Download Chapter 11 Notes

Chapter 11 Notes
U.S. History
11-1: Basic Principles
• In the U.S. the people are sovereign
• Preamble states “We the people…”
Preamble to the Constitution
• We the people of the United States, in order
to form a more perfect Union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for
the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United
States of America
Preamble
• The Preamble lists reasons for establishing a
government:
– Form a more perfect Union
– Establish justice
– Insure domestic tranquility
– Provide for the common defense
– Promote the general welfare
– Secure the blessings of liberty
Parts of the Constitution
• Preamble
• Articles
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Article I: The Legislative Branch
Article II: The Executive Branch
Article III: The Judicial Branch
Article IV: The States and the Nation
Article V: Amending the Constitution
Article VI: The Supreme Law of the Land
Article VII: Ratification
• Signatures
• Amendments
– Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10)
– Amendments 11-27
A Democracy and a Republic
• The U.S. is a democracy and a republic
• Democracy: Government in which the people
rule
• Republic: Government in which the people
rule through representatives
• Representative Democracy: Leaders are
elected by the people to run day-to-day
business of the government
Limited Government
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Limited power of the national government
Cannot suspend right of habeas corpus
Cannot pass bills of attainder
Cannot pass ex post facto laws
Cannot interfere with freedom of speech or of
the press
A Federalism: The Division of Powers
• Federal System: power divided between
states and national government
• Also called federalism
• States take care of local matters
• National government takes care of matters
that affect the whole nation
Powers of the Federal Government
• Delegated powers: powers given to the
national government in the Constitution
• Expressed powers: stated specifically
• Implied powers: needed to carry out its
duties, but are not written down
Powers of the States
• Reserved powers: powers that only the states
have; protected by the 10th Amendment
• Shared powers: powers that the states share
with the national government
• Denied powers: powers the states do not have
The Supremacy of the Constitution
• Article VI states that the Constitution is the
supreme law of the nation
• No state can pass a law that conflicts with the
Constitution or with any treaty or law passed
under the authority of the Constitution
11-2: How the National Government
Works
• Power divided between three branches of
government
– Legislative
– Executive
– Judicial
Legislative Branch: Congress
• Powers described in Article I, Section I
• Duty: make laws for the nation
• Bicameral – two houses
Senate
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Upper house
2 Senators per state
Serve 6 year terms
Qualifications
– At least 30 years old
– Citizen for at least 9 years
– Resident of the state in which he/she is running
for office
House of Representatives
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Lower House
Proportional representation
Serve 2 year terms
Qualifications
– At least 25 years old
– Citizen for at least 7 years
– Resident of the state in which he/she is running
for office
Powers of Congress
Senate
• Senate can act as court in
impeachment trials
• Senate has power to advise
and consent to all
presidential appointments
and treaties
House
• House can impeach the
President and other officials
• Revenue bills must start in
the House
Powers of Congress
• Choose President and Vice President if no
candidate receives a majority
• Necessary and Proper Clause
– Congress can pass laws necessary and proper to
fulfill its responsibilities
– Also called the “Elastic Clause”
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Executive Branch: President
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Sees that laws are executed or put into effect
Duties described in Article II, Section 1
Elected to a 4 year term
Two term limit established in 1951
Qualifications
– At least 35 years old
– Resident of US for 14 years
– Natural born citizen
May Roles
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Chief Executive
Chief of State
Chief Diplomat
Commander in Chief
Chief Legislator
Head of Political Party
Electing the President
• Electoral College