Download Chapter 3: The U.S. Constitution

CIVICS IN PRACTICE
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Chapter 3
The U.S. Constitution
Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution
Section 2: The Three Branches of Government
Section 3: An Enduring Document
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Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution
The Main Idea
The Constitution is an agreement between the citizens of the
Untied States and the government that the people will grant
powers to the government. In return, the government is to
carry out the goals of the Constitution.
Reading Focus
 How did the Pilgrims influence the framers of the
Constitution?
 What are the goals of the U.S. government as outlined in the
Constitution?
 What are the powers the Constitution gives to the federal and
state governments?
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Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution
A. Pilgrims influenced the Framers
1. Mayflower
2. Mayflower Compact
a. Individual rights
b. Consent
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Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution
B. Government of the People
1. “We the People” (Preamble)
2. Popular sovereignty
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Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution
C. Goals of the U.S. Constitution
1. Limited Government
2. Majority rule / minority rights
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Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution
C. Goals of the U.S. Constitution
3. Six goals of the constitution
a. Form a more perfect union
b. Establish justice
c. Insure domestic tranquility
d. Provide for the common defense
e. Promote the general welfare
f. Secure the blessings of liberty
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Section 1: Ideals of the Constitution
D. Powers of Federal and State
Governments
1. Framers past experiences
2. Federalist system
a. Federal government
b. State governments
c. Strong points
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E. Federal Government Powers
1. Delegated
2. Powers given to the Federal government
a. Regulate trade
f. Govern territory
b. Coin money
g. Foreign relations
c. Declare war
h. Raise/support army
d. Admit new states
e. Establish post offices
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F. State Government Powers
1. Reserved
2. Powers
a. Regulate trade within state
b. Hold elections
c. Incorporate businesses
d. Issue licenses
e. Establish local governments
f. Provide for: public safety, health, welfare
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G. Shared Powers
1. Concurrent
a. Make and collect taxes
b. Borrow money
c. Make and enforce laws
d. Establish courts
e. Provide for the general welfare
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SECTION 1
Question: Why did the Constitution establish
separate powers for the state and federal
governments?
state
government
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to keep each
from getting
too strong
federal
government
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Section 2: The Three Branches of Government
The Main Idea
The Constitution prevents any person, or any part of the
government, from taking too much power. It does this by
creating three separate branches of the federal government
and distributing power among them.
Reading Focus
 Why does the Constitution provide for the separation of
powers?
 What are the main responsibilities of each of the three
branches of government?
 How does the system of checks and balances work?
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Section 2: The Three Branches of Government
A. Separation of Powers
1. Shield against tyranny
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Section 2: The Three Branches of Government
B. Legislative Branch—US Congress
1. Comprised of :
a. Senate
b. House of Representatives
2. Lawmaking arm of government
3. Controls flow of money
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Section 2: The Three Branches of Government
C. Executive Branch
1. President is head of executive branch
2. Executes / carries out laws
3. Includes:
a. 15 executive departments
b. State and Treasury
c. Homeland Security in 2002
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Section 2: The Three Branches of Government
D. Judicial Branch
1. Interprets laws passed by Congress
2. Sets punishment
3. Supreme Court head of Judicial
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Section 2: The Three Branches of Government
E. Checks and Balances:
1. Framers influenced by Montesquieu
2. Each branch can limit / check other branches
so no one branch is too powerful
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Section 2: The Three Branches of Government
E. Checks and Balances:
3. Executive Checks
a. Veto
4. Legislative Checks
5. Judicial Checks (originally not determined)
a. Judicial review
i. Marbury v. Madison
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SECTION 2
Question: Why does the Constitution provide
for the separation of powers?
Executive
to ensure that no one branch of the U.S.
government becomes too powerful
Legislative
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Judicial
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Section 3: An Enduring Document
The Main Idea
The Constitution is an enduring document that has met
the needs of a changing country for more than 200
years.
Reading Focus
 How did the framers envision change when writing
the Constitution?
 What are two ways in which the Constitution may be
changed?
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Section 3: An Enduring Document
A. Changing the Constitution
1. Difficult process—meant to survive politics
and temporary changes in public opinion
2. “Living” document
3. Can be changed formally and informally
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Section 3: An Enduring Document
B. Amendment Process
1. Amendment is a formal change
2. Approved by ¾ of the states
3. Only successful 27 times in 225+ years
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Section 3: An Enduring Document
B. Amendment Process
4. Amendment proposed in two ways
a. 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress
b. 2/3 of state legislatures ask Congress for
a national convention (34)
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Section 3: An Enduring Document
B. Amendment Process
5. Ratification process in two ways
a. Proposed amendment sent to state
legislatures
b. Proposed amendment sent to state
convention
c. Amendment ratified by ¾ of states (38)
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Section 3: An Enduring Document
C. Interpretation of the Constitution
1. Changes can be made by custom and tradition
a. Cabinet
2. Congress can interpret Constitution to decide
social issues
3. Supreme Court interpretation of
Congressional action
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Chapter 3 Wrap-Up
• What are the six goals of government as stated
in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution?
• What are the three branches of the federal
government, and what are their primary
responsibilities?
• How does the system of checks and balances in
the federal government work?
• What makes the Constitution of the United
States a living document?
• How can the Constitution be amended?
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