Download The United States Constitution and Bill of Rights

The United States Constitution and
Bill of Rights
CA Standards:
 10.1.3 – Consider the influence of the U.S. Constitution
on political systems in the contemporary world
 10.2.2 – List the principles of…the Bill of Rights (1791)
Important Events
July 4, 1776 –
Declaration of
Independence
 Articles of
Confederation 1781
 Constitutional
Convention (1787)
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Constitution becomes
supreme law (1788)
 Bill of Rights (1791)
James Madison
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Disliked the Articles of
Confederation
 Virginia Plan
 Federalist Papers
(1787)
 Father of the
Constitution and the
Bill of Rights
Constitution
“the greatest single effort of national deliberation that the world has
ever seen” ~John Adams
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Written in 1787 at the Constitutional
Convention in Philadelphia and signed
September 17, 1787
 Signed by 55 “Founding Fathers”
 The major sticking point to ratifying the
Constitution was the lack of a Bill of Rights
– Bill of Rights added in 1791
Preamble
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 our Posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution of the United
States of America.
Constitution
“We the people of the United States…”
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Preamble - Introduction and goals of the Constitution
Article 1 – The Legislative Branch
Article 2 – The Executive Branch
Article 3 – The Judicial Branch
Article 4 – States and Federal Government
Article 5 – Amending the Constitution
Article 6 – Constitution is law of the land, authorized
national debt, oath of public officials to
support the Constitution
Article 7 – Requirements for ratification of Constitution
Main Ideas of the Constitution
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Authority comes from
the people
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Social contract
Individual rights
Rule of Law
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Consent of
Government
 Limited Government
 Balance of Power
Legacy of the Constitution
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Withstood the test of time
 Over 200 years
 Many countries have based their
constitutions and governments off the
United States
Bill of Rights
(Added in 1791)
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Federalists (NO) v. Anti-Federalists (YES)
 Preserves the rights of the people
 First 10 Amendments
– Amendment 1 – Freedom of religion, speech and press
– Amendment 2 – Right to bare arms
– Amendment 3 – Limits the quartering of soldiers
– Amendment 4 – Search and seizure of property
– Amendment 5 – Right to a trial, no double jeopardy, no
self-incrimination
Bill of Rights
cont’d
– Amendment 6 – right to a speedy trial and
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confrontation of witnesses
Amendment 7 – Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
Amendment 8 – Prohibits cruel and unusual
punishment
Amendment 9 – People may have other rights, even if
they are not listed here
Amendment 10 – The federal government’s powers are
limited to those listed in the Constitution