The Constitution of the United States

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The Constitution of the United States

• We will outline the sections of the US
  Constitution and analyze how the Constitution
  reflects the principles of limited government,
  popular sovereignty, republicanism, separation of
  powers, checks and balances, and federalism using
  graphic organizers.

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The Preamble

• We the people
• In order to form a more perfect union
• Establish justice
• Ensure domestic tranquility
• Provide for the common defense
• Promote the general welfare
• Secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and
  our posterity
• Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
  United States of America

popular sovereignty
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Article I The Legislative Branch

• Establishes Congress made up of two parts House
  of Representatives determined by the population
  of each state for 2 year terms
• and the Senate with 2 senators from each state
  for 6 year terms
• (Great Compromise)
• MAKE LAWS
• Power to tax, declare war

Republicanism
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Article II The Executive Branch

• Establishes presidency without a term limit
• Each state elects presidential electors based on
  number of congressmen. The electors then elect
  the president
• ENFORCE, CARRY OUT THE LAW
• Power to negotiate treaties, create departments
  necessary to enforce laws, veto laws, appoint
  Supreme Court justices
• Commander in Chief of Armed Services

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Article III The Judicial Branch

• Established the Supreme Court
• REVIEW LAWS (although not an original intention
  of framers)
• Serve for life after being appointed by president
  and approved by Senate
• Power to settle certain specific cases

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SEPARATION OF POWERSArticles I-III

• James Madison
• The Federalist Papers
• Federalist No. 58
• Date February 20, 1788
• An elective despotism was not the government we
  fought for but one in which the powers of
  government should be so divided and balanced
  among the several bodies of magistracy as that no
  one could transcend their legal limits without
  being effectually checked and restrained by the
  others.

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Checks and Balances
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Article IV- The States(The Federal System)

• Establish local governments
• Conduct elections
• Regulate state commerce
• Establish and maintain schools
• Make marriage and divorce laws
• Provide for public safety
• Raise and support a militia

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Article V Amendments
Step One

• By Congress whenever two-thirds
• of both Houses deem it necessary OR
• BY A CONVENTION called by Congress on the
  application of two-thirds
• of the state legislatures

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Step Two

• BY LEGISLATURES of three-fourths of the states OR
• BY CONVENTIONS in three-fourths of the states
  (whichever mode of ratification may be proposed
  by Congress)

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In more than two centuries, the Constitution of
the United States has been amended only 27 times.
Summarize how its done PAIR/SHARE
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Article VI

• The Supremacy Clause states that the Constitution
  is the highest law in the country.

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Article VII
Delaware Dec. 7, 1787 unanimous Pennsylvania
Dec. 12, 1787 4623 New Jersey Dec. 18, 1787
unanimous Georgia Jan 2, 1788 unanimous Connecticu
t Jan. 9, 1788 12840 Massachusetts Feb. 6. 1788
187168 Maryland Apr. 26, 1788 6311 South
Carolina May 23, 1788 14973 New Hampshire June
21, 1788 5747 Virginia June 25, 1788 8979 New
York July 26, 1788 3027 North Carolina Nov. 21,
1789 19577 Rhode Island May 29, 1790 3432

• 9 of 13 states have to ratify the Constitution
  for it to become law

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The Constitution was written in 1787

• And ratified in 1789 with the promise a Bill of
  Rights would be written.

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In 1789, George Washington is elected first
President of the United States under the
Constitution.
The Bill of Rights was written and went through
the amendment process. The first 10 amendments
were ratified in 1791 halfway through
Washingtons first presidency.