Download The U.S. Constitution

Basic Information
•
WHAT – A constitution is a basic plan of how any government is set up. It is like a recipe for
government.
•
WHO – James Madison is known as “The Father of the Constitution”
•
WHEN – The U.S. Constitution was ratified, or approved, in June 1788 after the 9th state New
Hampshire approved it as our plan of government. Delaware what the first state to approve it in Dec.
of 1787 and Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 in May of 1790.
•
WHERE – The Constitution was created in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
•
WHY – The Constitution was created because our original constitution, The Articles of Confederation,
had created a weak national government that had little power to do anything (raise taxes, settle
disputes between states, enforce laws, etc.). The need for a more powerful national government was
clear.
•
HOW – Our Constitution has three parts (a beginning, a middle, and an end)
•
1. The Preamble – the opening statement – it identifies the 6 goals of the U.S. Government
•
2. The Articles – main body – the 7 parts that describe the framework of the U.S. Government
•
3. The Amendments – changes – there have been 27 amendments to the Constitution
Article 1 – Legislative Branch
This article establishes or sets up the Legislative branch or Bi-cameral branch, otherwise known
as the Congress (lawmaking branch) and Powers:
- Power to make laws and pass laws
- Power to tax
- Power to wage war
•
There are two houses in congress, House of Representatives and Senate and each has its own
qualifications.
•
To be a representative one must be 25 years old and a citizen of the United States for 7 years.
Representatives hold their office for 2 year term.
•
To be a senator, one must be 30 years old and a citizen of the United States for 9 years.
Senators hold their office for six year term.
Article 2 – Executive Branch
This article establishes or sets up the Executive branch, otherwise known as the President.
The President’s main job, or Power is :
-to carryout (or execute) the laws of the country.
-can veto a law or stop it from becoming law
-Commander in Chief of the military, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps.
The president decides where troops shall be stationed, where ships shall be sent, and how
weapons shall be used. All military generals and admirals take their orders from the president
*remember he cannot declare war only congress
To become president one must be one must be a natural born citizen of the United States, at
least 35 years old and have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.
The president serves a term of four years in office and can be elected to two terms in a row.
Article 3 – Executive Branch
This article establishes or sets up the Judicial branch, otherwise known as the Supreme Court
and the court system.
The Supreme Court and the court system main job or power is:
- to interpret the laws of the country and determine if they are in line with the Constitution of
the United States.
Bottom line to decide if a law is “Constitutional”
There are no specific qualifications to become a justice of the Supreme Court and justices of the
Supreme Court serve for life as long as they maintain good behavior .
The 6 Goals of the Government
1. Form a more perfect union – design a better more efficient government (example:
printing money, build interstate highways)
2. Establish justice – equality under the law so no one will be unfairly treated (examples:
systems of courts, 14 amendment )
3. Ensure domestic tranquility (domestic means “at home”, tranquility means “peaceful”)
(examples police officers and firefighters)
4. Provide for the common defense – ensuring national security, protect citizens from
harm from outside the country. (example Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard)
5. Promote the general welfare – make social policies that are good for the country as a
whole and to take care of peoples’ needs (schools, state parks, Center for Disease Control)
6. Secure the blessings of liberty to both ourselves and our posterity – protecting the
rights of all citizens and make sure that future generations enjoy the same rights and
freedom that we have. Posterity means “generations after us”
The 7 Basic Principles of the Constitution
Important Ideas the founding fathers wanted to include
1) Popular Sovereignty- people in control of government/people grand government
authority popular = the people, sovereignty = power, control or rule
2) Limited Government- government is not all powerful/ the government has boundaries
3) Separation of Powers – (no one branch too strong) the Congress, President, Courts each
branch has different powers and responsibilities.
4) Checks and balances- (each branch can overrule another) each branch can check,
control or limit the powers of the others.
5) Federalism –(share of powers between STATE and FEDERAL government) state
governments has certain powers and the U.S. government has certain powers
6) Republicanism –(elect representatives) citizens elect people to represent them in
government.
7)
Individual Rights (of the people) –government does not give you rights, it protects
rights
The responsibilities and duties of a
citizen of the United States
1. Responsibilities: Serve as a juror, vote
on elections,
2. Duties: obey laws, register for
selective service, pay taxes
Goals:
1.
Form a more perfect union
2.
Establish justice
3.
Ensure domestic tranquility
4.
Provide for the common defense
5.
Promote the general welfare
6.
Secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity
7 Articles
The Constitution
Web
1 Legislative branch
2 Executive branch
3 Judicial branch
4 Relations between states
5 Amending constitution
6 The Constitution as the
Supreme Law of the land
7 Ratification of the
Constitution
Principles:
1.popular sovereignty
2. limited government
3.sepereation of powers
4. checks and balances
5. federalism
6. republicanism
7. individual rights
Write on the Back of the foldable
Bill of Rights amendments (first 10 amendments in the U.S. Constitution)
1. Freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, petition
2. Right to bear arms
3. Lodging of troops in private homes
4. search and seizure
5. Rights of the Accused (to due process, no double jeopardy, no self incrimination)
6. Speedy trial by impartial jury and a lawyer
7. Jury trial in civil cases
8. Bail and Punishment
9. Powers reserved to the People
10. Powers reserved to the States
1) Bill of Rights Amendments
Amendment 1 – protecting individual liberties of Speech, Religion, Press, Petition, Assembly
Amendments 2, 3, 4 – protecting against government abuse of power
Amendments 5, 6, 7, 8 – protecting the rights of the accused
Amendments 9, 10 – ensuring unstated rights to citizens and states
2) Civil War Amendments
Amendment 13 – abolishes slavery in the United States except for punishment for a crime
Amendment 14 – defines the rights of citizens and the equal protections under the law
Amendment 15 – guarantees citizens (including former slaves ) the right to vote
3) Voting Rights Amendments
Amendment 15 – extends voting rights to former slaves
Amendment 19 – extends voting rights to women
Amendment 26 – extends voting rights to 18 year olds