Chapter 3, section 2

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Chapter 3, section 2

• The Constitution

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Warm-up

• 1. Go to page 68 in your text. We will read the
  Preamble to the Constitution aloud.
• 2. Read it to yourself the second time to get a
  better idea of what it is saying to the reader.
• 3. Answer the following question in one or two
  complete sentences
• Why do you think the writers of the Constitution
  (Framers) included the Preamble?

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Possible Warm-up answers

• 1.) The Framers or writers of the Constitution
  wanted to write an introduction explaining why
  they were creating a new form of government.
• 2.) The Framers or writers of the Constitution
  wanted to show that the document would benefit
  all citizens and they wanted to tell what they
  felt was important.

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Delaware Civics Standard Two

• End of Cluster Expectations
• 1.) examine and analyze the extra-Constitutional
  role that political parties play in American
  politics.
• 2.) understand that the functioning of the
  government is a dynamic process which combines
  the formal balances of power incorporated in the
  Constitution with traditions, precedents, and
  interpretations which have evolved over the past
  200 years.

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Objectives

• 1.) Discuss the key decisions and proposals made
  at the Constitutional Convention.
• 2.) Identify three constitutional compromises the
  delegates made.
• 3.) Identify the Electoral College and explain
  why it was created.
• 4.) Compare the positions of the Federalists and
  Anti-Federalists in regard to ratification of the
  Constitution.

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Vocabulary

• 1.) Preamble - the introduction to the
  Constitution
• 2.) legislative - having the power to make laws
• 3.) executive - having the power to carry out
  laws
• 4.) judicial - having the power to interpret the
  laws
• 5.) checks and balances - a system in which each
  branch of government is able to limit the power
  of the other branches
• 6.) veto - to reject a bill
• 7.) override - to defeat a veto on a bill

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1.) The Preamble

• A.) The Preamble is the introduction that
  identifies certain ideas and states the purpose
  of the Constitution
• 1.) The ideas - the Preamble expresses the most
  important idea The people of the United States
  have the right and power to govern themselves.
• 2.) The Goals there are six goals listed in the
  Preamble
• a. to form a more perfect union
• b. establish justice
• c. insure domestic tranquility
• d. provide for common defense
• e. promote general welfare
• f. secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
  and our Posterity

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2.) Checks and Balances

• A.) The Constitution divided the government into
  three parts or branches
• 1. The legislative branch - Congress, which makes
  laws.
• 2. The executive branch - the President, makes
  sure those laws are executed or carried out.
• 3. The judicial branch - the court system,
  interprets or decides how the laws should be
  applied in individual cases.

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2.) Checks and Balances

• B.) To keep any branch from becoming too
  powerful, the Constitution set up a system of
  checks and balances. It helps to maintain a
  balance of power between the three branches. See
  page 65 in your text (Chart Study)

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3.) The Articles

• A.) Article 1
• 1.Congress will be made up of two houses The
  Senate and the House of Representatives.
• 2.) This article also lists powers given to
  Congress including the power to tax, to regulate
  trade, to coin money, and to declare war. It also
  lists the powers denied to Congress.

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3.) The Articles continued...

• B.) Article 2
• 1. Deals with the executive branch and provides
  for a President and Vice President.
• 2. Explains how the two leaders are chosen and
  lists their powers such as command the armed
  forces, make treaties and pardon criminals. The
  President also appoints officials which the
  Senate approves

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3.) The Articles continued...

• C.) Article 3
• 1. Gives judicial power of government to a
  Supreme Court and other federal courts.
• 2. Courts will have the power to judge all
  casesarising under this Constitution

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3.) The Articles continued...

• D.) Articles 4 - 7
• 1. Article 4 explains the relationship between
  the states and the national government.
• 2. Article 5 deals with changing or amending the
  Constitution.
• 3. Article 6 discusses general provisions.
• 4. Article 7 states the Constitution goes into
  effect after 9 states ratify it.

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Articles of Confederation vs. Constitution

• The Constitution replaced a weak central
  government with a strong one.
• Complete the Chart Study found on p.66 in your
  text as a class.

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Section 2 Assessment / Review

• 1. What are the six goals of the government
  listed in the Preamble?
• Answer form a more perfect Union, establish
  justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for
  common defense, promote general welfare, secure
  Blessings of Liberty.

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Section 2 Assessment / Review

• 2.) How do the three branches of government
  provide checks and balances to each other?
• Answer The President can veto a bill from
  Congress Congress can override the veto the
  Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional.

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Section 2 Assessment / Review

• 3.) What are some powers the first three articles
  of the Constitution give Congress, the President,
  and the Supreme Court ?
• Answer Congress can tax, regulate trade, coin
  money, declare war President can command armed
  forces, make treaties, pardon criminals, appoint
  officials Supreme Court can judge all cases
  arising under the Constitution.

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Close

• Did the Framers of the Constitution succeed in
  balancing power among the three branches or does
  one branch have more power than others?