The Constitution Organization, Foundations and The Bill of Rights

The Constitution… is the basic law of the U.S. describes how the national government is set up describes the relationship between the national government and the states has final authority because no law is higher than the Constitution. (is always capitalized)

Foundations Framers  authors of the Constitution

Popular sovereignty- power of government comes from the people; a government is able to govern as long as it has consent of the governed “government of the people, by the people, for the people” -Abraham Lincoln Principles of the Constitution

Preamble “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.”

Federalism- relationship between the states and national government, where power is divided between them

Federalism Full Faith and Credit Clause States must respect each other’s laws Supremacy Clause Establishes the Constitution as the SUPREME law of the land

Separation of powers- three separate branches of government Each has its own duties and responsibilities

Checks and balances- each branch has duties that check, or restrain, the power of another branch

Judicial review- gives power to the courts to rule whether or not a law is constitutional or not (whether or not it violates the Constitution)

Limited government- restricts the power of government to do certain things and not others (ex. The Bill of Rights)

Organization of the Constitution Preamble Explains why the document was written Articles 7 articles Lay out the plan of government for the U.S. Amendments Changes made to the Constitution Bill of Rights (1 st 10): ratified total

Article I Legislative Branch Describes its duties and powers and qualifications for its members

Legislative Branch Enumerated Powers (Expressed) Un-enumerated Powers (Implied) Delegated (federal government) Reserved (state government) Concurrent (federal and state)

Article II Executive Branch Describes powers of executive branch and qualifications for president and vice president Describes the process for electing a president and vice president

Article III Supreme Court Head of the Judicial Branch or court system

Article IV Explains the relationship among states and the states’ relationship to the national government

Article V Describes the process for amending, or changing, the Constitution Flexible “Living Document” Only 27 amendments

Article VI Declares that the Constitution, acts of Congress, and treaties are the “supreme Law of the Land.” Supremacy Clause No higher power than the Constitution

Article VII Sets out the process for ratifying the Constitution

Amendments 1 st 10 = Bill of Rights - Promise of a Bill of Rights helped win people over in support of the Constitution -Written during first session of Congress Ratified: 1791

The Bill of Rights How does the Bill of Rights extend the Constitution?

Essential Questions: How does the system of checks and balances limit the power of government officials? How is the idea of limited government promoted in the US Constitution? Should Congress be able to pass a law that is unpopular with citizens?