Bell Work Get out your notes Answer the following question in your notes: If you were to create a new government for the United States, what is 1 thing that would definitely include?

The United States Constitution A More Perfect Union….. The United States Constitution

Defined……… The United States Constitution is the central instrument of government and the "supreme law of the land".  It is the oldest written Constitution in the world that is in force. Written in 1787, it was officially adopted in 1789. 

Preamble (introduction) 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.

I. Popular Sovereignty The people hold the ultimate authority A representative democracy lets the people elect leaders to make decisions for them.

II. Limited Government Framers wanted to guard against tyranny Government is limited to the power given them in the Constitution. The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed

III. Federalism The division of power between State and National Governments Some powers are shared The National Government has the “supreme power”

IV. Separation of Powers No one holds “too much” power Legislative branch makes the laws Executive branch carries out the laws Judicial branch interprets the laws

Three Branches of Government

Legislative Branch Senate and House of Representatives Make our laws Appropriate Money Regulate Immigration Establish Post Offices and Roads Regulate Interstate Commerce and Transportation Declare War

Executive Branch The President of the United States Chief Executive Chief of State Chief Legislator Commander in Chief

Judicial Branch Supreme Court and other Federal Courts Preserve and protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution Considers cases involving national laws Declares laws and acts “unconstitutional”

V. Checks and Balances Prevents the abuse of power in government Each branch can check each other branch

Executive Checks Propose laws to Congress Veto laws made by Congress Negotiate foreign treaties Appoint federal judges Grant pardons to federal offenders

Legislative Checks Override president’s veto Ratify treaties Confirm executive appointments Impeach federal officers and judges Create and dissolve lower federal courts

Judicial Checks Declare executive acts unconstitutional Declare laws unconstitutional Declare acts of Congress unconstitutional The Supreme Court holds the final check

Bill of Rights Constitution constitute the Bill of Rights. The first ten amendments to the Constitution constitute the Bill of Rights. These amendments were designed to protect the basic rights and freedoms of “the people.” The meanings and applications of these rights have changed over time as judicial interpretations of these freedoms have changed.

Other Amendments The Thirteenth Amendment (1865), barring slavery, and the Fifteenth Amendment (1868), protecting the citizenship of African Americans, effectively overturned the Supreme Court. The Sixteenth Amendment (1913) gave Congress the power to levy an income tax. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971) set the voting age at 18 years.

Parts of the Constitution Article I – The Legislative Branch Article II – The Executive Branch Article III – The Judicial Branch Article IV – The States Article V – Amendment Process Article VI – Debts, Supremacy, Oaths Article VII – Ratification Process Amendments