The United States Constitution

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The United StatesConstitution

• Preamble
• Article I The Legislative Branch
• Article II The Presidency
• Article III The Judiciary

• Article IV The States
• Article V The Amendment Process
• Article VI The Legal Status of USC
• Article VII Ratification
• Amendments

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• Sets out the goals of the Constitution.
• Where does the Preamble say that it is going to
  fix the Articles of Confederation.
• . . . More perfect Union.
• Explain what problem is being addressed with
  Establish Justice and insure domestic
  tranquility.
• A. Shays Rebellion

     
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Article IThe Legislative Branch
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Article IThe Legislative Branch
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Article IThe Legislative Branch
http//www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/cons
titution/lesson3.htmArticle20I
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Article IThe Legislative Branch
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Article IIThe Executive Branch
Article II- The Executive Branch      The
executive branch of the federal government
carries out or executes the laws made by
Congress.  The chief executive is the President. 
The Vice President takes the place of the
president when necessary.       
The executive branch is the largest branch of
government and employs the most people.  It
includes the Cabinet, the 14 large executive
departments of the Cabinet, and many other
agencies and organizations, such as the Post
Office, the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the FBI and the
CIA. (http//www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasice
d/constitution/lesson4.htm)
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Article IIThe Executive Branch
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Article IIThe Executive Branch

• The Electoral College 
• Electors in the Electoral College actually elect
  the president and vice president of the United
  States (538 electors)
• The numbers of electors in each state is equal to
  that states number of representatives in both
  houses of Congress, CA 55
• Electors typically cast their votes for the
  candidate that receives the plurality of votes in
  that state. (not what framers envisioned)
• The first Monday after the second Tuesday in Dec.
• Ballots are counted and certified by Congress in
  Jan.
• Because of the winner-take-all system of the
  electoral college, it typically serves to
  exaggerate the popular margin of
  victory(http//64.233.179.104/search?qcache_jn7S
  v8d6mAJwww.csus.edu/indiv/b/billecic/chapter_8.pp
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•  

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Electoral College

• What if no candidate receives a majority of the
  nationwide electoral votes cast? 
• The U.S. Constitution sets forth special
  procedures
• The U.S. House of Representatives chooses the
  next President.
• The U.S. Senate chooses the next
•     Vice-President.
• (http//64.233.179.104/search?qcachekMoNG5ywt9cJ
  www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/the_electoral_college.pp
  tTieintheelectoralcollegeslidehlenglusc
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Article IIIThe Judicial Branch
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Article IVThe States
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Article VAmending the Constitution
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Article VIThe Supremacy Clause
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Article VIIRatification
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Bill To Law
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Checks and Balances
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Rights and Privileges
The difference is critical--the roots of America.
The American revolution was fought violently and
non-violently to rid ourselves of the privileges
of the Divine Right of Kings, and substitute the
rights of individual liberty. Privileges are
something granted by an authority unalienable
rights are our natural heritage. It was and is a
revolutionary idea.
http//www.stormy.org/rights.htm
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Bill of Rights

• Protections Afforded Fundamental Rights and
  Freedoms
• Amendment 1 Freedom of religion, speech, press,
  and assembly the right to petition the
  government.
• Protections Against Arbitrary Military Action
• Amendment 2 Right to bear arms and maintain
  state militias (National Guard).
• Amendment 3 Troops may not be quartered in homes
  in peacetime.

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• Protection Against Arbitrary Police and Court
  Action
• Amendment 4 No unreasonable searches or
  seizures.
• Amendment 5 Grand Jury indictment required to
  prosecute a person for a serious crime. No
  "double jeopardy" -- being tried twice for the
  same offense. Forcing a person to testify against
  himself or herself prohibited. No loss of life,
  liberty or property without due process.
• Amendment 6 Right to speedy, public, impartial
  trial with defense counsel, and right to
  cross-examine witnesses.
• Amendment 7 Jury trials in civil suits where
  value exceeds 20 dollars.
• Amendment 8 No excessive bail or fines, no cruel
  and unusual punishments.

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Protections of States' Rights and Unnamed Rights
of the People Amendment 9 Unlisted rights are
not necessarily denied. Amendment 10 Powers not
delegated to the United States or denied to
states are reserved to the states or to the
people.