united states government and the u.s. constitution

United States Government

And the U.S. Constitution

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The Constitution…

• Is the “Supreme Law of the Land”

• It specifically lists all of the powers of the national government.

• It divides power between the national and state gov’ts (federal system)

• Delegated powers--federal• Reserved powers--state

• Spells out our representative democracy -- a gov’t which people elect their leaders.

• It describes a system of checks and balances where each branch can check on the other two so no branch gets too powerful

• It also separates powers to balance the branches

Article I -- The Legislative Branch (Congress)

• This branch makes the laws.• It is divided into two

branches -->• The House of

Representatives and the Senate

• House of Reps has 435 members and each state is represented through population (more people in the state the more reps you get in the House)

• Members of the House are elected every two years. And they are the house that can impeach a president.

• The Senate has 100 members (each state sends two)

• Senators serve six year terms and they are the branch that hear the impeachment trials.

• Both houses can propose bills

Powers of the Legislative Branch

• To borrow money• To raise and lower taxes• To coin money• To set up post offices• To build roads• To declare war• To provide a military• Regulate trade between

states and foreign countries

• ELASTIC CLAUSE:– Allows congress to to

stretch their powers to change with changing times.

On your dry erase boards.

• 1. Where would you look to find all the powers you have as the Legislative Branch?

• 2. What is a representative democracy and give an example of it.

• 3. What are the names of the two houses in the Legislative Branch? Which branch has a longer term?

• 4. What does the Legislative branch do when it comes to laws?

• 5. List two powers you have as our Legislative Branch

Analyze and explain the point of the cartoon



Article II --> The Executive Branch

(President)• The President enforces the

laws. • He/she is the commander

and chief of the armed forces though he cannot declare war.

• To be president one must be 35 years old, be born in the U.S. and have lived in the U.S. for the past 14 years.

• The President serves four year term. He can serve no more than two terms.

• The president can sign and veto bills

• He appoints federal judges

• He appoints his cabinet (those hired to advise him)

• He also has the power to pardon federal offenders

Flip over your notes

• 6. What is the President’s job when it comes to laws?

• 7. What is on requirement someone must meet before becoming president?

• 8. What is the purpose of the President’s cabinet?

• 9. Besides his cabinet, who else can the President appoint (hire)?

In your groups, analyze and explain the cartoon



Article III-->Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)

• The judicial branch makes sure that the laws are carried out fairly

• The judicial branch is a system of courts whose head is the supreme court.

• There are 94 federal/district courts in the U.S. today

• Cases may make it all the way to the Supreme Court

• Supreme Court hears about 100 cases a year.

• The court can determine that some laws or actions by our gov’t are unconstitutional

• It also hears cases involving disputes between states and internt’l leaders

• The President appoints these members with the approval of Congress.

• It is a life long appointment

Flip over your notes!

• 10. Is the Supreme Court the only national or federal court? Explain.

• 11. What type of cases does the Supreme Court take?

• 12. What is the Supreme Court’s job when it comes to laws?

• 13. What happens if the Supreme Court feels a law is breaking the Constitution?

In your groups analyze and explain the following cartoon.



Article IV -->The States.

• This section just shows that states must honor the laws and court decisions of other states.

• For example if a someone flees his state because he is about to be arrested and goes to a state where he did not commit a crime, the new state must send him back

• It talks about how new states can be added to the country.

• Blah, blah, blah, blah

Article VHow to amend (change)the

constitution• The following is the

process in amending the constitution:

• 2/3 of both houses of congress must deem it necessary to propose the amendment or 2/3 of the states can do the same

• Then 3/4 of the states must vote to ratify the amendments

• The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. These were added to protect the rights of the citizens.

• In our 200 + year history there have only been 27 amendments to out constitution

Articles VI and VII

• Article VI just says that if a state law conflicts with a federal law, then the federal law wins

• Whoever cares about Article II, raise your hand.

• Me neither.

Bill of Rights First 10 Amendments to the

Constitution• 1--Freedoms. Ex: Speech,

religion, assembly• 2--Bear arms. Ex: own a

gun• 3--No Quartering Acts• 4--Privacy. Ex. Police need

warrants, need probable cause to enter your house

• 5,6,7--Describe procedures the courts must follow when trying people accused of crimes.

• 8--Cruel and unusual punishment.

• 9--can’t mess with the constitution to deny rights

• 10--all rights not in the constitution go to the states or people

Which Amendment is this cartoon about? Explain.



Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

With Rights come Responsibilities

• Citizens have responsibilities/ duties to other citizens and to the gov’t

• Ex:– Obey laws

– Know what the laws are

– Respect people in authority (police/teachers)

• Cont: – Paying taxes

– Protect the nation from harm.

– Register for the draft

– Called to and serve on jury

– Parents have resp to take care of children, children have resp to listen to parents.

united states government and the u.s. constitution

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