The U.S. Constitution

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The U.S. Constitution

• Test on Thursday, October 25, 2007

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What is a constitution?

• A plan of government that describes the different
  parts of the government and their duties and
  powers.

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U.S. Constitution

• Written in 1787
• Became the law in 1788

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The Articles of Confederationthe first attempt
to write a constitution for the U.S.

• Look at the timeline on page 53 in We the
  People
• drafted or written in __________
• ratified or approved in _________

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The Articles of Confederationthe first attempt
to write a constitution for the U.S.

• List the two problems that made it difficult to
  write and accept the Articles of Confederation
  and the two solutions.
• Look at pages 55-58 in We the People

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Articles of Confederationpages 55-58 in We the
People

• Problem 1
• Solution
• Problem 2
• Solution

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Articles of Confederationpages 55-58

• Problem 1 Fear of a strong national government.
• Solution Create a weak national government.
• Problem 2 Fear that some states would dominate
  others in the national government.
• Solution Give each state one vote.

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Articles of Confederationpages 55-58

• What were the weaknesses in the Articles of
  Confederation?
• Weaknesses
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .

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Articles of Confederationpages 55-58 in We the
People

• Weaknesses
• No money and no power to get it.
• No power over the state governments and their
  citizens.
• Unenforceable trade agreements
• Unfair competition among the states.
• Threats to citizens right to property.

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United States Constitutionpage 173 in textbook

• Three Parts- Preamble, Articles, Amendments
• 1. Preamble
• a. states the purpose of the Constitution
• b. begins with three words- ___ ____ ______
• c. lists six goals of the Constitution
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
• 5.
• 6.

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United States Constitutionpage 173

• Three Parts- Preamble, Articles, Amendments
• 1. Preamble
• a. states the purpose of the Constitution
• b. begins with three words- We the People
• c. lists six goals of the Constitution
• 1. form a more perfect union
• 2. establish justice
• 3. insure domestic tranquility
• 4. provide for the common defense
• 5. promote the general welfare
• 6. secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
  and our posterity

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• 2. Articles
• a. There are ____ articles in the Constitution.
• b. describe the organization of the government
• c. include what the three branches of government
  are and do, how they interact with each other and
  how the federal and state governments split their
  duties

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• 3. Amendments (page 187)
• a. changes or additions to the Constitution
• b. How many are there? _____
• c. How is an amendment added or ratified?
• ___ of the members of each house of
  Congress and
• ___ of the state legislatures

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• 3. Amendments (page 187)
• a. changes or additions to the Constitution
• b. How many are there? __27__
• c. How is an amendment added or ratified?
• 2/3 of the members of each house of
  Congress and
• 3/4 of the state legislatures
• d. Bill of Rights
• They are the first ____ amendments.
• They describe the rights of the people.
• They were added in the year 1791

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Basic Facts of the Constitutional
Conventionpages 150-151

1. How many people attended the convention?
2. Where did it take place?
3. When did it happen?
4. Why did they gather?
5. Who is considered the father of the
   Constitution?

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PRIMARY AUTHOR OF THE CONSTITUTION IS JAMES
MADISON
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What did each plan recommend?pages 65-67

• Virginia Plan
• big states

• New Jersey Plan
• little states

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What did each plan recommend?pages 65-67

• Virginia Plan
• A strong national govt that could make and
  enforce its laws collect taxes
• Federal system included national and state
  governments
• Three branches
• Two house legislature
• Number of reps depends on size of population or
  money

• New Jersey Plan
• Keep the Articles
• Congress would have only one house with the power
  to tax, trade, and have control over the states
• Three branches
• Equal representation of the states in Congress

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The Legislative Branch, Congress, makes the
laws. big states vs. little states Pages 68-70

1. What were the disagreements about representation?
2. What was the Great Compromise?
3. What powers did the Constitution give to
   Congress?
4. How can Congress check the other two branches
   of government?

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The Legislative Branch, Congress, makes the
laws. big states vs. little states

• What were the disagreements about representation?
  
• The big states want to have more votes because
  they have more people the small states want
  equal representation, so they are not overpowered
  by the big states.
• 2. What was the Great Compromise? A two-house
  Congress
• The House of Representatives would be based on
  population and the Senate would have equal
  representation (Two senators from each state.)
• 3. What powers did the Constitution give to
  Congress?
• to lay and collect taxes, to pay debts and
  provide for the common defense and general
  welfare, to regulate commerce with other nations
  and among states, to declare war, to raise an
  army and navy, to coin money and to impeach
  officials
• 4. How can Congress check the other two
  branches of government? Impeachment- executive
  and judicial branches

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Powerspages 70-71

• What is the necessary and proper clause?
• Congress has the power to make all other laws
  that are necessary and proper also called the
  elastic clause.
• 2. What powers did the national government have?
• Federal law is supreme.
• Congress can organize and use state militias for
  national service.
• Congress can create new states, guarantee each
  state is a republican form of government and
  protect the states from invasion or domestic
  violence.

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Limitspage 71

• What limits were on the national government?
• Cannot ban the slave trade before 1808
• Cannot suspend the privilege of the writ of
  habeas corpus except in emergencies
• Cannot pass any ex post facto laws
• Cannot pass any bills of attainder
• Cannot tax anything exported from a state
• Cannot take money from the treasury without a law
• Cannot grant titles of nobility
• Cannot punish descendants of people convicted of
  treason
• Cannot require public officials to hold any
  particular religious beliefs cannot make laws to
  set up a religion

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Three Branches of Government

• 1. Legislative branch- makes the laws
  (page 69)
• includes the two houses of Congress
• a. the House of Representatives
• b. the Senate
• 2. Executive Branch- enforces the laws
• includes the President, Vice-President and the
  Cabinet (page 93)
• 3. Judicial Branch- interprets the laws
• includes the Supreme Court and U. S. courts
• (page 94)

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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members
Number of members from each state
Requirements
Length of term
Number of times possible to be elected
Presiding officer
Portion elected every two years
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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members (page 291)
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292)
Number of times possible to be elected (page 292)
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members (page 291) 435
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292)
Number of times possible to be elected (page 292)
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members (page 291) 435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292)
Number of times possible to be elected (page 292)
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members (page 291) 435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292) 2 years
Number of times possible to be elected (page 292)
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members (page 291) 435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292) 2 years 6 years
Number of times possible to be elected (page 292)
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members (page 291) 435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292) 2 years 6 years
Number of times possible to be elected (page 292) unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members (page 291) 435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292) depends on the population 2
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292) 2 years 6 years
Number of times possible to be elected (page 292) unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members (page 291) 435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292) depends on the population 2
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292) 2 years 6 years
Number of times possible to be elected (page 292) unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer (page 297) Speaker of the House
Portion elected every two years
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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members 435 100
Number of members from each state depends on the population 2
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term 2 years 6 years
Number of times possible to be elected unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer Speaker of the House Vice-president, Pres pro tempore
Portion elected every two years
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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members 435 100
Number of members from each state depends on the population 2
Requirements (page 91) 25, 7 year citizen, live in the state 30, 9 year citizen, live in the state
Length of term 2 years 6 years
Number of times possible to be elected unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer Speaker of the House Vice-president, Pres pro tempore
Portion elected every two years
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Legislative Branch
Name of the two houses House of Representatives Senate
Total number of members 435 100
Number of members from each state depends on the population 2
Requirements 25, 7 year citizen, live in the state 30, 9 year citizen, live in the state
Length of term 2 years 6 years
Number of times possible to be elected unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer Speaker of the House Vice-president, Pres pro tempore
Portion elected every two years all 1/3
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Senators from Illinois

• Barack Obama (D)
• Elected in 2006

• Richard Durbin (D)
• Elected in 1996 and 2002

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Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
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• Congress shall meet at least once a year.

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Judicial Branchpage 329
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
What is the length of a term?
What are the requirements?
Who nominates the justices?
Who approves the justices?
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Judicial Branchpage 329
How many justices are on the Supreme Court? 9
What is the length of a term? (page 335)
What are the requirements? (page 335)
Who nominates the justices? (page 339)
Who approves the justices? (page 339)
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Judicial Branchpage 329
How many justices are on the Supreme Court? 9
What is the length of a term? (page 335) life
What are the requirements? (page 335)
Who nominates the justices? (page 339)
Who approves the justices? (page 339)
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Judicial Branchpage 329
How many justices are on the Supreme Court? 9
What is the length of a term? (page 335) life
What are the requirements? (page 335) good behavior
Who nominates the justices? (page 339)
Who approves the justices? (page 339)
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Judicial Branchpage 329
How many justices are on the Supreme Court? 9
What is the length of a term? (page 335) life
What are the requirements? (page 335) good behavior
Who nominates the justices? (page 339) the president
Who approves the justices? (page 339)
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Judicial Branch
How many justices are on the Supreme Court? 9
What is the length of a term? life
What are the requirements? good behavior
Who appoints the justices? the president
Who approves the justices? the Senate
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Judicial Branch

• What is judicial review?
• the power of the Supreme Court to determine the
  constitutionality of a law or treaty

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U.S. Supreme Court
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Executive Branchpage 262
Who is the executive branch headed by?
Length of term
Number of times possible to be elected
Maximum number of years possible in office
Requirements
Name for advisors
Date term begins-Inauguration Day
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Executive Branchpage 262
Who is the executive branch headed by? the president
Length of term (page 91)
Number of times possible to be elected
Maximum number of years possible in office
Requirements
Name for advisors
Date term begins-Inauguration Day
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Executive Branchpage 262
Who is the executive branch headed by? the president
Length of term (page 91) 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected
Maximum number of years possible in office
Requirements (page 262)
Name for advisors(page 268)
Date term begins-Inauguration Day
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Executive Branchpage 262
Who is the executive branch headed by? the president
Length of term (page 91) 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected
Maximum number of years possible in office
Requirements (page 262) 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors(page 268)
Date term begins-Inauguration Day
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Executive Branch
Who is the executive branch headed by? the president
Length of term 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected
Maximum number of years possible in office
Requirements 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors the Cabinet
Date term begins- (page 247) Inauguration Day
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Executive Branch
Who is the executive branch headed by? the president
Length of term 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected (page 249)
Maximum number of years possible in office (page 249)
Requirements 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors the Cabinet
Date term begins- (page 247) Inauguration Day January 20
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Executive Branch
Who is the executive branch headed by? the president
Length of term 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected (page 249) 2 times
Maximum number of years possible in office (page 249)
Requirements 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors the Cabinet
Date term begins- (page 247) Inauguration Day January 20
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Executive Branch
Who is the executive branch headed by? the president
Length of term 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected 2 times
Maximum number of years possible in office (page 249) 10 years
Requirements 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors the Cabinet
Date term begins- Inauguration Day January 20
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Executive Branch
Who is the executive branch headed by? the president
Length of term 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected 2 times
Maximum number of years possible in office 10 years
Requirements 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors the Cabinet
Date term begins-Inauguration Day January 20
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Executive Branch questions

• 1. What is a lame duck? (page 109)
• 2. In case of an emergency, who would be the new
  president? (page 250)
• 3. What is impeachment? (page 251)
• 4. Who has the power to impeach?
• 5. Who holds the trial?
• 6. Which two presidents have been impeached?
• 7. Which presidents have been removed from office
  after impeachment?
• 8. What is the head of each state called?

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Executive Branch questions

• 1. What is a lame duck?
• A person who is still in office, but has not been
  re-elected.
• 2. In case of an emergency, who would be the new
  president? (page 250)
• 1. President
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
• 5.

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Executive Branch questions

• 1. What is a lame duck?
• A person who is still in office, but has not been
  re-elected.
• 2. In case of an emergency, who would be the new
  president? (page 250)
• 1. President
• 2. Vice-President
• 3. Speaker of the House
• 4. President pro tempore
• 5. Secretary of State

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Executive Branch questions

• 3. What is impeachment? (page 251)
• 4. Who has the power to impeach?
• 5. Who holds the trial?

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Executive Branch questions

• 3. What is impeachment? (page 251)
• to formally charge an official with a crime for
  which they can be removed from office
• 4. Who has the power to impeach?
• 5. Who holds the trial?

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Executive Branch questions

• 3. What is impeachment? (page 251)
• to formally charge an official with a crime for
  which they can be removed from office
• 4. Who has the power to impeach?
• The House of Representatives
• 5. Who holds the trial?
• The Senate

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Executive Branch questions

• 6. Which two presidents have been impeached?
• Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson
• 7. Which presidents have been removed from office
  after impeachment?
• None
• 8. What is the head of each state called?
• governor

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Electionspage 234

• The Electoral College elects the president and
  vice-president.
• Each state has a number of electors.
• The number of electors the number of senators
  the number of representatives.
• ALL electoral votes from each state goes to one
  candidate.
• If there is no majority of electoral votes, the
  House of Representatives elects the president.

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Powers and Duties of the Presidentpage 258

• Power to enforce or execute laws
• Is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces
• Appoints many officials (e.g. ambassadors)
• Power to make treaties
• Power to inform Congress about the State of the
  Union
• Is the legislative leader of the majority party
  (e.g. power to sign or veto laws)
• Grants pardons and reprieves
• Power to nominate federal judges
• Prepares the budget of the nation

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The White House
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Checks and Balancespage 86

• The system that balances the three branches of
  government, so no one person or group is able to
  dominate the others.
• Examples of checks
• on the judicial branch- the president appoints
  the federal judges and Congress approves them.
  Congress can also impeach them.
• on the legislative branch- the president can veto
  laws.
• on the executive branch- Congress can impeach the
  president.
• on the executive and legislative branches-
  judicial review

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Checks and Balances
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NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
STATE GOVERNMENTS
BOTH CONCURRENTPOWERS
RESERVED POWERS - PROVIDE SCHOOLS - CONDUCT
ELECTIONS
DELEGATED POWERS - DECLARE WAR - PRINT MONEY -
REGULATE BANKS
- COLLECT TAXES - BUILD ROADS
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Amendmentspage 13

• Which one is the only one to be repealed?
• 18th- prohibition of alcohol
• What did the 17th amendment do?
• allowed U.S. senators to be elected by the
  people
• Which one ensured womens suffrage?
• 19th

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U.S. flagpage 41

• What is the proper way to dispose of a flag?
• burn it

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• Good luck!

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CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
PROBLEMS 1. STRONG STATES VS. STRONG CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT 2. LARGE STATES VS. SMALL
STATES 3. NORTH VS SOUTH
COMPROMISES 1. GREAT COMPROMISE 2. 3/5
COMPROMISE
GOVERNMENT 1. FEDERAL SYSTEM 2. SEPARATION
OF POWERS 3. CHECKS AND BALANCES