1. Anatomy of the Constitution

2. Anatomy of the Constitution
The contents of Constitution create 3 branches of government and give directions about how the federal gov’t works
Although it was written 230 years ago, it still guides our country today
It is the oldest written constitution in the world that is still in use

3. The Preamble The Constitution is divided into 9 parts
The first paragraph is called the Preamble
It’s the introduction: it explains the goals and the purpose of the Constitution
For example, the first three words - “We the People” - contains the important idea of self- government

4. Breaking Down the Preamble
Your task is to figure out what each phrase in the Preamble really means!

5. “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.”

6. We the American citizens of the US
To form a more perfectly united group of states
To create a fair legal system
To keep peace and safety throughout the nation
To keep every state safe from outside threats
To support the wellbeing of everyone
To make sure that freedom and natural born rights are given to us and future generations
To make official this agreement as the form of gov’t for the USA.

7. Article I: Creating Congress
The first article creates the legislative branch of government
Legislative means law-making
Members of the legislature (Congress) are responsible for representing the citizens of the US
They turn the wants and needs of the citizens they represent into laws

8. Article I: Creating Congress (cont.)
The legislative branch makes our government and representative democracy.
Citizens elect people to represent their needs and concerns
Article I creates Congress with two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives
Article I breaks down the responsibilities of both chambers

9. House of Representatives
Senate
House of Representatives
Qualifications
Must be 30 years old, a citizen for 9 years, and live in the state you represent
Must be 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and live in the state you represent
Size
2 senators per state (100 total)
Amount per state depends on population size (435 total)
They represent...
The interests of the citizens living in their entire state for a 6 year term
The interests of the citizens living in their district within the state for a 2 year term
Special duties
Acts as a court during impeachments
All bills that raise money must start in the House
Role in
lawmaking
A bill must be passed by BOTH houses before it can go to the President to be signed into law

10. The Powers of Congress
Article I lists the types of laws Congress can make:
Collect taxes
Borrow money and pay debts
Make rules for how to become a citizen
Regulate trade with other nations, between states, and with Indian tribes
Coin money and punish counterfeiters
Establish post offices

11. The Powers of Congress (cont.)
Article I lists the types of laws Congress can make:
Give patents to new inventions
Create the lower federal courts
Punish pirates
Declare war and support the army and navy
Make any other laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers in this list.

12. Article II: Creating the President
Article II describes the job of the executive branch of government
This branch executes, or carries out, laws
The President is the head of this branch
Also includes a Vice President and many departments that are in charge of carrying out the day-to-day business of the gov’t

13. The Powers of the President
Article II grants the President specific powers:
Act as commander-and-chief of the armed services
Maintain a cabinet of advisors who run the 15 executive departments (such as the State Dept, Education Dept, etc.)
Grant pardons in all federal criminal offenses, and reprieves (postpone punishments)

14. The Powers of the President (cont.)
Article II grants the President specific powers:
Negotiate treaties with other countries
Appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices and federal court judges, and Cabinet members
Make a State of the Union address to Congress
Represent the US when dealing with foreign countries
Make sure that laws are carried out (executed)

15. Article III: Creating the Courts
Article III creates the judicial branch
This branch interprets laws to decide what they mean, and whether or not they are being followed in specific cases
Creates the Supreme Court and grants Congress the power to create lower federal courts
Federal courts deal with US laws, not state laws

16. Article III: Creating the Courts (cont.)
Article III also gives directions about what kinds of cases the Supreme Court and federal courts can hear
Says that federal judges are appointed, not elected
They sit on the bench until they retire, die, or are removed for bad behavior
Also guarantees trial by jury for criminal cases, and explains the crime of treason

17. Article IV: The States Article IV explains how states must interact
Each state must respect the laws of the others
Power of extradition - states can return criminals to the state where the crime was committed in order to face charges
All states must have a representative government

18. Article V: Amending the Constitution
Article V describes how the Constitution can be changed
A change or addition to the Constitution is called an amendment
The Founding Fathers deliberately made it a difficult process to amend the Constitution

19. Article VI: National gov’t over states
Article VI addresses the idea of federalism - that the national gov’t shares power with state gov’ts
If a state law conflicts with a federal law, the federal law wins; “the supreme law of the land”
It also states federal gov’t employees must take an oath to support and defend the Constitution

20. Article VII: Ratification
Article VII says the Constitution could not take effect until 9 of the 13 original states approved it.
Each state held its own convention to vote on it.
Some states believed that the 7 articles were not enough - this would result in the creation of the Bill of Rights.

21. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch prints money?

22. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch enforces laws?

23. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial?
Which branch decides what laws mean?

24. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch declares war?

25. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial?
Which branch includes the Cabinet?

26. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial?
Which branch is divided into two chambers?

27. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch can punish pirates?

28. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial?
Which branch can make treaties with other countries?

29. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial?
Which branch can declare laws unconstitutional?

30. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial?
Which branch is selected by the Electoral College?

31. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial?
Which branch is selected by popular vote?

32. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial?
Which branch appoints Supreme Court Justices, federal judges, ambassadors, and cabinet members?

33. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial?
Which branch approves presidential appointments?

34. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial?
Which branch makes a State of the Union address every year?

35. Legislative, Executive, or Judicial? Which branch collects taxes?

36. The Amendment Process
The Constitution has only been amended 27 times in over 200 years
There are only TWO steps to the amendment process
Approval of the U.S. Congress
Approval of the states
Despite this, it is still an incredibly difficult process

37. The Amendment Process (cont.)
STEP 1: PROPOSE
Congressional Vote:
Two-thirds (⅔) of BOTH houses vote YES to the amendment.
STEP 2: RATIFY
State Legislature Vote:
Three-fourths (¾) of state legislatures vote YES to ratify the amendment.

38. Introducing… The Bill of Rights
10 of the 27 amendments that we have were ratified only a year after the the Constitution took effect
These 10 amendments became known as the Bill of Rights because they define many of the rights guaranteed to U.S. citizens