Chapter 3 Constitution Page 86

Pilgrims Came on the Mayflower from England. Colonists agreed upon a government

Mayflower Compact Agreement that Pilgrims signed Agreed to follow the government they created Has many of the ideals that the Declaration of Independence has.

Government Power Popular Sovereignty: consent of the governed. Preamble: introduction to the Constitution

Goals of the Constitution 1. Form a more perfect union 2. Establish justice 3. insure domestic tranquility 4. Provide for common defense 5. Promote the general welfare 6. secure the blessings of liberty

Limited Government Specific restrictions on the government, the government is not allowed to do whatever it wants to do.

Majority Rule and Minority Rights Majority rule: everyone will accept the decision of the majority. Minority rights: their rights are still respected even if different from the majority.

Powers of the People Bill of Rights: added to the Constitution as the First 10 Amendments, guarantees freedoms. It is one of the most influential documents ever written.

Federal System Divides the power between two different levels, national and state. National is the top level, also called federal based in Washington D.C. Second level is the state, each state has different laws and governs the people that live in their state

Federal Powers Delegated Powers: specifically given to the federal government Print money Provide a defense Control trade

State Government Powers Reserved powers: powers given to the states. Conduct elections Regulate trade within the state Establish local governments

Shared Powers Concurrent powers: powers shared by the federal and state governments. State laws cannot override a federal law. Borrow money Establish courts Create banks Enforce laws

Review ????????????? 1. What is the name of the ship the Pilgrims came to America on? 2. Where is the national government located? 3. What are some shared powers?

Review ????????????? 4. What are the First 10 amendments? 5. What is majority rule and minority rights mean?

Chapter 3 Section 2 Page 93

Separation of Powers The government was set up in 3 branches so that no one branch would have more power than the other.

Legislative Branch Created in Article 1 of the Constitution Lawmaking body Controls money

Executive Branch President is the head of this branch Created by Article II of the Constitution Executing and carrying out laws Includes VP, cabinet and 15 Departments

Judicial Branch Established in Article III Interprets laws and sets punishments Supreme Court Set up lower courts

Checks and Balances The Spirit of the Laws written by Baron de Montesquieu, stated how liberty could be threatened if one branch of government became too powerful.

Balance of Power Checks and balances is equal distribution of powers and limits on power. President can check Congress by vetoing proposed laws. Congress can check the President by overriding a veto with 2/3 majority vote.

Judicial Branch checks Marbury v Madison: set up the principle of judicial review, meaning up to the courts to review acts of the other branches Can check that laws passed by Congress and behavior of President is constitutional

Review ????????? 1. What are the 3 branches of government? 2. Who is the head of the judicial branch? 3. Why are checks and balances important?

Review ????????????? 4. What is a veto? 5. How can a veto be changed?

Chapter 3 Section 3 Page 99

Envisioning Change Included in the Constitution is provision for changing the Constitution.

Amendment Process Amendment is a written change made in the Constitution Must be approved by ¾ of the states Proposed: By Congress 2/3 of the states can propose a national convention to propose an amendment

Amendment cont Ratified: Sent to state legislature for approval Sent to state conventions ¾ states must ratify An amendment can be repealed if the citizens do not like the effects of the amendment

Interpreting the Constitution Unwritten Constitution: everything could not be included in the const. so traditions are not written into law. Example: Cabinet: started by George Washington and now is established policy

Congress and the Constitution Congress interprets the Constitution to pass laws about particular issues. Supreme court can determine if the law that Congress passed is Constitutional Congress can rewrite the law to make it Constitutional

Congress cont Congress cannot pass laws that: Bills of attainder: laws that punish a person without a jury trial Ex post facto laws: makes an act a crime AFTER the act was committed Writ of habeas corpus: right to bring a prisoner to court to hear why he/she is being held

Review ?????????????? 1.How is an amendment revoked? 2. How many amendments are in the Constitution? 3. What did George Washington establish?

Review ????????????? 4. What is the role of the Supreme Court? 5. How does an amendment get passed?