Scribd
Upload
2 views3 pages

M6 - Citizenship in The Constitution

The document outlines the structure and functions of the U.S. government, detailing the federal system's division of powers, the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. It emphasizes the importance of the Bill of Rights in protecting individual liberties and the rights of the accused. Additionally, it discusses the process of gaining U.S. citizenship and the civic duties expected of citizens, including voting and community involvement.

Uploaded by

kristenkcrafter
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2 views3 pages

M6 - Citizenship in The Constitution

The document outlines the structure and functions of the U.S. government, detailing the federal system's division of powers, the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. It emphasizes the importance of the Bill of Rights in protecting individual liberties and the rights of the accused. Additionally, it discusses the process of gaining U.S. citizenship and the civic duties expected of citizens, including voting and community involvement.

Uploaded by

kristenkcrafter
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Main Ideas

The framers of the Constitution devised the federal system


The legislative branch makes the nations laws
The executive branch enforces the nations laws
The judicial branch determines whether or not laws are constitutional

Main Idea 1
The federal system divides powers between states and federal government
Powers assigned to national government called delegated powers include coining money and regulating
trade
Powers kept by states called reserved powers include creating local governments and holding elections
Concurrent powers including taxing and enforcing laws are shared by federal and state governments
The “elastic clause” allows Congress to stretch its delegated powers to deal with unexpected issues

Main Idea 2
Article I of the Constitution divides legislative branch, or Congress, into House of Representatives and Senate
House of Representatives has 433 members, number for each state determined by population: each ,ember
represents a particular district within their state
Senate has 2 members for each state, both represent state as a whole
Leader of House of Representatives (Speaker of the House) elected by House members from the majority
party
U.S. vice president also serves as president of the Senate- only uses power in a tie

Legislative Requirements
House of Representatives
Must be 25 years old
Live in state where elected
Have been a U.S. citizen for 7 years
Senate
Must be 30 years old
Live in state represented
Have been a U.S citizen for 9 years

Executive Branch (Main Idea 3)


The executive branch enforces the nations laws
Article II of the Constitution lists the powers of executive branch, which enforces laws passed by Congress

President and Vice President


Head of executive branch is the president
President and vice president elected every four years
Vice president becomes president is the president dies, resigns, or is removed from o ce
House of Representatives can impeach, or vote to, charge president with serious crimes, Senate tries
impeachment cases, Congress can remove president from o ce if found guilty

Some President Powers


Veto (president can veto, or cancel, laws that congress has passed, congress can override veto with a 2/3
majority vote),
Executive orders (president can issue executive orders, command that have the power of law, these orders
carry out laws a ecting the constitution, treaties, and statues),
Pardons (freedom from punishment, granted to persons convicted of federal crimes or facing criminal
charges)
Other executive duties: the president commands the armed forces, while only Congress can declare war, the
president can call U.S. troops in emergencies
The executive branch conducts foreign relations and creates treaties
Executive departments do most of the work of the executive branch, the president appoints department
heads, called secretaries, who make up the cabinet

Main Ideas
The First Amendment guarantees basic freedoms to individuals
Other amendments focus on protecting citizens from certain abuses
The rights of the accused are an important part of the Bill of Rights
The rights of states and citizens are protected by the Bill of Rights

First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government for a redress of gneviances
Protection of individual liberties is important in a democracy because of majority rule-the idea that the
greatest number of people in society can make policies for everyone
The First Amendment protects freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of
assembly, and the right to petition

Protecting Citizens
Second Amendment deals with state militias and the right to bear arms.
Third Amendment prevents the military from forcing citizens to house soldiers
Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unreasonable search and seizure.
Authorities must get a search warrant to search or seize property, except in emergency situations

Rights of the Accused


The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Amendments provide guidelines for protecting the rights of the accused

5th Amendment
Guarantees the government cannot punish anyone without due process of law-meaning the law must be
fairly applied
Grand jury decides if there is enough evidence to indict a person
A court cannot try a person for a serious crime without an indictment
Protects people from having to testify at their own trial
Cannot face double jeopardy-be tried again for the same crime
Cannot have property taken without due process of law except in cases of eminent domain
Eminent domain is the power to take personal property to bene t the public

6th Amendment
Rights to a speedy, public trial by jury
Right to know charges and hear witnesses
Right to impel witnesses to appear
Right to an attorney

7th Amendment
Right of trial by jury in civil cases-cases where harm has occurred but not necessarily the breaking of the law

8th Amendment
Allows for bail- a set amount of money that defendants promise to pay the court if they fail to appear at the
proper time
Bans ‘cruel and unusual punishments’

Rights of States and Citizens


9th and 10th Amendments: general protection for other rights not addressed
9th Amendment: rights listed are not the only rights citizens have
10th Amendment: powers not delegated to the federal government belong to the states and the people
Helps keep the balance of power between states and federal government
Main Ideas
Citizenship in the US is determined in several ways
Citizens are expected to ful ll a number of important duties
Active citizen involvement in government and the community is encouraged

Gaining US Citizenship
Anyone born in the US or US territory is a citizen, as is anyone whose parent is a citizen
Foreign-born people whose parents are not citizens can become naturalized citizens
Legal immigrants may not vote or hold public o ce, the US government can deport immigrants who break
the law
Legal immigrants may request naturalization after living in the US for 5 years
Naturalized citizens cannot become president or vice president and can lose their citizenship
To become a citizen one must:
Be over 18 and support themselves nancially or have someone assume nancial responsibility for them
Be law-abiding and support the US constitutional
Demonstrate understanding of written and spoken English
Show basic knowledge of US history and government
Go before a naturalized court and take an oath of allegiance to the US

Responsibilities of Citizenship
For a representative democracy to work Americans need to ful ll their civil duties including:
bud
Obeying laws
Paying taxes
Defending the nation (men over 18 may be required to serve in the military in the event of a draft)
Serving on juries

11
Civic responsibilities include:
Voting

apr 09
Citizens and Society
Taking part in the elections process by voting may be a citizens most vital duty
Citizens should be informed about issues and candidates before voting
Americans may choose to campaign for candidates or issues
Many people help campaigns by giving money to political action committees (PACs)

In uencing Government and Helping the Community


Work with interest groups (groups of people who share a common interest that motivates them to take
political action)
Write letters to government leaders
Volunteer for community service groups (neighborhood watch groups can help the police)
Neighborhood Red Cross helps people in times of natural disasters and other emergencies
Girl and Boy Scouts can hep the environment and their community
in
DONE
organ

You might also like