CIVICS/McGuire
The
Constitution
Ch5 Sec3
What is the
Constitution?
• The constitution established our
form of government, a republic.
• A republic is a government in
which citizens elect their
representatives – this idea is
called popular sovereignty
How is our
Constitution Organized?
Constitution
Preamble
Articles
Amendments
6 Goals
7 Articles
Bill of Rights
Last
17 Amendments
Preamble
• Introduction to Constitution
• States the goals of our
government
Six Goals of Preamble
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To form a more perfect union.
To establish justice.
To insure domestic tranquility.
To provide for the Common Defense
Promote the general welfare
To Secure the blessings of liberty
to ourselves and our posterity.
The ARTICLES
• This portion of the constitution
follows the Preamble.
• It is organized into 7 parts.
• IT is further divided into
subsections called CLAUSES.
Article 1 – The
Legislative Branch
• Describes the organization
and power of the legislative
branch – or CONGRESS.
•Congress is divided into two
houses
•House of Representatives
•The Senate.
Most Important Power
of Congress
• TO make laws.
• A proposed law is called a BILL.
• It must gain majority vote in both
houses then to the president. If
president signs the bill, it becomes
law.
• If the president VETOES the bill,
Congress must vote again with 2/3
vote. Then it will become a law.
Delegated Powers
• Coin money, declare war, regulate
trade
• Congress can make laws that are
“NECESSARY and PROPER” for carrying
out powers listed. Also, called the
“ELASTIC CLAUSE.”
• This clause worried anti-federalists and
continues to bother Americans concerned
with government abusing power.
Article 2 – Executive
Branch
• Office of THE PRESIDENT.
• Some strengths of a monarch –
but based on consent of people
• Have to be elected every 4 yrs
• Job is to EXECUTE laws (or
carry out the laws) – NOT make
them.
How and why is the
President’s Power Limited?
• President in charge of armed forces,
but Congress must declare war.
• President makes treaties, but must
be approved by Senate.
• President nominates judges, but the
senate can reject it.
• Power is limited to avoid abuse of
power.
Article 3 – Judicial
Branch
• Job settle disputes between
states
• President nominates JUDGES,
but Senate must approve.
• Judges serve for life as long as
they demonstrate good
behavior.
Supreme Court
• Has the final say in all cases involving
the Constitution.
• Appeals can be made in lower courts
to come to the Supreme Court for the
final decision.
Article 4 – The States
• Each state must honor the laws of
other states.
• States respecting each other’s
laws, helps preserve state’s rights
and reduce conflicts between
states.
Article 5 – Amending the
Constitution
• The Framers were aware that the
future might change. They
included instructions on how to
make changes or AMENDMENTS to
the constitution. 3/4ths of the states
must approve an amendment.
Article 6 – Supremacy of
the Constitution
• Supreme Law of Land
• Officials in state and national
government take an oath stating the
Constitution is the supreme law of
the land.
• No state can violate the constitution
– if their laws conflict –
• the Constitution takes priority.
Article 7 – Ratification
• The last article of the
constitution establishes the
procedure for ratification – or
APPROVAL, of the constitution.
Amendments
• The FIRST TEN AMENDMENTS – are
called the BILL OF RIGHTS.
• These were because of the antifederalists.
• After the Bill of Rights only 17 other
amendments have been added
• There are a total of 27 amendments.
How does the Constitution
Limit Government Power?
• Checks and balances
• Impeach President
(president/house)
• Ratify treaties
(congress/president)
• Judges (president/senate)
• Interpret Laws (judicial/legislative)
• Separation of Powers
Impeach the President
• The president can be
IMPEACHED (accused) by
the House of
Representatives in a case
of serious wrong doing.
Federalism
• The division of power
between the states and
national government is
called FEDERALISM
Concurrent Powers
• Concurrent powers are
shared between state and
federal governments
• Collect taxes
• Establish courts
Reserved Powers
• Powers neither given to
Congress nor denied to states
by the Constitution
• establish schools
• Form police organizations