CICERO 2010*ConstitutionThe United States

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CICERO 2010*What Is a Constitution?Pronunciation: kon-sti-too-shuh-n Part of Speech: nounDefinitions:a documenta document that states the laws and creates a governmentthe way something is establishedthe beliefs and laws of a country that establish the powers and roles of the government and guarantees that the nations people maintain their rights

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CICERO 2010*What Is the United States Constitution?It is the fundamental law of the United States. It was framed and composed at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787. The original thirteen states later ratified it. It went into effect on March 4, 1789.

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CICERO 2010*The United States Constitution is the highest law of the United States.

It explains the structure of the United States government.

The Constitution names and explains the three branches of the United States government. It also explains their powers.

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CICERO 2010*The Three Branches of the United States Government

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CICERO 2010*Legislative BranchHouse of Representatives435 membersCongress is the first branch, the legislative branch. Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.The Three Branches of the United States GovernmentSenate100 members

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Executive BranchCICERO 2010*PresidentThe President of the United States leads the executive branch. The Three Branches of the United States Government

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Executive BranchCICERO 2010*PresidentThe Three Branches of the United States GovernmentVice PresidentCabinet

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The CabinetThe Secretary of StateThe Secretary of the TreasuryThe Secretary of DefenseThe Attorney General (Justice Department)The Secretary of the InteriorThe Secretary of AgricultureThe Secretary of CommerceThe Secretary of LaborThe Secretary of Health and Human ServicesThe Secretary of Homeland SecurityThe Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentThe Secretary of TransportationThe Secretary of EducationThe Secretary of EnergyThe Secretary of Veterans' Affairs

CICERO 2010*Judicial BranchSupreme CourtThe Supreme Court heads the judicial branch.The Three Branches of the United States Government

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Checks and Balance SystemEach of the 3 branches can limit the powers of the other branches.This way no branch becomes too powerful.Each branch checks the power of the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between them.

CICERO 2010*What We Know About the United States ConstitutionWHO? the Constitutional Convention

WHAT? a document that states the laws and beliefs of the United States.

WHEN? September 17, 1787

WHERE? Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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CICERO 2010*Contents of theConstitutionThe Preamble

Article One: the Legislative Branch

Article Two: the Presidency

Article Three: the Judiciary

Article Four: the States

Article Five: the Amendment Process

Article Six: the Legal Status of the Constitution

Article Seven: Ratification

Signatures

Twenty-Seven Amendments

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CICERO 2010*Vocabulary BoosterThe United States Constitution What is an article?What is a section?What is an amendment?

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CICERO 2010*An article is a separate part of a document that deals with a single subject. Articles are divided into sections.

A section is one of several parts.

An amendment is the act or process of changing something for the better.

Vocabulary BoosterThe United States Constitution

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CICERO 2010*a document

a document that states the laws and establishes the government

the way something is established

the beliefs and laws of a country that create the powers and role of the government and guarantee the nations people maintain their rights.

Does the United States Constitution Fit the Definition of a Constitution?

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CICERO 2010*Did You Know That

The United States Constitution has been amended twenty-seven times.

The first ten amendments are the Bill of Rights.

You can see the original United States Constitution in Washington, D.C., on display at the National Archives and Records Administration.

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CICERO 2010*What AboutthePreamble?

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CICERO 2010*It is an introduction to the United States Constitution.

It informs people that the federal government has authority over what is amended in the Constitution. What Is the Preamble?

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CICERO 2010*The Preamble StatesWe 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.

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CICERO 2010*Does the Preamble Fit the Definition of a Preamble?It is an introduction.

It gives the reasons for what follows in the document.

Laws and other parts of the Constitution follow it.

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CICERO 2010*The PreambleWe 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.

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