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The Constution

The document outlines the key components of the US Constitution, including the three branches of government - the legislative, executive, and judicial branches - and their powers and roles, as well as the democratic principles of popular sovereignty, individual rights, and limited government that are established. It also explains how the Constitution creates a system of federalism and separation of powers, including checks and balances, to limit the powers of the federal government.

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94 views

The Constution

The document outlines the key components of the US Constitution, including the three branches of government - the legislative, executive, and judicial branches - and their powers and roles, as well as the democratic principles of popular sovereignty, individual rights, and limited government that are established. It also explains how the Constitution creates a system of federalism and separation of powers, including checks and balances, to limit the powers of the federal government.

Uploaded by

api-544420948
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Constitution Of the

United States
BEFORE WE START
When you see a red star, take notes!
What is the Constitution? What is the point of The Constitution
A constitution creates and organizes a country’s government and outlines
how it operates.
Let’s Break It down
Preamble - The Parts Of The Government - How The Government Works -
Amendments
The Preamble
The Preamble is a one-sentence opening statement of
The Constitution that tells you what to expect when
reading the constitution.
“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.”
The Parts Of The Government
The parts of the government
include the legislative branch,
the executive branch and the
judicial branch and are
discussed in articles 1-3 in The
Constitution.
ARTICLE ONE: The Legislative Branch
• The Legislative Branch or Congress, is as group of lawmakers who
represent the people of the United States
• Congress is split into two main bodies: The Senate and The House of
Representatives
• Read Section 1
Senate The House of Representatives
Two senators to represent each Representatives are dependent
state on each state's population
ARTICLE ONE: The Legislative Branch
• Congress [The Legislative Branch] is responsible for making laws and
controlling money for the government
• A law can be passed only if the Senate and The House of
Representatives agree on it.
• The First article of The Constitution addresses Congress’s
[Legislative] powers which include:
• Passing laws for borrowing money
• Regulating commerce (trading)
• Imposing and collecting taxes
• Declaring war
• Approving treaties
• Approving national budget
10

Article Two:The Executive Branch


• The executive branch is responsible for carrying out the laws passed by
Congress
• The executive branch consists of the president and the vice president
• George Washington (The First US president) asked Congress to creative
four executive departments to help him carry out his responsibilities:
• Justice Department
• War Department
• Treasury Department
• State Department
- Read Section 1 Par. 1
ARTICLE THree: The JuDicial Branch
• The Judicial Branch is made up of the U.S. Supreme Court and other
federal courts
• The Judicial Branch is responsible for interpreting law and determining
whether or not a person has broken the law
• Read
Section 1 first
sentence
How The Government Works
Articles 4-8 explain how the government works!

Article Four: Describes relations among the states and how new states are
created

Article Five: Describes the process of changing the Constitution

Article Six: Explains how public debts will be paid and establishes that the
Constitution is known as the “supreme law of the land”

Article Seven: Describes how the Constitution is approved or ratified.


THE AMENDMENTS
I-XXV
AMENDMENTS
The amendments of the Constitution can be ratified or amended.

Fun Fact! The Constitution has been changed 27 times in its history.

Does anyone know an amendment from the Constitution?

The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights, which protect
the rights of the people such as freedom of speech and the right to bear
arms.
Amendments
The last of the amendments cover things such as:
• Restricting Federal Court Authority
• How the President and Vice President are elected
• The Outlawing of Slavery
• All races being able to vote
• All genders being able to vote
• Anyone 18 and over can vote

Bonus Question: Can anyone explain why people who are 18 or older are
able to vote?
Now That we’ve Gone Over The Basics… Let’s Go More
In-Depth
Democratic Principles, How Much Is Too Much?, A More Perfect Union?,
Federal Supremacy
Democratic Principles
Democratic Principles (Notes)
Popular Sovereignty: When the government’s power comes from its citizens

Individual Rights: Privileges that The People are entitled to at birth

Limited Government: The Constution sets limitations on the Government

Republicanism (Also known as Representative Democracy): U.S. Citizens can


elect leaders to represent their ideas and interests
How Much Is Too Much?
If the government is given too much power, it can become a dictatorship and
freedoms can be taken away from The People. To avoid this, The Constitution
puts limitations on the government.

Separation of powers: A government with branches/parts, where each


branch/part has different power. Our government today has three branches.

Checks and Balances: A system where each branch


can check or limit the power of one another
A More Perfect Union?

Federalism: the division of power between national, federal and state


governments.

Relations Between The States: States can act as nearly separate


independent countries. Each state has their own, personal government.

Confederation vs. Federal Union: The Constitution was different than The
Articles of Confederation, because The Articles of Confederation supported a
loose government with little power, while The Constitution supported a
stronger government with more power.
Federal Supremacy
Let’s Chat!
Some review questions
Review
• What are the powers of the Legislature?
• What are the executive branch and the judicial branch responsible for?
• What are the democratic principles of the Constitution?
• How does the Constitution limit the powers of the government?
• What is federalism?
Bonus Video

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