1. Chapter 3 The Constitution

2. Fun Facts!

3. The U.S. Constitution Outlines the U.S. government
Establishes the ruling principles of that government

4. Preamble – What does it mean?
We 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.

5. Parts of the U.S. Constitution
Section
Purpose
Preamble
Introduces reasons for creating the document
Article I
Outlines the legislative branch
Article II
Outlines the executive branch
Article III
Outlines the judicial branch
Article IV
Discusses relations between the states and between the states and the national government
Article V
Describes how to amend the Constitution
Article VI
Declares the Constitution to be the supreme law of the land
Article VII
Lists requirements for ratifying the Constitution
27 amendments
Modifications to the Constitution
Note to teachers: This chart corresponds with Figure 3.1 of textbook, page 69.

6. Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution
There are five basic principles of the U.S. Constitution:
Limited government
Popular sovereignty
Federalism
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
These principles resulted from agreements and debate of the Constitutional Convention, 1787.

7. The Three Branches of Government
Article I - Legislative branch:
Makes laws
Article II - Executive branch:
Executes, or carries out, laws
Article III - Judicial branch:
Interprets laws and judges whether they have been broken

8. Article IV – Relations among the states
Section 1 – Full Faith and Credit Clause
States must grant each other “full faith and credit” on “public acts, records, and judicial proceedings”
Means legal decisions of states must be respected and held to by other states
Section 2 – Privileges and Immunities Clause
States must grant residents of other states all “privileges and immunities” they give to their own residents

9. Article V –Amendment the constitution
2 ways to propose an amendment
1. 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress
All 27 Amendments were proposed this way
2. Constitutional Convention requested by 2/3 of the states
Has never been used
2 ways to ratify amendment
1. 3/4 of state legislatures approve it
26 of the 27 Amendments were ratified this way
2. 3/4 of conventions called by the states approve it
Only the 21st Amendment was ratified this way

10. Article VI – Role of the National Government
Section 2 – Supremacy Clause
Federal laws are always supreme over state laws, U.S. Constitution is supreme over all state constitutions

11. Article VII – Ratification of the Constitution
Only 9 of the 13 states had to ratify the constitution

12. Amendments
27 total
First ten- bill of rights

13. Constitution Crossword

14. Constitution I.Q. Survey

15. These are awesome! And you get to memorize them!
The Bill of Rights
These are awesome!
And you get to memorize them!

16. The 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion
Establishment Clause – government cannot establish a religion
Free Exercise Clause – government cannot prohibit you from practicing religion
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of the Press
Right to Assembly
Right to Petition

17. The 2nd Amendment
The Right to Bear Arms

18. The 3rd Amendment
No Quartering of Soldiers in Times of Peace

19. The 4th Amendment
Protection Against Unreasonable Search and Seizure

20. The 5th Amendment
No Double Jeopardy (Can’t be charged with the same crime twice)
Protection against self-incrimination
Guarantee of Due Process of Law
Government can’t take property without just compensation

21. The 6th Amendment Right to a Criminal Trial by Jury
Trial must be speedy, public
Must be in the state where the crime was committed
Right to legal counsel
Right to call witnesses favorable to the defendant

22. The 7th Amendment Right to a Civil Trial by Jury
Civil – not criminal, typically a lawsuit for money or to repeal a government action

23. The 8th Amendment
Protection Against Cruel and Unusual Punishment

24. The 9th Amendment Rights Retained by the People
In other words, just because a right isn’t listed here in the Constitution doesn’t mean that people don’t have that right

25. The 10th Amendment Powers Reserved for the States
All powers that are not given to the national government are reserved for the states

26. Other Amendments Amendments 11-27 Research your assigned amendment
Create an informational poster
Present to class