The US Constitution
The main Purpose of the US Constitution is to provide a plan of government.
The Constitution is the highest authority in the nation.
It is the basic law of the United States.
The powers of the 3 branches of Government come from it.
The Constitution has three main parts.
1. Preamble- States the goals and purposes of the government.
2. Articles- There are 7 articles, or the main parts, which describe how the
government is set up.
3. Amendments- there are 27 amendments, or changes in the constitution.
The Preamble- The opening section of the Constitution.
“We the people of the United States….do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America.”
This phrase makes it clear that the power of our government comes from the
people.
The middle part of the Preamble states six purposes of the government.
1. To form a more perfect union- to unite the states so they can act as a single
nation, for the good of all.
2. To establish justice- to make sure that all citizens are treated equal.
3. To ensure domestic tranquility- to provide peace and order, keeping citizens
and their property safe.
4. To provide for the common defense- to be ready militarily to protect the
country and its citizens from attack.
5. To promote the general welfare- to help people live healthy, happy, and
prosperous lives.
6. To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity- to
guarantee the basic rights of all Americans, including future generations.
Article I:
Outlines the lawmaking powers of the Legislative Branch, or Congress.
States that Congress is made up of two parts (Bicameral), the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
Article one also states that congress will have all lawmaking authority. It describes
how the members of each house have been chosen and what rules they must follow
in making laws.
Article II:
Sets up an executive branch, which is a law-enforcing branch of the
government.
The executive branch of our government is in charge of carrying out and enforcing
the laws. Essentially making sure that things run smoothly. This branch, is run by
the President and Vice-President.
Article II also explains how these leaders are to be elected and how they can be
removed from office.(this was important because they wanted to be able to remove
leaders from power if they broke the laws or tried to take over the government)
This is again known as the rule of law, that know one not even the President is
above the law.
Article II also lists the President’s powers. These powers include leading the armed
forces and making treaties with other countries.
Article III:
Sets up the Judicial Branch of government, which is in charge of interpreting
the laws, making sure they are legal under the constitution and fairly applied.
The Article calls for there to be “one supreme court” and a lower court.
Article III also lists the powers of the federal courts and the types of cases they may
hear.
Comparison of the Articles of Confederation and the US
Constitution:
Articles of Confederations:
Strong independent states weak central government.
One-house legislature with equal representation for each state.
Congress under the Articles of Confederation Could:
1.Declare war
2. Make Treaties
3. Coin and Borrow Money
4. Make laws, but didn’t have the power to enforce them
5. Could not tax
6. No power to regulate trade
US Constitution
Strong Central Government with certain powers reserved to states.
Two-House legislature: House of Representatives, with representation based on
state population; Senate with equal representation for all states.
1. Declare war
2. Make Treaties
3. Coin and Borrow Money
Congress Could:
4. Make laws for the nation
5. Tax
6. Regulate trade.
The President’s job is:
1.Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
2. He/She Carries out and enforces the Nation’s Laws
The Supreme Court and lower federal courts:
1. Interpret the law