The Constitution continued

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The Constitution continued

• The purpose
• 1. It was to provide the basic framework for the
  United States Government
• It is the highest authority in the land it has
  legal and political force.
• The power over the three branches of the
  Government and elected officials, and the
  President.
• It is a symbol, and it stands for our system of
  government and for our basic beliefs and
  ideals(liberty and freedom)

The Preamble
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The Preamble

• The Preamble is the first paragraph of the
  Constitution. The Preamble identifies the basic
  purposes of the Constitution. The Preamble
  explains the most important ideas behind the
  Government. The people have the right to govern
  themselves. The Government depends on the on the
  People for its power and exist to serve them.
• We the people in order to form a more perfect
  union establish justice and insure domestic
  tranquility, to provide for the common defense,
  promote the general welfare, and secure the
  Blessing of liberty and to ourselves and our
  posterity, do ordain and establish this
  constitution for the United States of America.

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The Preamble

• The six goals for the United States Government
• To form a more perfect union to allow the
  states to operate as a single country, for the
  benefit for all.
• To establish Justice- to make certain that all
  citizens are treated fairly and equally.
• To ensure domestic tranquility- to keep peace
  among the people.
• To provide for the common defense-to maintain an
  armed forces to protect the country and its
  citizens.
• To Promote the general welfare-to ensure, as
  much as possible, that all citizens will be free
  from poverty, hunger and disease.
• To ensure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
  and our posterity-to guarantee that no
  Americans basic rights will be taken away , now
  or in the future(posterity-generations not yet
  born)

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Separation of Powers
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Separation of Powers -Why?
To this end, three branches of Government were
created Legislative Executive Judicial

• The framers of the Constitution included the
  Separation of powers for one primary reason to
  prevent the majority from achieving absolute rule

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Articles of the Constitution
Article I- Generally the article states that
Congress made up of Two Houses Will carry out
the legislative duties of the government. It
describes how each house will organized and how
each of its members will be chosen. I t also
list the powers given to Congress-power to tax,
to regulate trade, to coin money, and to declare
war. It also list powers Congress can not have
or are denied. Power to tax exports. Article II-
it deals with the executive branch it list the
powers and duties of the President and
Vice-president. I t explains how the two are to
be chosen. Powers like -to command the armed
forces, to make treaties, to pardon criminals,
to appoint certain government officials. Article
III- It gives judicial powers to the Supreme
court and other federal courts . The Judges
serve for life, or during good behavior. The
courts have the power to hear all cases arising
under the Constitution. Articles IV-VII They
explain the relationship between the federal
Government and the state government. And article
V states how the constitution can be
changed.Article VI talks about general provisions
about the Gov.. Article VII states when the
constitution goes into effect
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May veto laws Call special sessions Suggest
legislation Propose budget Control appointments
to office
Executive Branch
Overide vetos Approves treaties Approves
appointments May impeachPres. vice Pres and
executive officers
Legislative branch
Control money May impeach judges Approves
appointments Re organizes courts Regulates
jurisdiction
Appoint judges Federal May pardon
federal offenders
Judicial branch
Interprets laws Interprets treaties Declare laws
unconstitutional
Interprets treaties May declare executive
acts unconstitutional
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The Branches

• As part of this separation of powers, each of the
  three branches have checks and balances on the
  authority of the other two the power of each
  branch is limited orchecked by the other two so
  none gain too much power

• The Legislative Branch is made up of Congress
  the Senate and House of Representatives
• The Executive Branch includes the President, Vice
  President, and Executive Departments

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The Branches

• The Judicial Branch
• is composed of the federal courts and the
  Supreme Court

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What are the Checks and balances ?

• The President appoints judges and department
  heads (secretaries), but these must be approved
  by the Senate. He may also pardon federal
  offenders. May veto laws, call special sessions,
  suggest legislation, Proposes budget, controls
  appointments to office.

• The Congress passes laws, but the president can
  veto it, which in turn can be overridden by the
  congress.

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What are the Checks and Balances ?

• The Supreme court can rule a law
  unconstitutional, and therefore invalid, however,
  the congress can amend (change) the constitution

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Specific powers of each Branch

• The executive
• veto power, appointment of judges,
• make treaties, pardon power
• ensure all laws are carried out
• President is Commander and Chief of Military

• Checks Legislative can override vetoes, refuse
  to confirm appointments, reject treaties, declare
  war, impeach the president, The Judicial can
  declare executive acts unconstitutional

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Powers of each branch

• Checks
• Executive
• can veto any bill, call Congress into
  session,
• Judicial
• declare laws unconstitutional

• Powers of the Legislative
• pass all federal laws, establish all lower
  federal courts, override presidential veto,
  impeach the president

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Powers of each branch

• Checks
• Executive appoints judges
• Legislative can impeach judges, and approves
  presidential appointments, can amend constitution
  to overturn judicial decisions

• Judicial Powers try federal cases, interpret
  laws, declare executive actions and laws
  unconstitutional

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Questions for discussion

• Which branch is the most powerful ?
• Is one branch more powerful than the others ?
  Explain. Give examples

• Why did the framers believe a separation of
  powers was so important ?

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