The Constitution

Summer School 2015

Preamble

• 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.

6 Principles

• Popular Sovereignty– The power in the government resides in the

people– People have the power to elect their

representatives

• Limited Government– Government has only as much authority as the

people give it.– Many parts of the constitution are about limiting

the power of the branches.

6 Principles cont…

• Separation of Powers – Government broken into 3 Branches– Designed to prevent the misuse of power

• Checks and Balances– Each Branch has the ability to Check the

power of the others.– Prevents the ability for government to damage

rights of citizens

6 Principles cont…

• Judicial review– All laws can be reviewed by the Supreme

Court to decide if they are constitutional

• Federalism– Federal Government is Supreme– State and local governments can all be

overridden by the Federal Government.

Article I – The Legislative

• 2 Houses – Upper (Senate) and Lower (House of Representatives)

• 435 members in the H.O.R.

• Senate – 2 Senators from each state (100)– Elected for 6 year terms– Power to confirm Presidential Appointments– Make Laws

Article I – The Legislative Cont…

• House of Representatives– 435 members– Elected for 2 year terms– Representation is based upon state population– Power to make laws– All bills issuing money must start here– Power to Impeach– Power to Declare War

Article II – The Executive

• The President– Elected to 4 year terms – Limit to 2 terms– Elected not by the people directly– Electoral College

• Each state has a set # of Electoral votes based on population

• Winning the popular vote of a state, usually means winning all the electoral votes in a state.

Article II – The Executive Cont…• Powers

– Commander and Chief– Introduce Legislation– Set Policy– Foreign relations

• Cabinet– Presidential Advisors

• Each run their respective departments

– Secretary of State, Defense, Education, Interior, Commerce, Justice, Treasury, Agriculture, Labor, HUD, Transportation, Energy, Homeland Security.

Article III – The Judicial

• Supreme Court– 9 members for Life Terms– Appointed by the President– Confirmed by Senate.– Power of Judicial Review

• Can rule any State or Federal Law Unconstitutional

• Federal Courts and Appellate Courts – Federal Judges Appointed by the President– Confirmed by Senate

Article IV – Federal Relationships

• Full Faith and Credit– All states are Equal – Same Credit and opportunities given to one

state will be given to all.

• Process for becoming a state

• All States must recognize each other and their laws

The Rest

• Article V– Procedure for Amendments

• Article VI– Supreme Law of the Land

• Article VII– Process for Ratifying the Constitution