1. The Constitution and Bill of Rights

2. I. Article I -The Legislative Branch-Makes laws
Longest Article, outlined the structure and duties of our legislature
A. Divided Congress into 2 houses:
Senate-equal representation and the
House of Representatives-representation based on population.
B. Delegated Powers-powers given to Congress. Ex: maintain army, coin money, declare war.
C. "Necessary and Proper" clause-states that Congress can make laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out their powers.
Gave flexibility but created a problem because Americans feared Congress would get too powerful.

3. II. Article II-The Executive Branch-Enforces laws
Not as detailed as Article I.
A. Created the office of the President & gave him the power to create departments to aid in the workings of the government.
B. Established limits on the power, hoping to avoid a monarchy.
C. George Washington would set precedents in his tenure.

4. III. Article III-The Judicial Branch-Interprets laws
Created and checked by the other branches.
A. Judges are appointed by President and approved by the Senate.
B. Supreme Court-rules on cases involving constitutional questions and settle appeals from lower courts.
The Supreme Court’s power will be defined through court cases it rules on throughout American history.

5. IV. Article IV-The States
Deals with powers and relations of the states.
A. Full Faith and Credit Clause-every state may have heir own laws but they must also honor the acts of all other states.
B. Laid grounds for the statehood process & ruling of territories.
C. Congress will use federal troops to defend a state and to stop rioting in a state.

6. V. Article V-Amending 2 Methods for Proposal: 2/3 vote of Congress or
Framers were smart enough to know that the document would need to change.
2 Methods for Proposal:
2/3 vote of Congress or
2/3 of states demand a special convention.
2 Methods of Approval:
3/4 of state legislatures or
special conventions in 3/4 of states.
Very difficult to change.

7. VI. Article VI-Supremacy
The Constitution is the highest law in the land.
Federal laws are supreme to state laws.
US CONSTITUTION
FEDERAL LAWS
STATE LAWS

8. VII. Article VII-Ratification
Framers learned from their mistakes at the Philadelphia Convention.
Only 9 of 13 states had to sign it to put it into affect.

9. VIII. The Amendments
Antifederalists refused to support the Constitution without changes that would promise to protect the individual rights of Americans.
12 Amendments were proposed, with 10 accepted and added on December 15, 1791.
These 10 are known as the Bill of Rights.

10. VIII. The Amendments
A. Protected Rights
1. Individual Freedoms-freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition.
2. Protections Against Abuse-right to bear arms, no housing of soldiers, no unreasonable search & seizure, property rights.
3. Protections of the Accused-due process, protection from double jeopardy, right to question witnesses, right to not incriminate yourself, trial by jury, limits on bail, no cruel or unusual punishment.

11. VIII. The Amendments B. Interpretations of Amendments
1. Judges in the court system must constantly interpret the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in real-life situations.
2. Tinker Case-students wore black armbands to protest Vietnam War. They were suspended for disrupting class. Students sued saying their freedom of speech had been violated.
-The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the students, saying that their protest was protected since it did not interfere with other students rights.

12. VIII. The Amendments B. Interpretations of Amendments
3. Skokie Case-Nazi group wanted to march, but were stopped with laws requiring $350,000 insurance and rulings that banned the display of the swastika and distribution of their materials.
-The Supreme Court ruled that the Nazis did have the right to distribute their materials and display their swastikas. They also ruled that the town had violated the 1st Amendment by requiring the insurance.
The decision showed that freedom of speech applies to all groups, not just those who we agree with.

13. VIII. The Amendments C. Further Amendments
These Amendments represent landmark events and changes in U.S. history.

14. VIII. The Amendments 12th Amendment
Changed the way the President and VP were elected.
13th Amendment
Outlawed Slavery
14th Amendment
Guaranteed citizenship rights
15th Amendment
Gave right to vote to every man, regardless of race

15. VIII. The Amendments 16th Amendment Established federal income tax
Established direct election of Senators
18th Amendment
Began Prohibition, 21st Amendment repealed this
19th Amendment
Gave women the right to vote

16. Limits president to 2 terms
VIII. The Amendments
22nd Amendment
Limits president to 2 terms
26th Amendment
Lowered voting age to 18