TheConstitution

There are 3 parts to the Constitution:Preamble – introduction

paragraph that tells why the Const’n was written and lists the

purposes of government.Articles (7)– explain how the government is to work.

Amendments (27) – changes in the Constitution.

ARTICLE ILegislative

BranchLawmake

rs2 Houses

Tells -- how rep’s are chosen- how a bill becomes a law- Congress’s powers- what Congress can NOT do.

ARTICLE IIExecutive

Branch

President

Cabinet

Vice-President

Law Enforcers!

ARTICLE IIIJudicial BranchInterpret the

lawSupreme Court – national court that

only takes cases that involve the

Constitution, federal laws, treaties, and disputes between

states.

ARTICLE IVStates

Respect each others

laws, court decisions, and

records. Process for creating new states

ARTICLE VSpecifies how amendments

(changes) to the Constitution are made – Framers

looked to the future.

ARTICLE VIClaims that the Constitution is the “law of the

land” and outweighs state laws and court

decisions.

ARTICLE VIISpecifies that 9 states have to ratify a new constitution.Do you think this is gonna stay the

same????In fact, remember the deal between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists? There are more changes in the constitution already in the making…

NO!

AmendmentsChanges in the Constitution!!

Since the Constitution was ratified in 1789, there have been 27 changes – amendments.The first 10 amendments satisfied

the “deal” between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. These first

10 amendments ARE the promised….

BILL OF RIGHTSThese first ten amendments

– the Bill of Rights – was added in completion in

1791. They safeguard the

individual citizen’s rights and liberties.

Other amendments improve the way our government works – like

allowing Congress to collect income tax -

a tax on people’s earnings.This provides our government with

a source of making money so the government can pay for services it

provides to citizens.

Judicial Branch’s job is to interpret laws.The amendments (changes) to the

Constitution occurred due to interpretation!

Article I – gives Congress the power to “make all laws that are necessary and proper”. Which means Congress has

powers not necessarily listed in the Constitution.

These powers that aren’t listed in the Constitution are

known as …implied powers.(powers not listed in the

Constitution)

{Open book to p.88 and do map skills}

End of Sec. 3

Principles Underlying the Constitution

Chapter 3 Section 4

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention

determined that the government should represent the people and

should have some limits.

They also determined that the power should be divided among different levels of

government. To achieve this, the Framers embraced 5 fundamental principles: popular sovereignty the rule of law separation of powers checks and balances federalism

Article IV guarantees the American people “a Republican Form of

Government.”Today, a “republic” any representative government headed by a president or

similar leader.

During the Framers time, it meant a representative democracy with supreme

power belonging to the people.

Popular Sovereignty – power lies with the people!

The Declaration expressed strong support for popular sovereignty. The Constitution limited the government

by the “rule of law.”The law applies to EVERYONE!To further protect against abuse of

power and the possibility of one person or group gaining too much power the power, or authority, was

split among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.This is called SEPARATION OF POWERS.

To keep any one branch from becoming too powerful, the

Constitution includes a system of CHECKS AND BALANCES – each

branch is able to check up on the others which balances the power.

Impeachme

nt

Veto

Further limits on government arise in a federal system. Under federalism power is shared by the national and

state governments.

Each level of government has independent authority over people at the same time. Americans must obey both

federal and state laws.

Fed. Gov’t State Gov’tBOTH Implied powersExpressed powers

Reserved powers concurrent powers

1. Trade w/ other countries

2. Foreign affairs3. Army4. Coin & print $5. Post offices

1. Trade w/ other states

2. Est. local govt’s3. elections4. Public schools

1. Enforce laws2. Estab. courts3. taxes4. Borrow money

Federalism – powers shared by federal and state governments

Expressed – (implied) powers given to the federal (national ) gov’tReserved – powers given to the state gov’t

Concurrent – powers shared by the federal and state governments

Because the federal and state governments share powers in America, there might one day be a conflict between the two. So, the Framers included the supremacy clause in

Article VI. Article VI declares that the Constitution is the “supreme

laws of the land”. States may do nothing that goes against the Constitution or the federal laws.The United States Constitution stands

as a powerful symbol of American values and a source of pride and unity.