Structure and Principles of the Constitution Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

What is it? A constitution is a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed. Is ours special? Yes and No Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

Structure The 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.” Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

Structure The 7 Articles I – The Legislative Branch (Congress) II – The Executive Branch (POTUS) III – The Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) IV – Relationship with the states V – Amending the Constitution VI – National Supremacy VII – Ratification Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

Structure How we reference parts of the Constitution Article – Main parts, always referenced with Roman numerals Section – Parts of Articles, referenced with Arabic numbers, easy to see Clause – Smallest chunks of the Constitution, referenced with Arabic numbers, not all Sections have Clauses I, 8, 3 – is Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

Major Principles Popular Sovereignty Based on Consent of the Governed The authority of the government is derived from the people Federalism Power of the government is divided between the central and state governments Established in Article IV Was the only way that a Constitution could have been passed in 1787 Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

Major Principles Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Constitution limits the powers of the government by dividing it into three branches Each branch has a set of individual powers Founders hoped that it would keep any branch from getting too powerful Checks and Balances Going along with separation of powers, the founders created a system of controls each branch has over the others Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

Major Principles Judicial Review Debatable Principle The power to declare laws and actions unconstitutional Established in Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison (1803) Limited Government Constitution limits the power of the central government The Bill of Rights is a set of specific limitations The length and structure of the Constriction limits government Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

Browse through the Constitution Grab a Book Browse through the Constitution P. 775 in the Government book Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.