Download Constitution - Articles & Amendments

U.S.
Constitution
SSCG6 The student will demonstrate knowledge of civil liberties
and civil rights.
•Examine the Bill of Rights with emphasis on First Amendment freedoms.
•Analyze due process law expressed in the 5th and 14th Amendments.
Preamble

Sets forth goals of the country
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.
ARTICLES
of the United States Constitution
Article One
Legislative Branch


Creates a bicameral,
Congress
Includes a Senate
and a House of
Representatives.
Article Two
Executive Branch

President and Vice-President


Chosen by Electoral College
Explains impeachment
Article Three
Judicial Branch

Establishes Supreme Court
(Congress sets up all others)

Requires trial by jury for all
criminal cases, and defines the
crime of treason.
Article Four
State Relations

Defines how the
states must work
together



Full faith and
credit
Extradition
Privileges &
Immunities
Article Five
Amending the Constitution

Two step
process


Proposal
Ratification
(approval)
Changing the Constitution
Changed 27 times by the rules

Step 1: Proposal



2/3 of Congress
2/3 of Constitutional Convention
Step 2: Ratification


3/4 of state legislatures
3/4 of state conventions
Article Six
Supremacy Clause

Establishes the
Constitution as the
supreme law of the
land.

Requires that all
legislators, federal
officers and judges
take oaths to uphold
the Constitution.
Article Seven
Ratification

9 states will be
needed to ratify
(approve) the
Constitution
Amendments to the
Constitution
Government
st
1

Freedom of





Speech
Press
Petition
Assembly
Religion
Free exercise – practice any religion you want if it
does not interfere with the law
 Establishment clause – government can’t establish
a national religion

nd
2
 Right
arms
 (Can
to bear
be regulated by
the states through
licensing laws, wait
periods, etc)
rd
3
 No
quartering of soldiers in
times of peace
th
4

No unreasonable
search and seizure
 Miranda
warnings
 Warrants
th
5
 Rights





of the Accused
Can’t be forced to incriminate themselves
Right to a grand jury (decides there is enough
evidence for trial)
Can’t be tried for the same offense of law
twice (double jeopardy)
Right to due process (fair treatment)
People have the right to fair compensation
when their property is taken by the
government (eminent domain)
th
6
 Trial

Rights
People accused of a crime
 must
be told what crimes they have been
charged with
 have the right to a speedy and public trial
 have the right to a lawyer
 have the right to question witnesses
th
7
 Civil
cases (over money and
property) disputing more
than $20 have the right to a
jury trial
th
8
 No
cruel and unusual
punishment, no excessive
bail
th
9
 Rights
of the Individual
 Guarantees additional rights not
specifically listed anywhere else
in the Constitution
 Right
to privacy is often argued
under the 9th
th
10
 Powers
of the state
 Any power not granted to the
national government or denied
to the states may be taken on
by the states
th
11
 States
can’t be sued by
citizens from another state
th
12
 Election
of the
President & V.P.
 Separate
ballots
for Pres & VP in
electoral college
th
13
 Freedom
to former slaves
th
14
 Citizenship
Rights for all
(including former slaves)
 Due
process Clause
 Equal protection Clause
th
15
 Voting
Rights
No discrimination
on the basis of
race
th
16
 Legalized
income tax
th
17
 Direct
Election of Senators
Before this, Senators were
chosen by the state
legislature
th
18
 Prohibition
Made
it illegal to
manufacture, sell
and/or consume
liquor
th
19
 Women
can vote
th
20
 “Lame
Duck”
 Moved presidential inauguration
to noon on January 20th
 Moved start date of Congress to
noon on January 3rd
st
21
 Overturned
Prohibition
 Repealed the 18th
amendment and made liquor
legal again
nd
22
 Presidential
Term Limit
President can only be
elected to 2 terms of 4
years each
rd
23
 Gave
3
electoral votes
Washington DC
in the race for
president and
vice president
th
24
 No
poll taxes
You don’t have to pay to
vote
th
25
 Presidential
 If
 If
Disability
Pres dies, VP becomes Pres
VP dies, Pres picks a new one
& Congress has to approve
choice
th
26
 18
year olds can vote
th
27
 Congressional
No
pay
pay raise until after
they get re-elected