1. The U.S. Constitution
IConstitution

2. What does it actually do?
Intro
Intro
What does it actually do?

3. Preamble
Constitution

4. Constitution Preamble We the people…. To form a more perfect union
Establish justice
Ensure domestic tranquility
Provide for the common defense
Promote the general welfare
Secure the blessings of liberty

5. Constitution Preamble “We the People”
important because it indicates the Constitution is an agreement between the people of America, not the states
all positions elected (some indirectly) by the people
Govt. designed to serve the people

6. Seven Articles
Constitution

7. The Legislative Branch
Constitution
Article 1
The Legislative Branch
Creates a bicameral Congress (House & Senate)
Sets formal requirements for Congressmen
Expressed powers of Congress
Sets up elections, districts, and redistricting

8. Constitution Article 2 The Executive Branch
Establishes the President & Executive Branch
Requirements for President
Establishes Electoral College and elections
Expressed powers of the President

9. Constitution Article 3 The Judicial Branch
Establishes the Supreme Court
Grants Congress power to make lower courts
Defines jurisdiction and treason

10. Relations Among the States
Constitution
Article 4
Relations Among the States
Agreements between states
Official documents from state to state
Admission of new states
Guarantees of “republican government”

11. Constitution Article 5 Making Amendments
How to formally amend the Constitution
Involves majorities of both national & state govts.
Reflects federalism & consent of states

12. Constitution Article 6 Supremacy Clause
Constitution is “Supreme Law of the Land”
National law supersedes state law

13. Constitution Article 7 Ratification
Means the states must approve the arrangement in order for it to take effect
3/4 states are required to ratify

14. Amendment Process ( Art. V)
Constitution

15. Constitution Formal Amendments Proposed by: Ratified by:
2/3 of both houses of Congress
3/4 of state legislatures
2/3 of states call a national amendment writing convention
3/4 of states have ratifying conventions
Always at national level
Always at state level

16. Constitution Amendments Reflects Federalism
Both national govt and states involved.
Only national can propose altering “the plan”. No state can
States agreed to “the plan”. They must agree to any changes
3/4 ratification threshold same as Constitution

17. Amendments
Constitution

18. Constitution Bill of Rights What they do…
Guarantee rights to ALL citizens
Set limits on what the govt. can do to you.
Protect the rights of the accused
Allow for future interpretation

19. First Amendment: Freedom of..
Constitution
Bill of Rights
First Amendment: Freedom of..
Religion
Speech
Press
Assembly
{Petition

20. Constitution Bill of Rights Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms
Third Amendment
No quartering of troops

21. Fourth – Eighth Amendments deal with “Rights of the Accused”
Constitution
Bill of Rights
Fourth – Eighth Amendments deal with “Rights of the Accused”
Fourth Amendment
No Illegal searches / seizure of property
Fifth Amendment
No self - incrimination
No Double Jeopardy
Due process of law
Eminent Domain

22. Fourth – Eighth Amendments deal with “Rights of the Accused”
Constitution
Bill of Rights
Fourth – Eighth Amendments deal with “Rights of the Accused”
Sixth Amendment
Speedy & Public Trial / Right to Counsel
Seventh Amendment
Jury in Civil Cases
Eighth Amendment
No Cruel and Unusual Punishment

23. Constitution Bill of Rights Ninth Amendment
Rights Reserved to the People
Tenth Amendment
Powers Reserved to the states

24. Constitution Amendments
The first ten amendments limit the power of the national government.
The rest change the rules and procedures of the government
Eleventh Amendment
Lawsuits against states
Twelfth Amendment
Changes to Electoral College

25. Constitution Amendments Thirteenth Amendment Abolition of Slavery
Fourteenth Amendment
Citizenship rights for former slaves
Fifteenth Amendment
Voting rights regardless of race (all males)

26. Seventeenth Amendment
Constitution
Amendments
Sixteenth Amendment
Income Tax
Seventeenth Amendment
Direct Election of Senators
Eighteenth Amendment
Prohibition of Alcohol
Nineteenth Amendment
Voting Rights for regardless of gender

27. Constitution Amendments Twentieth Amendment End of “Lame Duck period”
Twenty-first Amendment
End of Prohibition!!!
Twenty-Second Amendment
Two Term Limit for the President

28. Constitution Amendments Twenty-third Amendment
Voting Rights for Washington D.C.
Twenty-fourth Amendment
No poll tax
Twenty-Fifth Amendment
Presidential Succession

29. Constitution Amendments Twenty-sixth Amendment
Voting Age changed to 18
Twenty-seventh Amendment
Pay Raises for Congress

30. Constitution Voting Amendments 15th Amendment 19th Amendment
23rd Amendment
24th Amendment
26th Amendment

31. Constitution Procedure Changes 12th Amendment 17th Amendment

32. Constitution New Policies 13th Amendment 16th Amendment 18th Amendment

33. Characteristics
Constitution

34. Constitution Characteristics Written Constitution
Makes arrangements more permanent
People know what the rules are, they aren’t made up by each administration
Clearly & absolutely sets forth what the govt. can and cannot do.
No branch is supreme, the constitution is supreme

35. Republican Government
Constitution
Characteristics
Republican Government
All power can ultimately be traced back to the people
Power derived from all of society, not from a small portion of it
None of the offices are hereditary, all power must be occasionally reaffirmed by the people
No branch is supreme, the constitution is supreme

36. Constitution Characteristics Separation of Powers
Derived from “enlightenment” and from British govt.
Power divided among 3 branches, each made of people somewhat responsible to people
Separation of legislature & executive important. Law-making & implementing are separate
Each branch keeps the others from becoming too powerful

37. Constitution Characteristics Federalism
Power separated both “horizontally” & “vertically”
The federal government’s powers are spelled out and limited.
Govts. Serve as “checks” on one another
Constitution is a “more perfect union”

38. Constitution Characteristics Interpretation
Many provisions are vague/open to interpretation of officials.
Does government only have those powers specifically spelled out?
Does the government have any inherent powers?
How exactly do the roles of the branches overlap?
What is the role of the courts?

39. Bigly Ideas
Constitution

40. History Wrap Up Making Amendments Bill of Rights Articles I - VII
Types of Amendments
Focus on these things: