The Constitution CLICK ON THE TARGET TO BEGIN

What is a constitution?  A constitution is a plan that organizes the way a government will be run  Our nation’s constitution is called the United States Constitution.

How is the United States Constitution set up?  First section: The Preamble  Purpose: This is the introduction to the Constitution  It states the goals

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.

How is the United States Constitution set up?  Second section: The Seven Articles  Purpose: The seven articles set up the government, as it is today  Remember the acronym– “Lets Enjoy Justice and C.A.S.H.”

Acronym Article one : Let’s Article two : Enjoy Article three : Justice & Article four : C Article five : A Article six : S Article seven : H

Acronym Article one : Legislative Branch Article two : Executive Branch Article three : Judicial Branch Article four : Creating new states (process) Article five : Amendment making process Article six : Supremacy Clause Article seven : How to Ratify the Constitution

Articles I, II, and III This is the branch that creates laws for the nation Sets up Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) Article One: Legislative Branch This is the branch that enforces the law Sets up the President and his/her cabinet Article Two: Executive Branch This is the branch that interprets the law Sets up the Supreme Court and national court system Article Three: Judicial Branch

Practice… ArticlePurpose Article One Article Two Article Three

Articles IV, V, and VI Explains process for creating new states Explains relationships between states Article Four: Creating new states They knew the Constitution would have to be flexible This explains process for how to make an amendment (change) to the Constitution Article Five: Amendment Process This states that national government powers are supreme to state powers U.S. Constitution is the ‘Supreme Law of the land’ Article Six: Supremacy Clause

Articles VII This explains what is needed for the Constitution to go into effect (how to ratify) Article Seven: How to Ratify

Practice… ArticlePurpose Article Four Article Five Article Six Article Seven

Practice… ArticlePurpose Article One Article Two Article Three Article Four Article Five Article Six Article Seven

Amendments  Amendments provide a way for the Constitution to be changed (amended)  The Constitution is considered a ‘living’ document, because it is flexible and can be changed throughout time  Amendments 1-10: The Bill of Rights  Amendments 11-27: Changes to the Constitution