1. The Supreme Law of the Land
Chapter 5, Section 3

2. The Goals of Our Government
To form a more perfect union
Unite the 13 states under an effective national government
To establish justice
Fair ways to settle disputes between: individuals, individuals and government, states, national and state governments
To insure domestic tranquility
A peaceful society where people are protected from unlawful acts of others
To provide the common defense
Protect citizens from attacks by other countries

3. The Goals of our Government (cont.)
To promote the general warfare
Conditions that will benefit ALL Americans
To secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity
Gives people more freedoms (where they work, where they live, what they believe, representatives in government)
These six ideas were listed in the Preamble to the Constitution.
Following the Preamble, there are seven articles, listing various rules and ideas of the national government.

4. Article 1 The Legislative Branch
Describes the organization and powers of the national legislature – United States Congress ( two houses – House of Representatives and Senate)
Congress makes laws and although they have to be approved by the President, Congress can override a veto
Congress can coin money, declare war, and regulate trade (also make “necessary and proper” laws)
Article 1 also contains all the things that Congress does not have the power to do, to please Anti-Federalists

5. Article 2 The Executive Branch The President cannot:
The President – leader, but authority is based on the consent of the people
The President cannot:
Make laws, he just executes them
Declare war, but he is head of the armed forces
The President can:
Make treaties
Nominate judges
Appoint ambassadors to foreign countries
All have to be approved by the Senate first

6. Article 3 The Judicial Branch
Supreme Court
Judges appointed by President, approved by Senate
Court has final say in all cases involving the Constitution
Judges may serve for life if they have “good behavior”
If lower courts disagree, the case can be appealed to the Supreme Court for a final decision

7. Article 4
The States
Each state is required to honor laws of other states
Ex. New York’s marriage license would be valid in any of the other 12 states
Respecting other states’ laws helps preserve states’ rights and reduced possibility of conflict

8. Article 5 Amending the Constitution
The Framers knew that people would want to change the Constitution.
The put instructions into the Constitution so that future generations could do so as they please.
First, you suggest the change, and three-fourths of the states must approve the amendment.

9. Article 6 The Supremacy of the Constitution
Officials in state and national governments are required to take an oath to support the Constitution as “the supreme law of the land.”
No state law may violate the Constitution.
State laws and federal (national) laws should not conflict.
If they do, the national law takes priority.

10. Article 7
Ratification
The last article of the Constitution establishes the procedure of ratification, or approval, of the Constitution.

11. Amendments to the Constitution
27 amendments follow the seven articles
The first ten amendments were ratified in 1791 and they are called the Bill of Rights
They were added in response to the concerns of the Anti-Federalists.
After that, only 17 other amendments have been made.

12. Limited Government
Federalism – the division of power between the states and the federal, or national, government
Some powers belong to state, some to national government, and some shared by both
Concurrent powers are shared by both governments
Reserved powers are powers that the Constitution neither gives to Congress nor denies to the states – establishing schools and to form police organizations
Checks and balances gives each brand of government ways to limit powers of the other two
Ex. President can check the actions of Congress by vetoing bills that he/she believes are not in best interest of nation
Impeach - accuse