Download Preamble

The Constitution
(How is our government set up?)
What is the Constitution?
• A document that explains how our
government is set up and will run
• It is the highest law in the land. All other
laws must agree with the Constitution.
Outline of the Constitution
I. Preamble
(Introduction to the Constitution)
II. Articles
(How our Government is set up)
III. Amendments
(Changes/additions to the Constitution)
The Preamble
• Introduction to the constitution
• States purpose of the constitution and
U.S. Government
The Preamble
• We the people, in order to form a more
perfect union, establish justice, maintain
domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, the public welfare and
maintain the blessings of liberty to our
posterity do ordain and establish this
constitution for the United States of
America.
Goals set out in the Preamble:
1. Form a more perfect union
•
A more powerful and better government
than the Articles of Confederation, to unite
the states better.
2. Establish Justice
•
Make laws and see criminals punished
3. Maintain Domestic Tranquility
•
Keep the peace at home
Goals set out in the Preamble:
4. Provide for the Common Defense
•
Keep us safe
5. The Public Welfare
•
The well being of all citizens
6. Maintain the Blessings of Liberty to
Ourselves and our Posterity
•
Protect our freedoms for ourselves and
upcoming generations
The Articles
• The articles outline how our government is
set up, the powers of each branch, checks
and balances, powers denied the
government and how the constitution is to
be ratified.
Article
1. Legislative
Explanation
Makes the laws
2. Executive
Enforces the laws
3. Judicial
Interprets and applies laws
4. States
Relationship Between
5. Amendments
How to change the Const.
6. Supremacy
Clause
Federal Gov’t superior to
states
7. Ratification
Approval by states
3 Branches of Govt.
Checks And Balances
• Division of power between the branches of
government to make sure no branch
becomes too powerful
• Each branch has the power to CHECK
(keep an eye on) and BALANCE (cancel
out) the others.
Executive and Legislative
•
Executive on Legislative
1. Veto (cancel) Laws
2. Call Emergency Session of Congress
3. Recommend Legislation
•
Legislative on Executive
1.
2.
3.
4.
2/3 vote overrides Veto
Approves Presidential Treaties and Appointments
Appropriates funds to presidential programs
Creates Federal Agencies
Executive and Judicial
•
Executive on Judicial
1. Appoints federal judges and Supreme Court
Justices
•
Judicial on Executive
1. Judges appointed for life, free from
executive control
2. Can declare Executive actions
unconstitutional
Legislative and Judicial
•
Legislative on Judicial
1. Senate approves judicial appointments
2. Creates lower courts
3. Can remove judges through impeachment
•
Judicial on Legislative
1. Can declare laws unconstitutional
Judicial Review
• 1803 Marbury v Madison established the right of
Supreme Court to interpret laws passed by
Congress
• John Marshall- Chief Justice of Supreme Court
who increased power of court with early rulings
• IT is this power that allows the Court to declare
laws and executive actions
UNCONSTITUTIONAL (does not agree with the
Constitution); therefore cannot be a law!
Federalism
• Separation of power between the National
(Federal) government and State/Local
governments
• The powers given to each level of
government are defined in the Constitution
Federalism
• Delegated Powers: Powers given to
Congress/the Federal government
• Reserved Powers: Powers given to the
states
• Concurrent Powers: Powers shared by
both state and Federal government
Electoral College
• Voters cast ballots for electors
• Electors cast ballots for President + VP
• if candidate wins majority of votes in a
state he/she get all the electors
• large states have more electors so
candidates focus on these states
Amendments
Amendments are official changes to the
constitution, there are 27 only
Bill of Rights: included in Constitution to
protect individuals from the power of the
Federal government, they protects basic civil
liberties