the story of the u.s. constitution

© 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

The story The story of the U.S. of the U.S. ConstitutioConstitutio

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The story The story of the U.S. of the U.S. ConstitutioConstitutio

nn Liberty TreeLiberty Tree


Magna CartaMagna Carta English Bill English Bill of Rightsof Rights

Liberty TreeLiberty Tree

FundamenFundamental Orders tal Orders

of of ConnecticConnectic

utut

MayfloweMayflower Compactr Compact

Town Town Hall Hall

MeetingsMeetings

House of House of BurgessBurgess

eses

Articles of Articles of ConfederationConfederation

ContinenContinental tal

CongressCongress

U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution


At the At the Constitutional Constitutional Convention, Convention,

the delegates the delegates created a new created a new plan for the plan for the

U.S. U.S. government government that focused that focused

on two things.on two things.

Structure and

Function

Structure and

Function


StructureStructureStructureStructure is the framework of our government.


structurestructureWhat do you notice What do you notice

about the about the structure of a of a tree?tree?

What do you notice What do you notice about the about the structure of a of a

tree?tree?

limbslimbs

root systemroot system

branchesbranches

leavesleaves

tree barktree bark


threethree

JudicialJudicial

LegislativeLegislative

ExecutiveExecutive

The government structure has three branches.


StructureStructure

LegislativLegislative Branch:e Branch:StructureStructure

SenateSenate (100) (100)•2 per state2 per state•6-year terms6-year terms

House of RepsHouse of Reps (435) (435)•based on based on populationpopulation•2-year terms2-year terms

Elected by the Elected by the peoplepeople

BicameralBicameral = = made of two made of two

houseshouses


StructureStructure

Executive Executive Branch:Branch:

StructureStructure

•President President (4-year (4-year term)term)

•Vice-PresidentVice-President

•Cabinet MembersCabinet Members

•AppointeesAppointeesCabinet = group of

advisors


StructureStructureExecutive Executive Branch:Branch:StructureStructure

ViceVice-PresidenPresiden

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ViceVice-PresidenPresiden

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Joe BidenJoe BidenJoe BidenJoe Biden Barack ObamaBarack Obama Barack ObamaBarack Obama

PresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentSecretarySecretary of of

StateState

SecretarySecretary of of

StateState

Hillary ClintonHillary ClintonHillary ClintonHillary Clinton


StructureStructure

Judicial Judicial Branch:Branch:

StructureStructure

•U. S. Supreme Court U. S. Supreme Court (life-terms)(life-terms)

•District Courts District Courts (appointed)(appointed) •County and Local Courts County and Local Courts (elected)(elected)

•U. S. Supreme Court U. S. Supreme Court (life-terms)(life-terms)

•District Courts District Courts (appointed)(appointed) •County and Local Courts County and Local Courts (elected)(elected)


functionfunction

provideprovidess shadeshade

home home for for

some some animaanima

lsls

holdsholds soilsoil inin placeplace

What is the What is the functionfunction of a of a tree?tree?


• provide for provide for the common the common

defensedefense

• ensure ensure domestic domestic

tranquilitytranquility

• promote promote the general the general

welfarewelfare

• establish justicejustice

•secure the blessings of liberty to secure the blessings of liberty to

ourselves, and our ourselves, and our posterity•secure the blessings of liberty to secure the blessings of liberty to

ourselves, and our ourselves, and our posterity

The The preamblepreamble to the to the Constitution tells the Constitution tells the function function or WHAT the or WHAT the

government does for the government does for the people.people.

The The preamblepreamble to the to the Constitution tells the Constitution tells the function function or WHAT the or WHAT the

government does for the government does for the people.people.


Idea may Idea may become a become a bill bill (proposed(proposed law law)) in the House of in the House of Representatives Representatives or Senate.or Senate.

Legislative Branch:Function-Make LawsFunction-Make LawsLegislative Branch:Function-Make LawsFunction-Make Laws

U.S. U.S. CongressCongress

People People discuss ideas discuss ideas and tell and tell representativrepresentativeses in in Congress.Congress.

Bill becomes a Bill becomes a lawlaw if if approved by both approved by both houses houses and signed and signed by the by the PresidentPresident


Executive Branch: Function

Executive Branch: Function

The White The White HouseHouse

•Ensures Ensures that that the laws arethe laws are carried outcarried out

•Elected byElected by the people the people

and theand the electoral electoral college college systemsystem


Judicial Branch: Judicial Branch: FunctionFunction

Judicial Branch: Judicial Branch: FunctionFunction

Supreme Supreme CourtCourt

•Interprets the laws (decides if laws are fair)•Tries civil and criminal cases in lower courtsNineNine justices on U.S. justices on U.S.

Supreme CourtSupreme Court

•Appointed byAppointed by PresidentPresident and and approved byapproved by CongressCongress


Each branch Each branch checks and checks and balancesbalances the other the other

branches.branches.

PresidentPresidentCongress Supreme

CourtCourt


Legislative branchLegislative branch can can remove remove judges judges from officefrom office

Executive branchExecutive branch can can vetoveto law lawLegislative branchLegislative branch makes makes lawslaws

Checks and BalancesChecks and BalancesChecks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Legislative branchLegislative branch can can overrideoverride presidential presidential veto with a veto with a 2/32/3 vote vote

Judicial branchJudicial branch can can declare a law declare a law

unconstitutionalunconstitutional


Executive branch appoints Supreme CourtSupreme Court

justices

LegislativeLegislative branch branch hashas toto approveapprove thethe appointmentappointment ofof

thethe justicesjustices


House of House of Representatives Representatives brings charges against brings charges against the President the President (impeach)(impeach)

Legislative branchLegislative branch can remove can remove president from president from officeoffice

Legislative branchLegislative branch can remove can remove president from president from officeoffice

Senate holds a Senate holds a trial trial and and 2/32/3 vote needed vote needed to to removeremove President President from officefrom office


The The structurestructure and and functionfunction

of our of our government government are based on are based on seven basic seven basic principles.principles.


Seven Basic Principles Seven Basic Principles of the Constitutionof the Constitution

Limited powers of GovernmentGovernment

Separation of Separation of powerspowers

Popular Popular sovereigntysovereignty

Checks and Checks and balancesbalances

Individual Individual rightsrights

RepublicaniRepublicanismsm

FederalisFederalismm


Separation of Separation of powerspowers divides the divides the

operation of operation of government into government into

three equal three equal branches.branches.


““Sovereignty”Sovereignty” comes from comes from

“sovereign” which “sovereign” which means ruler.means ruler.

““Popular”Popular” means people. means people...““Popular”Popular” means people. means people...

Popular Popular sovereignty sovereignty == people choose people choose

In other words…In other words…


Popular Popular sovereignty sovereignty is the is the

belief that the belief that the people hold the people hold the final authority in final authority in

government.government.


Each branch Each branch of the of the

government government checks and balances, or , or monitors, the monitors, the power of the power of the

other two other two branches.branches.


Individual rights Individual rights are the are the basic liberties and rights basic liberties and rights

that are guaranteed in the that are guaranteed in the first 10 amendments to the first 10 amendments to the

Constitution, the Bill of Constitution, the Bill of Rights. These individual Rights. These individual

rights have been extended rights have been extended through subsequent through subsequent amendments to the amendments to the

Constitution.Constitution.

Individual rights Individual rights are the are the basic liberties and rights basic liberties and rights

that are guaranteed in the that are guaranteed in the first 10 amendments to the first 10 amendments to the

Constitution, the Bill of Constitution, the Bill of Rights. These individual Rights. These individual

rights have been extended rights have been extended through subsequent through subsequent amendments to the amendments to the

Constitution.Constitution.

ExamplesExamples

Freedom of speechFreedom of speech Freedom of Freedom of presspress

Freedom of religionFreedom of religion Right to a Right to a trial by trial by

juryjury


RepublicanismRepublicanism is a is a philosophy of limited philosophy of limited

government in which elected government in which elected representatives serve at the representatives serve at the

will of the people.will of the people.

RepublicanismRepublicanism is a is a philosophy of limited philosophy of limited

government in which elected government in which elected representatives serve at the representatives serve at the

will of the people.will of the people.

ExamplesExamples

State legislaturesState legislatures Congress Congress


FederalismFederalism is the division is the division and sharing of powers and sharing of powers between the state and between the state and national government.national government.

FederalismFederalism is the division is the division and sharing of powers and sharing of powers between the state and between the state and national government.national government.

National PowersNational Powers

•maintain armed maintain armed forcesforces

•coin moneycoin money

•declare wardeclare war

•make foreign make foreign policypolicy

State PowersState Powers

•provide for provide for educationeducation

•conduct electionsconduct elections

•provide public provide public safetysafety

•regulate trade in regulate trade in statestate


Powers Shared by National Powers Shared by National and State Governmentsand State Governments

•raise taxesraise taxes

•administer criminal justiceadminister criminal justice

•provide for public welfareprovide for public welfare

•charter bankscharter banks

•borrow moneyborrow money


Rooted in these Rooted in these seven seven

principles, the principles, the U.S. U.S.

Constitution has Constitution has endured since endured since

1787.1787.

Rooted in these Rooted in these seven seven

principles, the principles, the U.S. U.S.

Constitution has Constitution has endured since endured since

1787.1787. This living document This living document protectsprotects the the

rights of the individuals by rights of the individuals by limiting the powerlimiting the power of the of the

government.government.


Since King George III Since King George III had had unlimitedunlimited power, power,

the writers of the the writers of the U.S. Constitution U.S. Constitution wanted “we the wanted “we the

people” to put people” to put limits limits on the governmenton the government..

The Constitution The Constitution outlined exactly what outlined exactly what the government could the government could

do.do.


The U.S. The U.S. Constitution has Constitution has

seven articles that articles that explain the explain the

structure and structure and function of the function of the government.government.

The U.S. The U.S. Constitution has Constitution has

seven articles that articles that explain the explain the

structure and structure and function of the function of the government.government.


Article 1: Legislative BranchArticle 1: Legislative Branch

Article 2: Executive BranchArticle 2: Executive Branch

Article 3: Judicial BranchArticle 3: Judicial Branch

Article 4: Relations Among StatesArticle 4: Relations Among States

Article 5: Amending the Article 5: Amending the ConstitutionConstitution

Article 6: National SupremacyArticle 6: National Supremacy

Article 7: RatificationArticle 7: Ratification


The foundation of our The foundation of our government and the government and the

supreme law of the landsupreme law of the land

the story of the u.s. constitution

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