Download Chapter 3 The US Constitution

Chapter 3
The US
Constitution
Components
1.The Original Document
2. Bill of Rights
3. Amendments
The Constitution
 This remarkable document has protected
the fundamental and changing rights of
Americans for over two centuries.
 Came due to issues in the Articles of
Confederation and economic issues of
the times along with concerns over
defense.
The Original Document
 Preamble
Goals and Philosophy
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
 Articles
Responsibilities
Duties
3 Branches
Limits
Preamble
 We the people of the United States, In order to





form a more perfect union that would benefit all
Establish justice
Ensure domestic tranquility
Promote the general welfare
Secure the blessings of our liberty to ourselves
and our posterity
Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America
Preamble Meaning
 We want a better, more efficient system
of government than was possible under
the Article of Confederation
 We want all people treated fairly under
the same laws
 We want to ensure an adequate defense
against those who would be our
enemies.
Preamble Meaning
 We want to ensure peaceful existence
within the United States.
 We want to keep our freedom and
certain that our children and our
children’s children have those same
freedoms.
 Help people live happy free lives.
Bill of Rights
 First 10 Amendments
 “a BOR are what he people are entitled too”----
Thomas Jefferson
 The BOR was born out of distrust for
government, kings, tyrants and abusive
governments.
 James Madison introduced the first set of
Constitutional Amendments by proposing 80
issues they were pared down to 10.
Bill of Rights
 The government could not violate the Rights of
Individuals to:
Speak Freely
Publish Freely
Assemble Peacefully
Bear Arms
Practice their own religion
Not testify against themselves
Subject to unreasonable search and seizure
Have jury trials
State retention of some power
Additional Amendments
Six Basic Principles
The Constitution---the Supreme Law of the land
is built on six basic principles
 Popular Sovereignty
 Limited Government
 Separation of Powers
 Checks and Balances
 Judicial Review
 Federalism
Popular Sovereignty
 Government authority comes from the
people
The preamble spells this out:
WE THE PEOPLE
Majority decides
Ensures government serves the people
No one comes to office due to birth
ex. monarchy
Limited Government
 How the government must act
 Article 1 sec. 9 Writs of Habeas Corpus
Bills of Attainder
 Poll taxes
Ex post facto
Separation of Powers
 3 Branches of Government
 The first 3 articles spell this out
 Legislative/Executive/Judicial
 Explains their responsibility to the
People
 No portion of gov’t gets too powerful
 Prevents concentration of power or
abuse of power.
Checks and Balances
 Allows branches to restrain each other’s
power
 Watchdog element of government
 Veto/power of the purse/impeachment
Judicial Review
 Determination of constitutionality
 Marbury v. Madison
 Ultimate interpretation of the document
and arbitrator of conflicts between
branches of government.
 Supremacy Clause
 Elastic Clause
 Rule of Law
Federalism
 Allows and balances power between
national and state governments
 Delineates power
Reserved Powers
Delegated Powers
 Division of power