Texas Principles of Government

Principles of Government
and Constitutional Rights

Texas Government

What are principles of government?

The principles of government are the basic ideas that guide how a government
is organized and operates. These include fairness, sharing power, protecting
people's rights, and ensuring the government gets its authority from the people.

We will discuss FLIC

●Federalism

●Limited government

●Individual rights

●Checks and balances

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the principles of government?

• The rules that citizens must follow every day.

• The basic ideas that guide how a government is organized and operates.

• The specific laws created by a country's leaders.

• The traditions passed down by leaders in history.

Federalism

system of government where power is
shared between a central national
government and smaller state or local
governments.

Multiple Choice

What is federalism?

• A system where only the national government has power.

• A system where power is shared between the national and state governments

• A system where the states have all the power and the national government has none.

• A system where citizens directly control all government decisions.

Limited Government

idea that a government’s power is
restricted by laws or a constitution to
protect people's rights.

Multiple Choice

What does limited government mean?

• The government has unlimited power over its citizens.

• The government’s power is restricted to protect people's rights.

• The government can do whatever it wants without following laws.

• The government shares power equally with all citizens.

Individual Rights

basic freedoms and protections that
every person has, which the
government must respect and protect.

Multiple Choice

What are individual rights?

• The powers given only to the government.

• The basic freedoms and protections that every person has.

• The rules that only leaders must follow.

• The responsibilities people have to obey the government.

Checks and
Balances

system where each branch of
government can limit the power of the
other branches to keep them balanced
and prevent any one branch from
becoming too powerful.

Multiple Choice

What is checks and balances?

• A system where each branch of government shares the same powers.

• A system where each branch of government can limit the power of the others.

• A system where the government gives all power to one branch.

• A system where branches of government are completely independent

Constitutional Rights

There are some basic rights we are all given under the constitution. These are known as the Bill of Rights. We are going to discuss four of these guaranteed rights given to us as individuals by the constitution.

Freedom of speech
and press

right to express ideas and opinions
and share information without fear of
government punishment or control.

Multiple Choice

What is freedom of speech and press?

• The right for the government to control all public communication.

• The right to express ideas and share information without government punishment.

• The rule that only the government can share important news.

• The rule that people must only express approved opinions.

Right to assemble
peacefully

the right of people to gather in groups
for meetings, protests, or
demonstrations without fear of
government interference, as long as it
is peaceful.

Multiple Choice

What is the right to assemble peacefully?

• The right to protest violently against the government.

• The right to gather in groups peacefully for meetings or protests.

• The right to gather only in private places without government permission.

• The right to gather without any restrictions, even if disruptive.

Right to due process

the guarantee that the government will
follow fair rules and procedures before
taking away a person’s rights or
property.

Multiple Choice

What is the right to due process?

• The right to be punished without a trial.

• The right to have the government follow fair procedures before taking away rights or property.

• The right to be ignored by the government.

• The right to break the law without consequences.

Freedom of worship

right to practice any religion or no
religion at all, without interference from
the government.

Multiple Choice

What is freedom of worship?

• The right to practice any religion or no religion without government interference.

• The right to worship only the state-approved religion.

• The right to force others to practice your religion.

• The right to be punished for not following a religion.