Structure of the Constitution

Structure of the Constitution

• The Constitution of the United States– organizes the basic political institutions of the country

• Introduction to the Constitution is the Preamble– Outlines the goals of the government

• 7 articles that are split into sections• Contains 27 amendments

– Divides powers between the nation and the states– Divides the government into 3 separate branches

• Creates separation of powers• Provides checks and balances

Article 1: Legislative Branch

• Article 1– The legislative branch

• Makes the laws • Broken into 10 sections

– Congress– House of reps– Senate– Elections and Sessions– Housekeeping – Pay and Privileges– Legislation– Enumerated Powers– Restrictions on Congress– Restrictions on the states

Article 2: Executive Branch

• Article 2:– Executive Branch• Enforces the laws• 4 sections

– President and Vice President – Presidential Powers– Executive Responsibility(enforce laws/pass treaties)– Impeachment

Article 3: Judicial Branch

• Article 3– Judicial Branch• Interprets the laws• 3 sections

– Federal courts» Supreme Court is the supreme law of the land, or the highest court in the land

– Jurisdiction and judicial reviews– Treason

Articles 4-7: The Federal SystemAr

ticle

4#1: Full faith and Credit #2:Privileges and Immunities#3: Equal Footing#4: The Guarantee Clause

Article 5:• Amending the

Constitution

Article 6:• The Supreme law of the

land

Article 7:• Ratification

Amendments:• Changes to the

Constitution• First 10 aka. Bill of Rights

Review

Articles 4-7

Making the Federal system work

Articles 1-3

Legislative branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch

The Constitution is Composed of

Preamble Articles 1-7 Bill of rights/amendments

Separation of Powers in the Constitution

•Article 1•#1: all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in

a Congress, which consists of a Senate and a House of Rep.s

Legislative BranchMakes laws

•Article 2•#1: The executive power shall be vested in a President of

the USAExecutive BranchEnforces laws

•Article 3•#1: The judicial power of the US, shall be vested in one

Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish

Judicial BranchInterprets laws

Article 1: Legislative Branch

• Powers and functions given to the legislative branch include:– Lay and collect taxes– Borrow money– Regulate commerce(interstate)– Coin money– Establish post offices– Declare war– Raise and support the military– Make all “necessary and proper”(This is known as the Elastic Clause) laws

Article 2: Executive Branch

• Powers and functions given to the Executive branch include:– Commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy– Granting pardons– Making treaties– Appointing ambassadors(cabinet heads, judges to the Supreme Court)

– Make temporary appointments to offices that require Senate approval

– Deliver State of the Union message(to the Senate to keep them informed)

– “take care that the laws be faithfully executed”

Article 3: Judicial Branch

• Powers and functions given to the Judicial branch include:– Right to handle “cases arising under this

Constitution”– Judicial review• Power to void laws

Review

Legislative Branch

• Makes laws• “necessary

& proper”

Executive Branch

• Enforce laws• “faithfully

execute”

Judicial Branch

• Interpret laws• Judicial

Review

Checks and Balances

LegislativeChecks on executive branch• Impeachment • Override president vetoes(2/3

majority)• Senate approve president

appointments• Senate approve treaties• Declare war• Enact taxes & allocate funds• President report on the state of

the Union to Congress

Checks on Judicial branch• Senate approves federal judges• Impeachment• Initiate constitutional

amendments(21)• Set jurisdiction of courts

Checks on itself• Bills must be passed by both

chambers of Congress• House must originate revenue

bills • Neither chamber may adjourn

for than 3+ days without consent of the other

Checks and Balances

ExecutiveChecks on legislative branch• President has veto power• Call special sessions of Congress• Recommend laws• President is commander-in-chief

of the military

Checks on Judicial branch• Appoint judges• Pardon for federal crimes

Checks and Balances

JudicialChecks on legislative branch• Judicial review

• Declare laws unconstitutional• Seats are held on “good

behavior”• Compensation can’t be

diminished

Checks on executive branch• Judicial review

• Declare executive orders unconstitutional

• Chief justice presides during impeachment of the president

• Lifetime appointments

Review

ChecksExecutiveJudicial

ChecksLegislative

Judicial

Checks Legislative Executive

• The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are known as __________.

• D.• the Bill of Rights

• The introduction of the US Constitution is called the

• Preamble

• All of the following statements about Article II of the Constitution are TRUE except:

• A.• Article II is broken into ten sections.

• The __________ in the Constitution gives Congress the flexibility to make all “necessary and proper” laws.

• D.• Elastic Clause

• All of the following statements about the Constitution are TRUE except:

• B.• It divides powers between the nation and states.• C.• It divides the government into three separate branches.• D.• It organizes the basic political parties found within the country.•

• What is judicial review?

• A.• The power of the Judicial Branch to review

laws, Executive orders, and Executive acts to ensure that they are Constitutional.

• The introduction to the Constitution is called __________.

• B.• the Preamble

• All of the following statements about Article I of the Constitution are TRUE except:

• D.• Article I gives the Senate authority over the

House of Representatives.

• Which document, signed by King John in 1215, was important for the United States government?

• C.• the Magna Carta

• Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the Constitution.• checks and balances:Limits imposed on each branch of government

by giving each branch a measure of influence over the other branches.

• separation of powers: The doctrine that individual branches of government have unique powers that the other branches cannot infringe upon.

• void: To invalidate, nullify.• Interstate: So state-to-state, also foreign commerce.• Commerce: is trade.

• #1: Meaning that laws in other states have to be respected. #2: Citizens of one state are protected when they go into others. #3: No one's status is larger or more powerful than another. #4: The guarantee clause guaranteed a republican government will be in the states.

• Article VI is the Supremacy Clause where the Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

• Article VII we wrote the Constitution, the founding fathers at the Constitutional Convention, then they put in

• Article VII what needs to be done to pass this and make it official. • Amendments are changes to the Constitution The first 10 are known

as the Bill of Rights. Those are James Madison's creations to protect our liberties and freedoms.