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Chapter 3 Lesson 1 PPT Constitution Structure and Principles

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17 views

Chapter 3 Lesson 1 PPT Constitution Structure and Principles

Uploaded by

jaelajeanine326
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 3: Lesson 1

Structure and Principles of the


Constitution
Essential Question:

How does the US Constitution


structure government and divide
power between the national and state
governments?
The U.S. Constitution
 The Founders created the Constitution with the
desire to set up a republic, power held in
elected representatives. It set up a separation
of powers to ensure this. Our government’s
success depends on its citizens being informed.
An understanding of the constitution is key to
understanding American government.
The U.S. Constitution
 Compared with other
Constitutions, the U.S. Constitution
is simple and brief.
 The Constitution is a blueprint, or
guide, for government but does
not spell out every aspect of how
government will function.
 The Constitution contains 7,000
words and is divided into three
parts: the Preamble, the articles,
Structure of the
Constitution
or, how the document is set
up.
The United States Constitution
has three parts.

A Preamble 7 Articles 27
Amendments

Today we will examine the Preamble the 7


Articles and the Six Major Principles
The Preamble
 The introduction,
which states why it
was written.
 The founders
wanted a
government which
would:
 1. provide stability
and order,
 2. Protect citizen’s
liberties,

The
The Seven
Seven
Articles
Articles are
are the
the
plan
plan of
of
government
government for for
the
the United
United States.
States.
Article I sets up the
Legislative Branch of
government. It creates the U.S.
Congress and its 2 Houses.
Only Congress can make federal
laws for the United States.

There are rules for passing laws


that Congress must follow.
Article II sets up the Executive
Branch of Government to provide
leadership for the country.
The President is in charge of the
Executive Branch.

Gives detail as to whom may be


president and vice president.
Article III sets up the Judicial
Branch of Government. It
establishes the Supreme Court as
the highest court in the land.
Plicker Time
• What did Article I of the Constitution set
the structure for?
• A. The Executive Branch
• B. The Judicial Branch
• C. The Legislative Branch
• D. The Supreme Court
Plicker Time
• What did Article II of the Constitution set
the structure for?
• A. The Executive Branch
• B. The Judicial Branch
• C. The Legislative Branch
• D. The Supreme Court
Plicker Time
• What did Article III of the Constitution set
the structure for?
• A. The Executive Branch
• B. The Judicial Branch
• C. The Legislative Branch
• D. Congress
Article IV tells how the states relate to each
other and to the federal government as far
as endowed rights among the states.

Federal
Government

It also tells how new states may be


admitted to the Union.
Article V tells how the Constitution
may be amended (changed).
Only
Only men
men can
can vote.
vote.

Men
Men and
and women
women can
can
vote.
vote.

An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both


Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one,
by a convention called for that purpose. The amendment must
then be ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures, or
three-fourths of conventions called in each State for ratification.
Article VI says the Constitution is
the supreme law of the land.
Article VI requires public
officials to take an oath to
support the Constitution.
Article VI also establishes
the Supremacy
Clause. which states that
when state law is in conflict
with federal law, federal
law must prevail.
Article VII says the Constitution
will be the law if nine states ratify
(accept) it.
All thirteen states ratified the
Constitution between 1787 and
1790!
Delaware was the first state to
ratify the Constitution, and Rhode
Island was the last.
Six Major Principles
The Constitution rests on the
following principles of
government:
Popular Sovereignty
 The people are the source of government
power.
Federalism
 Power is shared between the national and
state governments.
 This is a middle ground between the Articles
and a Unitary form of government. It provides
a flexible system of government.
Separation of Powers
 Each of the
three
branches of
government
has its own

responsibilitie
s.
 The Founders
hoped this
would
Checks and Balances
 Each branch holds some control over the
other branches.
Judicial Review
 Courts have the
power to declare laws
and actions of
Congress and the
President
unconstitutional.
 This was established
by Marbury v
Madison in 1803.
 A decision can only be
changed by another
Court decision or an
Limited Government
 The
Constitution
limits the
powers of
government
by
specifically
listing
powers it
does and
does not
have.

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