A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON1 Chapter 3 The U.S. Constitution Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution Section 2:The Three Branches of Government Section 3:A Flexible Document

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON2 Chapter 3 OBJECTIVES  How did the pilgrims influence the framers of the Constitution?  What are the goals of the U.S. government as outlined in the Constitution?  Why does the Constitution establish the powers of the federal and state governments? Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON3 Chapter 3 The pilgrims influenced the framers of the Constitution: November 21, 1620—The Mayflower Compact was written to create a new government of popular sovereignty for the colonists. Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON4 Chapter 3 Goals of the U.S. Constitution  To form a more perfect union  Establish justice  Insure domestic tranquility  Provide for the common defense  Promote the general welfare  Secure the blessings of liberty Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON5 Chapter 3 The Constitution establishes federal and state powers.  Delegated powers give the federal government strength to protect and serve the country.  Reserved powers are kept for the states to manage their own affairs and to balance the power of the federal government.  Concurrent powers are held by both state and federal governments. Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON6 Chapter 3 The Constitution establishes federal and state powers. (continued)  The federal government is “the supreme law of the land” that all states must defer to.  Limited government checks the powers of the federal and state governments.  The Bill of Rights protects the powers of the people. Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON7 Chapter 3 OBJECTIVES  Why does the Constitution provide for the separation of powers?  What are the main responsibilities of each of the three branches of government?  How does the system of checks and balances work? Section 2:The Three Branches of Government

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON8 Chapter 3 The Constitution provides for the separation of powers.  Ensures no person or branch of government is too powerful  Distributes power among three branches of government:  Legislative  Judicial  Executive Section 2:The Three Branches of Government

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON9 Chapter 3 Responsibilities of the three branches of government:  Legislative—the lawmaking branch  Executive—executes the country’s laws  Judicial—interprets laws and punishes law breakers Section 2:The Three Branches of Government

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON10 Chapter 3 The system of checks and balances:  Each branch has powers no other branch can assume.  Each branch has powers that limit the powers of the other branches. Section 2:The Three Branches of Government

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON11 Chapter 3 OBJECTIVES  Why is the Constitution called a living document?  How has the flexibility of the Constitution benefited the United States?  How are amendments to the Constitution proposed and passed? Section 3:A Flexible Document

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON12 Chapter 3 The Constitution is a living document.  It was designed to adapt to a growing, changing nation.  There are three ways the Constitution can be adapted to changing needs:  Amendment—a written change to the Constitution  Interpretation—when the Constitution is interpreted in a new way  Custom—traditions often referred of as the “unwritten Constitution ” Section 3:A Flexible Document

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON13 Chapter 3 The flexible Constitution benefits the United States.  The government adapts to the changing conditions and needs of the country.  The people can repeal constitutional amendments if necessary.  Minimum wage laws are an example of flexible interpretation of the Constitution. Section 3:A Flexible Document

A merican C ivicsHOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON14 Chapter 3 Amendments to the Constitution  Proposal by two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress, or by two thirds of state legislatures calling for a national convention to propose the amendment  The proposal must be ratified by three fourths of the states.  Proposals may be sent to the state legislatures or to state conventions for ratification.  Approved amendments may be repealed by new amendments. Section 3:A Flexible Document