1. U.S. Constitution
Outlining the basic rights of American citizens and rules for running the government.

2. 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 defense, 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.
Government of the people and not of the states = people’s interests outweigh the states’
Replaces & perfects the Articles of Confederation
Federalism: System of government in which power is shared by a central government and state governments.

3. Article I – Legislative Branch
Structure (Section 1):
-Legislative Powers
-Bicameral structure
House of Representatives (Sec. 2)
Senate (Sec. 3)
2 year terms
6 year terms
Power of Impeachment/Accuse high official of crime
Conducts Impeachment Trials
*1 rep for every 30K people
2 from each state
25 year age requirement / 7yr citizen
30 year age requirement / 9yr citizen
Elects it’s own leaders
Vice-President is president but has tie-breaker vote only

4. Article I – Legislative Branch
Operating Procedures Sec. 4, 5, 6
Law Making Procedures (Art. 7)
Additional Powers (Art. 8)
House Originates Tax Revenue Bills; Senate revises… &…
Taxes, Regulates Commerce, Citizenship rules, Est. lower
Courts, Declares war, Raises & Funds Army/Navy, Coins money & the Elastic Clause (p.105)
Limits on Powers (Art. 9)
Importation of slaves, Suspending Writ of Habeas Corpus, no Ex Post Facto or Bill of Attainder laws, etc… (p.107).
Limits on States (Art. 10)
Treaties, Alliances, Tax, limits…
How a bill becomes law…
…or not!
Civil Liberties: Basic guaranteed rights

5. Article II – Executive Branch
Section 1:
*4 year term (with Vice President) and qualifications, & Oath…
*How presidents are elected and replaced
Section 2:
*Commander & Chief
*Appointments (with Senate approval)
Section 3:
*Must provide a “State of the Union” periodically
*Adjourn of dismiss Congress
*Commissions Military Officers
*Ensure laws are executed
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President. pro tempore
Secretary of State
Secretary of Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health & Human Services
Secretary of Housing & Urban Dev.
Secretary. of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veteran Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
Section 4:
*Rules for Impeachment & Conviction (of Treason, Bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanors.

6. Article III – Judicial Branch
Establishes the Supreme Court & Inferior courts
Lifetime appointments
Establishment of
(Sec. 1)
Declares Laws unconstitutional
Outlines jurisdictions of courts
Appeals & Jury trials
Powers
(Sec.2)
Dealing with Treason
Treason
(Sec. 3) 9

7. Article IV – Relationship between States and the Federal Government
State respect States’ laws
Congress Oversees
Protection under law in each state
Extradition
Return of Slaves
New States, Yes, but…
Congress legislates for Territories
States must have Republic form of Govt.
Fed. Govt. will protect States
Reserved Powers: Any right not specifically assigned or denied by the Constitution is reservedto the states or the people…

8. Article V – Amending the Constitution
¾ of States
Convention or Legislature
¾ of States in legislatures or conventions
Called by Congress
By request of 2/3 of States
2/3 vote of Senate & House
Congress
National Convention
States
Ratification
I-XXVII
(Currently)

9. Article VI – The Supreme Law of the Land
Old Debts will be paid... don’t worry about it...
Federal laws trump State Laws :)
Federal laws must be constitutional ;)
State & Fed official s pledge allegiance & loyalty
No favoring of one religion over another in filling federal offices
Concurrent
Powers: Held by both State and Federal governments (tax, borrow money, est. courts, build roads, enforce laws…
Supremacy Clause: The Constitution & National Laws are “the supreme law of the land”.

10. Article VII – Rules for Ratification
9/13 States Required 1 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 13 12 11
Separation
of Powers: Each function of government was distributed to a separate branch of government. To ensure a Balance of Powers among branches, a system of Checks & Balances was developed, where each branch was subject to restraints by the other two.
Haves & Have-nots:
Slaves
Indian Tribes
Women

11. Flash Forward:
Along with creating the framework for a stable government, the constitution also brought about a free market and a sound economic environment by protecting private property and prosperity. “This freedom unleashed the energies, abilities and talents of every individual to develop as the individual’s own ambitions … and industry allowed” Chief Justice Warren Burger, p. 98).