
 * (c)** __Executive check over judicial__ - What power do you want to give the executive branch over the judicial branch?
 * (d)** __Judicial check over legislative and executive__ - You set up the judicial branch to interpret the law and your constitution. What power do you want to give the judicial branch if the legislative branch passes an unfair law or a law that goes against your constitution and if the executive branch violates the constitution?


 * 2. Elections:** You set up a republic, which is a type of government in which the voters elect officials to make decisions on their behalf. You need to make some decisions on elections.
 * (a)** What are the requirements going to be to vote? Some ideas would be an age requirement, citizenship requirement, and whether or not voters have to be living in one of the 13 ship sections.
 * (b)** Some of the delegates are worried about voters not paying attention to the issues and not really knowing the candidates that they would be voting for. Do you support voters having to pass a test on knowledge of issues and/or candidates in order to vote? Why?
 * (c)** Other delegates feel that the executive position is a very important position and that the regular voter shouldn't choose this position. Instead, some of the delegates suggest that you allow voters to elect individuals who are suppose to stay informed about the issues and these informed individuals elect the executive. Do you support this or against? Why?

__Central government powers__: You should list some of the powers you want to give to the new central government.
 * 3. Powers:** Time for you to specify the powers your new government will have.
 * (a)** How will you raise money for necessary government programs (be detailed as to where all revenue will come from)?
 * (b)** Will you give the government power to borrow money or put in a law that says the government can't spend more money than it brings in?
 * (c)** Will you give the government power to control the trade that goes from section to section on the island to keep each section from fighting over trade rights?
 * (d)** How are you going to defend the island and keep peace within the island?
 * (e)** What are some other powers that you want to give your new government?

__Powers denied to the central government__: It's a good idea to specify what your new government cannot do (remember, you're setting up limited government).
 * (a)** The writ of habeas corpus means that the a person accused of a crime must be told why he/she is being held. In other words, the writ of habeas corpus says that a person can't be locked up without any reason. Throughout history, governments of suspended the writ of habeas corpus in order to lock up political opponents or other religious groups. Do you want to deny the central government the power to ever suspend the writ of habeas corpus? Explain why.
 * (b)** What are some freedoms that you want to prevent your new government from violating?
 * (c)** What are some other powers that you want to prevent your new government from having?

4. Your constitution is complete and all delegates sign. The only thing left to take care of is convincing everyone else on the island that your new style of government is a good idea. Write a paragraph to convince the voters on the island to ratify (approve) your new constitution. Make it convincing because you need the majority of all of the votes.


 * Compare to the Founding Fathers:** Click here to see how close you are to our Constitution.


 * Did you meet the objective?** Click here to answer key questions.