The Constitution of the United States of America

1
The Constitution of the United States of America

• Summer reading on the Bill of Rights
• Why was the Consti-tution needed?
• Why did it need to be amended?
• How does it affect citizens of America and the
  world today?

2
Declaration of Independence

• Gives definition of Natural Rights
• Provides list of grievances against Great Britain
  including
• Quartering of troops
• Taxation w/o representation
• Removed trial by jury
• Punished petitioners
• Suspended legislatures

3
Under Articles of ConfederationNational
Government too Weak!

• No power to collect taxes
• States completely independent
• No uniform international trade
• Could not protect citizens from discrimination
  from states
• Could not control unfair competition between
  states.

4
Shays Rebellion and The Fear Factor

• Farmers in economic trouble in Mass.
• Decide to close down courts to prevent
  foreclosure
• Daniel Shays led simple farmers to resist
  government
• Showed need for strong central Government

5
The Constitutional Framework Structure of our
National Govt.
6
Other sections control how the Constitution will
work!
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Article I Provides for Legislative Branch of U.S.
Government
8
Article II Creates the Executive Branch of U.S.
Government

• Presidential Qualifications
• Powers of the President
• Duties of the President
• Impeachment of the President

9
Article III to the ConstitutionProvides for a
Judicial Branch and Supreme Court

• Supreme Court and inferior courts established.
• Jurisdiction of Courts including between states,
  between states and feds, admiralty and maritime,
  etc

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Articles IV through VII
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The Bill of Rights

• Where do we find the list of wrongs these rights
  righted?
• How many amend-ments are in the Bill of Rights?
• What are their two main purposes?
• List specific rights given in the 1st Amdt.

12
Amendment I

• Freedom of and from Religion
• Freedom of Speech
• Freedom of Press
• Freedom to Assemble Peaceably
• Freedom to Petition the Government

13
Amendments II, III, IV

• Amendment II The Right to Bear Arms.
• Amendment III No Quartering of Troops without
  the consent of the owner.
• Amendment IV No unreasonable searches,
  seizures, or warrants to be issued without
  probable cause.

14
Constitution In News Today

• Scientists Speak Up on Mix of God and Science

• BAGHDAD, Iraq, Saturday, Aug. 27 - Shiite and
  Kurdish leaders drafting a new Iraqi constitution
  abandoned negotiations with a group of Sunni
  representatives on Friday, deciding to take the
  disputed charter directly to the Iraqi people.

A DEBATE OVER DARWIN Squaring God and Evolution
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References and Referrals

• All images of historic documents were copied from
  the National Archives at www.nara.gov.
• Constitution in the News Today headlines found
  at www.nytimes.com on 27 Aug 05.
• We will study Amendments 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, and
  21 this year and their affect on U.S. history.
  We will especially look at the 14th Amendment and
  its application of the Bill of Rights to state
  laws.