Limiting Government

President Fujimori of President Fujimori of Peru is an example of Peru is an example of

what can happen when a what can happen when a government has nothing government has nothing

to limit its power. to limit its power.

There are many ways There are many ways that governments are that governments are

kept in “check” (limited) kept in “check” (limited) so they won’t have too so they won’t have too

much power. much power.

Checks on Checks on GovernmentGovernment

ConstitutionConstitution

Rule of Rule of LawLaw

Minority Minority RightsRights

Consent of the Consent of the GovernedGoverned

Separation of Separation of PowerPower

Here’s how a constitution limits government:

› Tells how laws are made

› Sets rules for how the government functions

› Lists the rights and responsibilities of citizens

Most countries have written constitutions

A constitution is the rulebook for a country’s government.

When President When President Fujimori took Fujimori took

control of Peru’s control of Peru’s government, government,

what did he do what did he do to Peru’s to Peru’s

constitution? constitution?

Listing the _________ and Listing the _________ and the _______________ of the _______________ of citizenscitizens

Telling how ________ are Telling how ________ are mademade Setting ________ for the Setting ________ for the

governmentgovernment

Constitutions limit government Constitutions limit government by:by:

laws

rules

responsibilities

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rights

Here’s how the rule of law limits government:

› The law applies to everyone

› Even the president must follow the law

› The government can’t take illegal actions

Rule of law means that nobody is above the law.

The rule of law is stronger in some countries than it is in others.

2005 – Worldwide Governance Indicators

Strongest (90-100%)Strong (75-90%)

Average (50-75%)

Weak (25-50%)

Weaker (10-25%)

Weakest/None(0-10%)

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When President Fujimori took control of the

government, did he follow the law?

The law applies to The law applies to ________________________

The government cannot The government cannot take actions that are take actions that are __________________

Even the ___________ must Even the ___________ must follow the lawfollow the law

The rule of law limits The rule of law limits government because:government because:

everyone

President

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illegal

Here’s how separation of power limits government:

› No branch has all the power

› Each branch can “check” (limit) what the other branches do

› Responsibilities are balanced among the branches

Separation of power divides power among different branches of government.

Lots of countries Lots of countries around the world separate power around the world separate power into branches!into branches!

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United United StatesStates

HungaryHungary

PakistaPakistann

FijiFiji

EgyptEgyptMoroccoMorocco

IcelanIcelandd

IndonesiIndonesiaa

IranIran

GreecGreecee

ChileChile

JapanJapan

JamaicJamaicaa

FranceFranceCanadaCanada

MexicoMexico

PanamPanamaa

AND AND MORE!MORE!

Which branch Which branch did President did President

Fujimori get rid Fujimori get rid of when he took of when he took

control of control of Peru’s Peru’s

government?government?

No branch has all the _______No branch has all the _______

Responsibilities are Responsibilities are ___________ among all the ___________ among all the branchesbranches

Each branch can Each branch can “________” what the other “________” what the other branches dobranches do

Separation of power limits Separation of power limits government because:government because:

power

check

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balanced

Here’s how consent of the governed limits government:

› Citizens have the right to vote

› Citizens can use their vote to change how the government is run

› By voting, citizens could even change the constitution

Consent of the governed means that the citizens give their permission for the government to operate.

Election Posters from Around the WorldElection Posters from Around the World

Citizens in many Citizens in many countries around the world have the countries around the world have the right to vote.right to vote.

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When President When President Fujimori took Fujimori took control of the control of the

government, did government, did the majority of the majority of Peru’s citizens Peru’s citizens support him?support him?

Citizens have the right Citizens have the right to________to________

By voting, citizens could By voting, citizens could even change the even change the ____________________________

Citizens can use their vote Citizens can use their vote to __________ how the to __________ how the government is rungovernment is run

Consent of the governed Consent of the governed limits government because:limits government because:

vote

change

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Constitution

Here’s how minority rights limit government:

› Everyone’s rights are protected

› Nobody is too unimportant to be treated equally under the law

› Even unpopular groups must be treated fairly

Minority rights give protection of the law to every group of people, no matter how small.

When President When President Fujimori took Fujimori took control of the control of the

government, was government, was he looking out for he looking out for the rights of all the rights of all people (even people (even

suspected suspected terrorists)?terrorists)?

Everyone’s rights are Everyone’s rights are ______________________

Even ____________ groups Even ____________ groups must be treated fairlymust be treated fairly

Nobody is too _____________ Nobody is too _____________ to be treated equally under to be treated equally under the lawthe law

Minority rights limit Minority rights limit government because:government because:

protected

unimportant

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unpopular

Let’s Let’s review! review!

The rulebook for a The rulebook for a government is government is

called… called…

A A constitutionconstitution

!!Good Job!Good Job!

Splitting a Splitting a government into government into

different branches is different branches is called… called…

Separation Separation of Power!of Power!

Keep it up!Keep it up!

Protecting even Protecting even small or unpopular small or unpopular groups of people is groups of people is

called…called…

Minority Minority Rights!Rights!

You’re on a roll!You’re on a roll!

A country where A country where citizens show their citizens show their

approval or disapproval approval or disapproval by voting has…by voting has…

Consent of Consent of the the

Governed!Governed!Nice one!Nice one!

A country where A country where nobody is above the nobody is above the

law has …law has …

Rule of Law!Rule of Law! Way to go!Way to go!

Discuss It:Discuss It: Which limits did President Fujimori Which limits did President Fujimori have after he took control of the government?have after he took control of the government?

Constitution

Rule of Law

Separating Power

Minority Rights

Consent of the Governed

What do you think?What do you think?

Is it enough for a Is it enough for a government to have only government to have only

one limitation on its power?one limitation on its power?