1. Constitution

2.  3 Parts to the Constitution: ◦ Preamble ◦ Articles ◦ Amendments

3.  Most Important parts are the first 3 articles :  Article 1 establishes the Legislative Branch: ◦ Who makes the laws (Congress)  Article 2 establishes the Executive Branch: ◦ Who executes the laws (President)  Article 3 establishes the Judicial Branch: ◦ Who makes sure the laws are just (Supreme Court)

4.  Popular Sovereignty and Republicanism  Limited Government  Federalism  Separation of Powers  Checks and Balances  Individual Rights  Beliefs and Principles Today

5.  Legislative Branch ◦ Congress; passes laws ◦ Have enumerated powers (stated in Constitution) and implied powers (elastic clause)  Executive Branch ◦ President; makes sure laws are being followed ◦ Grants pardons, makes treaties, appoint Supreme Court Justices

6.  Judicial Branch ◦ The federal court system, and all lower courts set up by it. ◦ Interpret the Constitution and determine if anything is in violation of the amendments or articles. ◦ Highest point is the Supreme Court.

7.  Checks and Balances ◦ 1 Branch of government can check the power of another branch of government. ◦ Ex. Congress makes a law. The president thinks it is a bad law. So he vetoes it. ◦ Ex. Congress makes a law. The president signs it. The Supreme Court says the law goes against the Constitution, so they deem it unconstitutional and the law is deleted.