God Bless the USA The Living Constitution

The MAGNA CARTA King John I in England was forced to sign the Magna Carta in This document was to give all liberties to the people and not the king. The Preamble to our Constitution establishes liberty for “ourselves and our posterity.”

Declaration of Independence Authors: Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Sherman and Livingston The Declaration established many of the key principles for a federal/national system of government. Separated American colonies from England in 1776

Ratification for the Constitution Ratify means to approve. Out of the 13 colonies, Delaware, New Jersey, and Georgia all voted yes unanimously. Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island all ratified it also.

Constitutional Convention In 1787, in Philadelphia, many impressive delegates from each state except Rhode Island debated many ideas. Some common threads were limited powers, separated powers, and state’s rights. Connecticut Compromise: Gave the U.S. a House of Representatives and Senate

Bill of Rights The first ten amendments to the constitution protect the rights of individuals from the government. The Bill of Rights was put into effect in Some of the rights listed in the Bill of Rights: speech, religion, voting, trial by jury, bear arms, and to own property.

Preamble The first paragraph states the purpose of the Constitution. It proposes a government based on the will of the people known as democracy. Americans do not vote on anything. Instead the will of the people is expressed through representatives elected by the people.

James Madison Known as the “father of the Constitution” Oldest of twelve children but youngest member at the Continental Congress Madison was eventually elected President in “It was to the mind of Madison that the union owed its existence.” -John Quincy Adams

What is in the Constitution? Separate but equal powers: Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, Judicial Branch Checks and Balances shows that no one branch is stronger or more powerful than another.

Legislative Branch Congress House of Representatives Term: 2 years Qualifications: left to each individual state Most states adopted qualifications like being a U.S. citizen, 25+old, and they must be a registered voter. Number per state: determined by population determined in a census

Legislative Branch Senate Term: 6 years Qualifications: 30+old, U.S. citizens, and must live in the state they represent Vice President leads the Senate and the Speaker of the House leads the House of Representatives. Number per state: 2 per every state

Legislative Duties Major power: make the laws of our nation Over the Executive: can override President’s veto, impeach the President, refuse President’s appointments, and refuse to approve treaties Over the Judicial: creates courts, refuse appointments, propose amendments, and impeach judges

How a bill becomes a LAW Bill is introduced to the legislative branch and is referred to committee where it is killed or referred to subcommittee. Subcommittee can change it before “reporting” it. The bill is then debated and followed with a vote. Both the House of Representatives and Senate have to approve/vote for the bill.

If passed, the bill is sent to the President to sign into law. If the President vetoes the bill, it returns to Congress (House of Reps & Senate) If 2/3 of each house again votes for the bill, it overrides the President’s veto and becomes a law.

Executive Branch Term: 4 years Amendment 22 made 2 terms the legal limit Qualifications: Born in the U.S. and 35+old Duties: Upholds the Constitution, carries out laws, commander in chief to military, makes treaties and appointments Salary: $200,000 + expenses for travel, entertaining and other things

Impeachment Impeach means to challenge the honesty of a public official or charge a public official of offense while in office-leads to removal of office. President Andrew Jackson was the first one to be impeached. President Richard Nixon was first to resign due to impeachment. President Bill Clinton was also considered for impeachment.

More Executive Duties Can veto bills, can call Congress into session, can recommend laws Can appoint Supreme Court and federal judges and can grant pardons

President’s Cabinet White House Office, National Security Council, and the leaders of following departments: Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Resources, Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, Veteran’s Affairs and Housing and Urban Services, etc…

Judicial Branch Terms: lifetime appointment only removed by death, resignation or impeachment Duties: protect rights of people with a series of appeals to the ultimate Supreme Court, interprets laws, punishes lawbreakers, declares laws unconstitutional, rules on laws being consistent with the constitution (or not)

Supreme Court Most cases involve the review of decisions made by lower state courts. They vote to uphold or reverse that decision. Over the last 200 years, only a few federal laws have been declared unconstitutional. 9 judges called justices Trial by jury means any person accused of a crime must be offered a jury trial.

Bill of Rights 1-Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press; Rights to Assembly and Petition 2-Right to Bear Arms 3-Keeping Troops in Private Arms 4-Search and Seizure 5-Rights of Persons Accused of a Crime

6-Right to a Fair and Speed Trial 7-Trial by Jury in Civil Suits 8-Bail and Punishment 9-Powers Reserved to the People 10-Powers Reserved to the States

Other Famous Amendments 13-Slavery Abolished Emancipation Proclamation by Lincoln freed slaves 15-The Right to Vote for African Americans 19-Women’s Right to Vote

Living Constitution? For over 200 years, the Constitution has been the engine of our national success! It is a symbol of pride, a force for national unity, and a quiet, steady influence in our daily lives. The Constitution makes an excellent guide, but it can only take us where we, the people, want to be led.

It is referred to as “living” because it is a workable constitution must and can adjust to changing needs.

U.S. Presidents George Washington John Adams Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren

William Henry Harrison John Tyler James Polk Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore Franklin Pierce James Buchanan Abraham Lincoln

Andrew Johnson Ulysses Grant Rutherford Hayes James Garfield Chester Arthur Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison Grover Cleveland

William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt William Taft Woodrow Wilson Warren Harding Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover Franklin D Roosevelt

Harry Truman Dwight Eisenhower John F Kennedy Lyndon Johnson Richard Nixon Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan

George Bush William Clinton George W Bush ??????????????????????????????????

By Deanna McKinley Aka: The Tormenator or Mrs. McKill Me