1. US Constitution Handbook

2. The constitution is a living document with timeless ideas and changes with the times.
Preamble – opening words that state the purpose
We The People ……..

3. 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 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.

4. 7 Principles of the Constitution
1. Popular sovereignty – people rule
2. Republicanism – people vote for representatives
3. federalism – power is shared between national and state government
4. separation of powers – government is divided into 3 branches
5. checks and balances – each branch of government has control over the other
6. limited government – ALL must obey laws – govt. is not ALL powerful
7. individual rights – all people have basic rights

5. 7 Principles Popular Sovereignty Republicanism Federalism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Limited Government
Individual Rights

6. 3 Branches of Government
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Congress
President
Vice President
Supreme Court
SENATE
House of Representatives
JOBS = COMMAND MILITARY, MAKE TREATIES & FOREIGN POLICY AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP
Federal Courts
Equal representation
# based on State population
2 per state
JOB = INTERPRET LAWS
JOB =ENFORCE LAWS
JOB = MAKE LAWS

7. Article 1 – Section 2 House of Representatives
Term is 2 yrs. – no term limits
Number per state is based on state population (census every 10 years)
Census = count
There are currently 435 reps.
Qualifications = at least 25 yrs. Old
Citizen of the U.S. for 7 yrs
Resident of the state that elects you
Salary = $136,700

8. Article 1 – Section 3 Senate Term – 6 years
Number per state = 2 (equal representation), currently 100
Qualifications:
At least 30 years old
Citizen for 9 years
Resident of the state that elects you
Salary $136,700
The Vice-President is the President of the Senate and ONLY votes in the case of a tie!

9. Article One (write on back of Senate notes)
The power to declare war belongs to the Congress
A quorum is a majority of the members of the House or Senate and is required if voting on a bill.
If the President or a member of Congress is accused of wrongdoing, the House brings up the charges and the Senate acts as the jury

10. How a Bill Becomes a Law? Put these steps in order: Floor Action
Final Approval
Introduction
Enactment
Committee Action

11. How a Bill Becomes a Law? What is a Bill? Who introduces it?
What is a veto?
Is a veto final?
How can a veto be overridden?
Which house of the Legislative Branch is the only one who can introduce revenue (tax bills)?

12. Article 2 – The Executive Branch
President and Vice President
Main role is to enforce laws
Terms = 4 yrs. (limit 2 terms)
Chosen by electoral college – not a direct vote of the people. # of electors for a state = total # of senators and representatives. Ks. has 6 – see p. 256
Qualifications:
35 years old
Natural born citizen
US resident for 14 years

13. Article 2, continued Section 3 - Duties – State of the Union Address
SALARY = $200,000
Benefits:
Live in White House
Vacations
Use Air Force One
$100,000 in travel expenses
Section 2 – Powers
Command Military
Make treaties and appointments with Senate approval
Convene (call together) Congress
Section 3 - Duties –
State of the Union Address
Section 4 – Impeachment
Treason
Bribery
Other high crimes
Tried by the SENATE

14. Article 3 – The Judiciary
Supreme Court – highest and most powerful court
Other inferior (lower) federal courts
Job – interpret (evaluate or make decisions about) laws
Authority over all cases – Sec. 2
Original jurisdiction (they hear it first) Ex. Cases involving states or public officials OR
Appellate = power to review lower court decisions (ex. Roe vs Wade)

15. Article 3 - continued Trial by jury in state crime is committed
Section 3. defines treason – must have testimony of witnesses or confess
Must be an open act of treason
Punishment – Congress sets

16. Article 3 - continued Supreme Court qualifications:
Appointed by President, approved by the Senate.
Term = unlimited
No age, residency or citizenship requirements

17. Article 4
Main idea – states must honor one another’s laws, records and court rulings.
When you move from one state to another, your rights remain the same.
New States may be admitted if approved by Congress.

18. Article 5 Main idea – The Constitution can be amended.
It takes 2/3 of Congress or state legislatures to propose and ¾ of state legislatures to ratify (pass or approve) an amendment. (p. 263)

19. Article 6
Main idea: The Constitution, national laws and treaties are the supreme (highest) law of the land. All government officials must support them.

20. Article 7
9 of 13 states had to ratify (pass or approve) the Constitution before it could go into effect.

21. Amendments 1 – 10 = Bill of Rights
1st = Five freedoms…..freedom of
1. religion
2. speech
3. the press
4. of assembly
5. to petition

22. Bill of Rights, cont. 2nd – Right to bear arms
3rd – no soldier shall be quartered without consent of the owner
4th – right to privacy and ensures no unreasonable or illegal searches or seizures

23. Bill of Rights, cont. 5th – protects the rights of the accused
1. No person can be forced to testify against himself
2. No person can be found guilty of a crime without due process of law (fair treatment)

24. Bill of Rights, cont.
6th – Right to a speedy public trial. This led to the Miranda rights:
Right to remain silent
Anything you say can be used against you
You have the right to an attorney

25. Bill of rights, cont.
7th – right to a trial by jury in civil cases – civil law = wrongs between people
8th – limits fines and punishments
9th – rights of people – simply to say that the rights included in the constitution are not the only rights we have
10th – Any powers not given to the national government by the Constitution are reserved for the states.

26. Other Important Amendments
12th – called for separate ballots for President and Vice-President
13th – Ended slavery in the United States (1865)
14th – Defined citizenship, promised equal protection of the laws (1868)
15th – Designed to protect African Americans right to vote (1870)

27. Other Imp. Amendments, cont.
16th – gave Congress the authority to collect income tax (1913)
18th – Prohibition (1919) prohibited alcohol production and consumption
21st – repealed Prohibition
19th – Gave women the right to vote – the BEST amendment…yeah!! (1920)

28. Other Important Amendments, cont.
20th - Lame Duck sessions – shortened the time before new officials take office – a lame duck is an elected official whose time in office ends soon.
22nd – Limited President’s terms to 2
24th – Abolished poll taxes – a poll tax was a fee paid to vote
26th – gave 18 yr. olds the right to vote

29. Teenage Bill of Rights
Your assignment is to write a Teenage Bill of Rights. Here’s your chance to write down all the rights you WISH you had! Your bill of rights must have a least 10 rights.