Anatomy of the Constitution

Anatomy of the Constitution The contents of Constitution create 3 branches of government and give directions about how the federal gov’t works Although it was written 230 years ago, it still guides our country today It is the oldest written constitution in the world that is still in use

The Preamble The Constitution is divided into 9 parts The first paragraph is called the Preamble It’s the introduction: it explains the goals and the purpose of the Constitution For example, the first three words - “We the People” - contains the important idea of self- government

Breaking Down the Preamble Your task is to figure out what each phrase in the Preamble really means!

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, 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.”

We the American citizens of the US To form a more perfectly united group of states To create a fair legal system To keep peace and safety throughout the nation To keep every state safe from outside threats To support the wellbeing of everyone To make sure that freedom and natural born rights are given to us and future generations To make official this agreement as the form of gov’t for the USA.

Article I: Creating Congress The first article creates the legislative branch of government Legislative means law-making Members of the legislature (Congress) are responsible for representing the citizens of the US They turn the wants and needs of the citizens they represent into laws

Article I: Creating Congress (cont.) The legislative branch makes our government and representative democracy. Citizens elect people to represent their needs and concerns Article I creates Congress with two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives Article I breaks down the responsibilities of both chambers

House of Representatives Senate House of Representatives Qualifications Must be 30 years old, a citizen for 9 years, and live in the state you represent Must be 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and live in the state you represent Size 2 senators per state (100 total) Amount per state depends on population size (435 total) They represent... The interests of the citizens living in their entire state for a 6 year term The interests of the citizens living in their district within the state for a 2 year term Special duties Acts as a court during impeachments All bills that raise money must start in the House Role in lawmaking A bill must be passed by BOTH houses before it can go to the President to be signed into law

The Powers of Congress Article I lists the types of laws Congress can make: Collect taxes Borrow money and pay debts Make rules for how to become a citizen Regulate trade with other nations, between states, and with Indian tribes Coin money and punish counterfeiters Establish post offices

The Powers of Congress (cont.) Article I lists the types of laws Congress can make: Give patents to new inventions Create the lower federal courts Punish pirates Declare war and support the army and navy Make any other laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers in this list.

Article II: Creating the President Article II describes the job of the executive branch of government This branch executes, or carries out, laws The President is the head of this branch Also includes a Vice President and many departments that are in charge of carrying out the day-to-day business of the gov’t

The Powers of the President Article II grants the President specific powers: Act as commander-and-chief of the armed services Maintain a cabinet of advisors who run the 15 executive departments (such as the State Dept, Education Dept, etc.) Grant pardons in all federal criminal offenses, and reprieves (postpone punishments)

The Powers of the President (cont.) Article II grants the President specific powers: Negotiate treaties with other countries Appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices and federal court judges, and Cabinet members Make a State of the Union address to Congress Represent the US when dealing with foreign countries Make sure that laws are carried out (executed)

Article III: Creating the Courts Article III creates the judicial branch This branch interprets laws to decide what they mean, and whether or not they are being followed in specific cases Creates the Supreme Court and grants Congress the power to create lower federal courts Federal courts deal with US laws, not state laws

Article III: Creating the Courts (cont.) Article III also gives directions about what kinds of cases the Supreme Court and federal courts can hear Says that federal judges are appointed, not elected They sit on the bench until they retire, die, or are removed for bad behavior Also guarantees trial by jury for criminal cases, and explains the crime of treason

Article IV: The States Article IV explains how states must interact Each state must respect the laws of the others Power of extradition - states can return criminals to the state where the crime was committed in order to face charges All states must have a representative government

Article V: Amending the Constitution Article V describes how the Constitution can be changed A change or addition to the Constitution is called an amendment The Founding Fathers deliberately made it a difficult process to amend the Constitution

Article VI: National gov’t over states Article VI addresses the idea of federalism - that the national gov’t shares power with state gov’ts If a state law conflicts with a federal law, the federal law wins; “the supreme law of the land” It also states federal gov’t employees must take an oath to support and defend the Constitution

Article VII: Ratification Article VII says the Constitution could not take effect until 9 of the 13 original states approved it. Each state held its own convention to vote on it. Some states believed that the 7 articles were not enough - this would result in the creation of the Bill of Rights.

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch prints money?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch enforces laws?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch decides what laws mean?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch declares war?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch includes the Cabinet?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch is divided into two chambers?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch can punish pirates?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch can make treaties with other countries?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch can declare laws unconstitutional?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch is selected by the Electoral College?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch is selected by popular vote?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch appoints Supreme Court Justices, federal judges, ambassadors, and cabinet members?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch approves presidential appointments?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch makes a State of the Union address every year?

Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch collects taxes?

The Amendment Process The Constitution has only been amended 27 times in over 200 years There are only TWO steps to the amendment process Approval of the U.S. Congress Approval of the states Despite this, it is still an incredibly difficult process

The Amendment Process (cont.) STEP 1: PROPOSE Congressional Vote: Two-thirds (⅔) of BOTH houses vote YES to the amendment. STEP 2: RATIFY State Legislature Vote: Three-fourths (¾) of state legislatures vote YES to ratify the amendment.

Introducing… The Bill of Rights 10 of the 27 amendments that we have were ratified only a year after the the Constitution took effect These 10 amendments became known as the Bill of Rights because they define many of the rights guaranteed to U.S. citizens