1. Early Documents that Influenced the Constitution
EQ: What were the early documents and their influence over the Constitution?

2. Preamble
Constitution combines Strength and Flexibility-why the Constitution is a lasting document
Words were chosen very carefully
Introduction of Constitution- the Preamble
tells the goals of the Constitution
“We the people”-1st 3 words
Power comes from ordinary Americans concept known a popular sovereignty: idea that government’s authority comes from the people
Constitution divided into articles to make it easier to understand by ordinary citizens

3. Preamble Review What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
How did the delegates organize the Constitution so ordinary citizens could understand it?
Constitution is considered a living document because it combines what 2 things?
What are the 1st 3 words of the Constitution?
A phrase in the Preamble is “ensure domestic tranquility”, what does tranquility mean?
Why is September called Constitution month?
The delegates met at Independence Hall where they wrote the Constitution. Where is Independence Hall Located?
Define popular sovereignty. Who ruled America before the people?

4. Magna Carta
1215: Required the King to obey the law and limited his power
Protected the English Citizens from the King from being above the law
Provided procedures for legal procedures for English citizens
Influenced the development of common law and the US Constitution

5. English Bill of Rights 1689: Act of the Parliament of England
Stated rights that English citizens were entitled to
Right to petition
Right to bear arms
Required the Crown to get the consent of the people
First 8 Amendments to the US Constitution echo the contents of the 1689 Bill of Rights

6. The Mayflower Compact 1620 First Governing document of Plymouth Colony
Drafted by Pilgrims who were aboard the Mayflower seeking religious freedom
Signed by 41 men
The Compact was based upon a majoritarian model and the settlers’ allegiance to the king-SOCIAL CONTRACT in which rules had to be followed for survival.

7. Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom
Written in 1779 by Thomas Jefferson
793 Word statute is divided into 3 parts
Part 1 argues that the concept of a required religion is wrong b/c
God has made the mind free and nothing should be imposed
God never forced people to follow him
Making people follow a religion they don’t believe is tyranny
Civil rights do not depend on religious beliefs
Bill made on 1786
Influenced 1st Amendment of US Constitution and the idea of separation of Church and State
(8.2.5 Understand the significance of Jefferson's Statute for Religious Freedom as a forerunner of the First Amendment and the origins, purpose, and differing views of the founding fathers on the issue of the separation of church and state)

8. John Locke English philosopher connected to Social Contract theory
explains the appropriate relationship between individuals and their governments
Two treatise of government
Argued that all men are created equal in the state of nature by God
Influence is reflected in the D.O.I and US Constitution

9. Constitution a More Perfect Union
EQ: How has the Constitution created a more perfect Union and combined strength and flexibility

10. Legislative Branch Makes laws!!!!
Est. in Article I of the Constitution
Bicameral 2 Houses
House of Reps: rep. based on state population
Senate: 2 senators/state
What compromise created this bicameral legislature?
Members of Congress are elected by a direct vote of the people
Senate viewed as a representative of the states
House viewed as representative of the people
Congress has the power to impeach
Impeach means Accuse a person of a crime to have him or her lose their job

11. Legislative Branch Also responsible for
Deciding how to spend money raised by taxes
Raising an army/navy
Declaring war
Paying debts
Granting citizenship
Establishes federal courts

12. Legislative Branch Power of Impeachment
Congress can remove President or other officials if they commit crimes related to their job
House of Representatives votes to impeach
If H.O.R. votes yes, President goes on trial in front of a jury of Senators
Senate decides if he is guilty and should be removed from office

13. Executive Branch Enforces/Carry out the law!!!!
Est. in Article II of the Constitution
Delegates feared one person having too much power
System of Checks and balances
President: Leader of the country
VP: President of the Senate becomes Pres. If President is unable to serve
Cabinet members: Advise President on policy issues

14. Judicial Branch Interprets the law!!!
Est. in Article III of the Constitution
Supreme Court highest court of the land
There are lower federal courts, but they were not created in the constitution
A court’s authority to decide the constitutionality is called judicial review
Decide arguments about he meanings of laws, how they are applied, and if they break the rules of the constitution

15. How a Bill becomes a Law!! Primary Job of congress is to make laws
Any member of the House or Senate can propose a new law called a BILL!!!
Only the House can propose new taxes
1st step is bill is assigned to a committee
If majority in one house votes in favor of the bill it is sent to the other house for debate
If both houses approve the bill it is sent to the President-a bill becomes a law if the President signs it
The President can veto (reject) and proposed law
Congress can override the veto, which means passing the bill over the President’s objection (requires 2/3 majority in both houses)

16. Checks and Balances between the Branches
Framers concerned about one branch having too much power and the balance b/w government and individual freedoms!!!
Reason they created 3 branches
System where each branch can limit the powers of the other two is called checks and balances
Checks block actions of another branch
Ex. President veto a law, Congress can override veto by 2/3 vote
Balances allow each branch to have some role in the other 2 branches
Ex. Judges, cabinet members, ambassadors appointed by the President and senate approves the nominations
Checks and Balances keep any one branch from being too strong

17. Most important feature of government

18. Amendment Process
Framers knew the Constitution would need to be changed over time!!!
Jefferson said “the earth belongs to the living and not to the dead”
Needed the Constitution to have a lasting framework!! (Flexibility)
Article V-Changing the Constitution changes are called AMENDMENTS
Amendments can be proposed 2 ways
Congress can propose an amendment by at least 2/3 vote of each house
National Convention called by Congress at the request of at least 2/3 state legislatures

19. Proposing an Amendment
Congress or the State Legislatures may propose an Amendment (national or states) to start the process
Proposal1st step
An amendment must be ratified (approved)
2 ways to ratify
Can be approved by ¾ of state legislatures
Can be approved by special conventions in at least ¾ of states
Once an amendment is approved it becomes a part of the constitution

20. Amending the Constitution

21. Amendments so far People have suggested over 10,000 amendments
ONLY 27 Amendments have been approved
1st 10 were added almost immediately after the Constitution was ratified Bill of Rights
Guarantee specific rights to people
17 others have been added over time
Some changed the way officials were elected
13th made slavery illegal
19th gave women the rights to vote
26th gave 18 year olds the right to vote

22. Federal System
Wanted a strong national government while also wanting states to keep significant powers
Created a federal system power shared b/w nat’l and state govt’s
Powers belonging to the national government
Declare war and make treaties
Print and coin money
Regulate commerce (Article I)-regulate interstate commerce US became a free trade zone
Created a common market which allowed goods to move easily, made it possible to create large businesses, created a single Nat'l economy

23. Federal System Powers belonging to the states
Constitution does not spell out specific powers of the states gives states ability to keep powers that are not given to the Nat'l gov’t
State makes laws in the areas of life
Schools, marriages, est. local gov’t, licensing, most crimes
Constitution outlines responsibilities of states to one another (article V)-Each state must give “full Faith and Credit”
Meaning accepting other states laws and court decisions as legal (ex. A driver’s license in legal in another state)
States also must help each other track down criminals

24. Federal System

25. Federal System Shared Powers
Fed. and state gov’t share powers both can collect taxes, build roads, borrow $, and regulate edu.
Constitution only provides a framework for sharing powers framers could not spell out every situation
Law of the Land!!!
Article VI states the Constitution and laws flowing from it are the supreme law of the land!!
State’s constitutions, laws, and judicial decisions must agree w/ the Constitution
Anyone elected to state or federal office must support the Constitution

26. Popular Participation in Gov’t
Constitution is based on the will of the people
People expected to take part in their gov’t
Majority rule-basic principle of democracy that says laws are passed by a majority vote and elections are decided by a majority of voters
Elections serve the vital function of expressing the will of the people
It is through elections people have a say in what their gov’t does
Who are the “people”Popular participation has evolved
Political Parties were not mentioned in the Constitution
Interest groups: organization that actively promotes view on public issues in order to influence policy