Download Principles_of_the_U.S._Constitution

Principles of the Constitution
How it all fits together
The Preamble
• The Preamble: the very first paragraph of the
purpose of
Constitution declares what the _________
the U.S. government is.
“We the People of the United States, in
Order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice, insure domestic
Tranquility, provide for the common
defence,[1] 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.”
“We the people…”
people have the
Popular Sovereignty: The __________
__________
power in America, it is a democracy!
“In order to form a more perfect
union…”
• To create a more “perfect union” is to strive to
people closer
states and the _________
bring the ________
together and make this country better. As
close as to __________
perfection as possible.
“Establish justice…”
• Justice means to make sure that every
fairly
American is treated ________.
“Ensure domestic tranquility…”
physically
• To make sure that everyone is safe ________
property
and in _________.
To keep the peace.
“Provide for the common defense…”
• To be ready to protect citizens from
military
attack
__________
______.
“Promote the general welfare…”
• To help the citizens to create a better
standard of _________.
living
_________
-In other words to make a better life for
people.
“Secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity...”
future generations.
• Posterity: _________
freedom lasts for many years
• To make sure _________
to come.
“Do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of
America.”
• This Constitution is A-Okay for America!
5 Basic Principles of the U.S.
Constitution
Popular Sovereignty
1. Popular Sovereignty: The
People have the power!
Limited Government
• 2. Limited Government: The government is
all
powerful
NOT _________
_______________
and is
limited by what is allowed in the
__________________.
Constitution
Federalism
• 3. Federalism: A form of government in which
power is _________between
the
shared
Federal government (the National
___________
state governments.
Government) and the ________
Types of Power
• Expressed/Enumerate/Delegated Power: a
power (such as declaring war) that only the
Federal
________(the
National Government in
Washington D.C.) has. It is in the Constitution.
Types of Power
• Reserved Powers: Power (like establishing cities and
state
towns) that only the __________
_________________(our
state government in Raleigh)
governments
have. Not in U.S. Constitution, so it is reserved for the
states (10th Amendment).
Types of Power
• Concurrent Powers: Power (like taxing
citizens) that ________
both
governments
________________have.
Separation of Powers
• 4. Separation of Powers: to have important
governmental powers _____into
three so no
split
power
one has more ____________
than the other.
Checks and Balances
• 5. Checks and Balances: Each branch will have
limit the power
the ability to check, or ________,
of another branch. Examples include:
– Congress can remove a president from
office.
– President can veto laws passed by Congress.
– Supreme Court can declare acts of Congress
and president unconstitutional and void.
3 Important Clauses of the
Constitution
• The Constitution is a contract between the
government and the people. Clauses are rules
and provisions that make up a contract.
Not that
Claus
Supremacy Clause
• Supremacy Clause: The Constitution is the
_____________
supreme law of the land; nothing is above or
can override it. ___________
Federal Law must follow the
State law cannot conflict with
Constitution. ___________
Federal law, if it does then Federal law is supreme (to
be followed).
Necessary and Proper Clause
• Necessary and Proper Clause: This gives the
federal government __________
implied powers,
things not listed in the Constitution as a
power of Congress but is assumed. Also
known as the __________
elastic clause because it
allows Congress to ________
stretch its power.
– Example: The Constitution does not say Congress
can create an ______
But they can
air __________.
force
create a ____________,
military and it is implied that the
Air Force is a part of the military.
Elastic Clause
Power stretches so that Congress can do more things with their
expressed powers. For instance, Congress has the power to print
money, so they used that power to create the Federal Reserve, who is
responsible for printing the money, even though the Constitution
doesn’t say they can do this.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
• Full Faith and Credit Clause: Each state must
recognize the ________
court decisions and
legal
____________
documents of other states.
married in NC you are
– Example: If you are __________
married everywhere because the other states
recognize a NC Marriage Certificate. The same is
true for driver’s licenses.