1. HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON1 CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT Chapter 3 The U.S. Constitution Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution Ideals of the ConstitutionIdeals of the Constitution Section 2:The Three Branches of Government The Three Branches of GovernmentThe Three Branches of Government Section 3:An Enduring Document An Enduring DocumentAn Enduring Document

2. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON2 Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution The Main Idea The Constitution is an agreement between the citizens of the Untied States and the government that the people will grant powers to the government. In return, the government is to carry out the goals of the Constitution.

3. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON3 The pilgrims influenced the framers of the Constitution: November 21, 1620—The Mayflower Compact was written to create a new government of popular sovereignty for the colonists. Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution

4. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON4 Goals of the U.S. Constitution  To form a more perfect union  Establish justice  Insure domestic tranquility  Provide for the common defense  Promote the general welfare  Secure the blessings of liberty Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution

5. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON5 The Constitution establishes federal and state powers.  Delegated powers give the federal government strength to protect and serve the country.  Reserved powers are kept for the states to manage their own affairs and to balance the power of the federal government.  Concurrent powers are held by both state and federal governments. Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution

6. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON6 The Constitution establishes federal and state powers. (continued)  The federal government is “the supreme law of the land” that all states must defer to.  Limited government checks the powers of the federal and state governments.  The Bill of Rights protects the powers of the people. Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution

7. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON7 The Main Idea The Constitution prevents any person, or any part of the government, from taking too much power. It does this by creating three separate branches of the federal government and distributing power among them. Section 2:The Three Branches of Government

8. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON8 The Constitution provides for the separation of powers.  Ensures no person or branch of government is too powerful  Distributes power among three branches of government:  Legislative  Judicial  Executive Section 2:The Three Branches of Government

9. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON9 Responsibilities of the three branches of government:  Legislative—the lawmaking branch  Executive—executes the country’s laws  Judicial—interprets laws and punishes law breakers Section 2:The Three Branches of Government

10. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON10 The system of checks and balances:  Each branch has powers no other branch can assume.  Each branch has powers that limit the powers of the other branches. Section 2:The Three Branches of Government

11. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON11 The Main Idea The Constitution is an enduring document that has met the needs of a changing country for more than 200 years. Section 3:An Enduring Document

12. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON12 The Constitution is a living document.  It was designed to adapt to a growing, changing nation.  There are three ways the Constitution can be adapted to changing needs:  Amendment—a written change to the Constitution  Interpretation—when the Constitution is interpreted in a new way  Custom—traditions often referred of as the “unwritten Constitution ” Section 3:An Enduring Document

13. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON13 The flexible Constitution benefits the United States.  The government adapts to the changing conditions and needs of the country.  The people can repeal constitutional amendments if necessary.  Minimum wage laws are an example of flexible interpretation of the Constitution. Section 3:An Enduring Document

14. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON14 Amendments to the Constitution  Proposal by two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress, or by two thirds of state legislatures calling for a national convention to propose the amendment  The proposal must be ratified by three fourths of the states.  Proposals may be sent to the state legislatures or to state conventions for ratification.  Approved amendments may be repealed by new amendments. Section 3:An Enduring Document

15. CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON15 What are the six goals of government as stated in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution? What are the three branches of the federal government, and what are their primary responsibilities? How does the system of checks and balances in the federal government work? What makes the Constitution of the United States a living document? How can the Constitution be amended? Chapter 3 Wrap-Up