Constitution!!!! Welcome to the Constitution Welcome to the Constitution Tips for being successful: Tips for being successful: Create and review note cards every night Create and review note cards every night Use note cards to quiz friends, or have friends and family quiz YOU! Use note cards to quiz friends, or have friends and family quiz YOU! Make sure you are in class EVERY day during our Constitution review Make sure you are in class EVERY day during our Constitution review Seek help when you are unsure of something we have covered in class Seek help when you are unsure of something we have covered in class It is wise to not DATE during the Constitution….your focus needs to be on your class work…. ;) It is wise to not DATE during the Constitution….your focus needs to be on your class work…. ;)

Amendments Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. 1. Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. 2.Because a Militia is considered important to the protection of the states, people have “the right to keep and bear arms” (have guns) 2.Because a Militia is considered important to the protection of the states, people have “the right to keep and bear arms” (have guns) 3. Soldiers can’t take up residence in citizen's homes without their consent. 3. Soldiers can’t take up residence in citizen's homes without their consent. 4. People have the right to privacy – personally and in their homes, and are protected against unreasonable searches and seizures. 4. People have the right to privacy – personally and in their homes, and are protected against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Amendments People cannot be forced to testify against themselves in criminal trials, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, and property can’t be taken for public use without compensation. 5.People cannot be forced to testify against themselves in criminal trials, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, and property can’t be taken for public use without compensation. 6. Everyone facing a criminal prosecution has the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury, and the right to know what charges are being leveled. 6. Everyone facing a criminal prosecution has the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury, and the right to know what charges are being leveled. 7. Everyone facing a civil trial has the right to a jury of peers. 7. Everyone facing a civil trial has the right to a jury of peers. 8. Excessive bail or fines cannot be imposed, nor can cruel and unusual punishments be inflicted. 8. Excessive bail or fines cannot be imposed, nor can cruel and unusual punishments be inflicted.

Amendments The rights not spelled out in the first eight amendments belong to the people. 9. The rights not spelled out in the first eight amendments belong to the people. 10. Something of a reiteration of the ninth amendment, plus acknowledgement of states’ powers 10. Something of a reiteration of the ninth amendment, plus acknowledgement of states’ powers

Preamble & Article I Introduction to the Constitution

Purposes of the Constitution Establish Legitimacy Establish Legitimacy –Give the government the right to rule Create Appropriate Structures Create Appropriate Structures –Committed to the principles of representative democracy Describe and Distribute Powers Describe and Distribute Powers Limit Government Powers Limit Government Powers Allow for Change Allow for Change –To be able to change with the times

Preamble The Preamble to the Constitution has no force in law; instead, it establishes the "Why" of the Constitution. Why is this document in existence? The Preamble to the Constitution has no force in law; instead, it establishes the "Why" of the Constitution. Why is this document in existence?Preamble It reflects the desires of the Framers to improve on the government they currently had (to be "more perfect" than the Articles of Confederation), to ensure that that government would be just, and would protect its citizens from internal strife and from attack from the outside. It reflects the desires of the Framers to improve on the government they currently had (to be "more perfect" than the Articles of Confederation), to ensure that that government would be just, and would protect its citizens from internal strife and from attack from the outside.the FramersArticles of Confederationthe FramersArticles of Confederation It would be of benefit to the people, rather than to its detriment. And, perhaps as importantly, it intended to do the same for the future generations of Americans. It would be of benefit to the people, rather than to its detriment. And, perhaps as importantly, it intended to do the same for the future generations of Americans.

Article 1 Article 1 establishes the first of the three branches of the government, the Legislature. Section 1 establishes the name of the Legislature to be The Congress, a bicameral, or two-part, body. Article 1 establishes the first of the three branches of the government, the Legislature. Section 1 establishes the name of the Legislature to be The Congress, a bicameral, or two-part, body.Section 1Section 1 Section 2 defines the House of Representatives, known as the lower house of Congress. Section 2 defines the House of Representatives, known as the lower house of Congress. Section 2 Section 2 It establishes a few minimum requirements, like a 25-year- old age limit, establishes that the people themselves will elect the members for two years each, and that they must reside in their state for 7 years. It establishes a few minimum requirements, like a 25-year- old age limit, establishes that the people themselves will elect the members for two years each, and that they must reside in their state for 7 years. The members of the House are divided among the states proportionally, or according to size, giving more populous states more representatives in the House (435 Members). The leader of the House is the Speaker of the House, chosen by the members. The members of the House are divided among the states proportionally, or according to size, giving more populous states more representatives in the House (435 Members). The leader of the House is the Speaker of the House, chosen by the members.

Article I (con’t) Section 3 defines the upper house of Congress, the Senate. Section 3 defines the upper house of Congress, the Senate. Section 3 Section 3 Again, it establishes some minimum requirements, such as a 30-year-old age limit, 6 year term, 9 years as a residence in their state. Again, it establishes some minimum requirements, such as a 30-year-old age limit, 6 year term, 9 years as a residence in their state. Each state has equal suffrage in the Senate, meaning that each state has the exact same number of Senators, two each, regardless of the population (100 senators total). This Section introduces the Vice-President, who is the leader of the Senate (called the President of the Senate. Each state has equal suffrage in the Senate, meaning that each state has the exact same number of Senators, two each, regardless of the population (100 senators total). This Section introduces the Vice-President, who is the leader of the Senate (called the President of the Senate. Section 4 says that each state may establish its own methods for electing members of the Congress, and mandates, or requires, that Congress must meet at least once per year. Section 4 says that each state may establish its own methods for electing members of the Congress, and mandates, or requires, that Congress must meet at least once per year. Section 4 Section 4

Article 1 (con’t) Section 7 details how bills become law. Section 7 details how bills become law. Section 7 Section 7 First, any bill for raising money (such as by taxes or fees) must start out in the House. First, any bill for raising money (such as by taxes or fees) must start out in the House. All bills must pass both houses of Congress in the exact same form. All bills must pass both houses of Congress in the exact same form. Bills that pass both houses are sent to the President. Bills that pass both houses are sent to the President. He can either sign the bill, in which case it becomes law, or he can veto it. He can either sign the bill, in which case it becomes law, or he can veto it. In the case of a veto, the bill is sent back to Congress, and if both houses pass it by a two-thirds majority, the bill becomes law over the President's veto. This is known as overriding a veto. In the case of a veto, the bill is sent back to Congress, and if both houses pass it by a two-thirds majority, the bill becomes law over the President's veto. This is known as overriding a veto. There are a couple more options for the President. First, if he neither vetoes a bill nor signs it, it becomes a law without his signature after 10 days. There are a couple more options for the President. First, if he neither vetoes a bill nor signs it, it becomes a law without his signature after 10 days. The second option is called a pocket veto. It occurs if Congress sends the bill to the President and they then adjourn. If the President does not sign the bill within 10 days, it does not become law. The second option is called a pocket veto. It occurs if Congress sends the bill to the President and they then adjourn. If the President does not sign the bill within 10 days, it does not become law.

Article 1 (cont) Section 8 lists specific powers of Congress, including Section 8 lists specific powers of Congress, including Section 8 Section 8 the power to establish and maintain an army and navy, the power to establish and maintain an army and navy, to establish post offices, to establish post offices, to create courts, to create courts, to regulate commerce between the states, to regulate commerce between the states, to declare war, to declare war, and to raise money. and to raise money. It also includes a clause known as the Elastic Clause which allows it to pass any law necessary for the carrying out of the previously listed powers. It also includes a clause known as the Elastic Clause which allows it to pass any law necessary for the carrying out of the previously listed powers. Section 9 places certain limits on Congress. Section 9 places certain limits on Congress. Section 9 Section 9 No law can give preference to one state over another; No law can give preference to one state over another; no money can be taken from the treasury except by duly passed law, no money can be taken from the treasury except by duly passed law, no title of nobility, such as Prince or Marquis, will ever be established by the government. no title of nobility, such as Prince or Marquis, will ever be established by the government.

Article 1 (Cont) Section 10, finally, prohibits the states from several things. Section 10, finally, prohibits the states from several things. Section 10 Section 10 They cannot make their own money, They cannot make their own money, or declare war, or declare war, or do most of the other things prohibited Congress in Section 9. or do most of the other things prohibited Congress in Section 9. They cannot tax goods from other states, nor can they have navies. They cannot tax goods from other states, nor can they have navies.