1. Structure and Principles of the Constitution
Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

2. What is it?
A constitution is a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.
Is ours special?
Yes and No
Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

3. Structure The Preamble Introduction
“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.”
Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

4. Structure The 7 Articles I – The Legislative Branch (Congress)
II – The Executive Branch (POTUS)
III – The Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)
IV – Relationship with the states
V – Amending the Constitution
VI – National Supremacy
VII – Ratification
Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

5. Structure How we reference parts of the Constitution
Article – Main parts, always referenced with Roman numerals
Section – Parts of Articles, referenced with Arabic numbers, easy to see
Clause – Smallest chunks of the Constitution, referenced with Arabic numbers, not all Sections have Clauses
I, 8, 3 – is Article I, Section 8, Clause 3
Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

6. Major Principles Popular Sovereignty Based on Consent of the Governed
The authority of the government is derived from the people
Federalism
Power of the government is divided between the central and state governments
Established in Article IV
Was the only way that a Constitution could have been passed in 1787
Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

7. Major Principles Separation of Powers Checks and Balances
Constitution limits the powers of the government by dividing it into three branches
Each branch has a set of individual powers
Founders hoped that it would keep any branch from getting too powerful
Checks and Balances
Going along with separation of powers, the founders created a system of controls each branch has over the others
Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

8. Major Principles Judicial Review Debatable Principle
The power to declare laws and actions unconstitutional
Established in Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Limited Government
Constitution limits the power of the central government
The Bill of Rights is a set of specific limitations
The length and structure of the Constriction limits government
Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.

9. Browse through the Constitution
Grab a Book
Browse through the Constitution
P. 775 in the Government book
Students will identify how the powers of the government are derived from the structure and principles of the Constitution.