Chapter 9 The Constitution: A More Perfect Union
*The framers organized the contents of the Constitution very clearly. After a
short introduction, they divided it into parts called articles, and each article into
numbered sections.
*The Constitution can have things added to it, and
things changed in it. For this reason it is a strong,
flexible “living” document.
*More than 200 years after its creation, a vastly
different United States is still governed by this
ingenious document called the Constitution.
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Preamble
9.2 The Preamble Tells the Goals of Government
*The introduction to the Constitution is
called the Preamble. The Preamble
explains the reasons for the new
government.
*Begins with the phrase “We the people.”
*This phrase means that the power to form
a government does not come from the
states or from a sovereign( ruler), it comes
from the people.
*This is known as popular sovereignty.
*Preamble then lists the goals of the new
government:
- To form a more perfect union.
- To establish justice.
- Insure domestic tranquility.
- Provide for the common defense.
- Promote the general welfare.
- Secure the blessings of liberty to
themselves and to posterity.
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9.3 The Legislative Branch Makes Laws
The Structure of Congress
*Congress is a bicameral national
legislature made up of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
*Senators serve-six year terms.
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*House members serve two-year
terms.
*Each state has two senators.
*Representation in the house is based
on state population.
*There are 100 senators.
*There are 435 representatives in the
House.
*Senate is called the “upper house.”
House of Representatives is called
the “lower house.”
*Senators must be at least 30 years old. *House members must be at least 25.
*Senators must have been citizens for *House members must have been
at least nine years.
citizens for at least seven years.
9.3 Continued…
How Congress Passes Laws
*Any member of the House or Senate can
submit a proposal for a new law, called a
bill.
*Only the House can propose new taxes.
*If a majority in one house votes in favor of
the bill, it is sent to the other house for
debate.
*If both houses approve the bill, it goes to the
president.
The bill becomes law if the president signs it.
*The president can veto (reject) any proposed
law, but Congress can override the president’s
veto with a two-thirds majority in both houses.
I’m just a bill
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9.3 Continued…
The Powers of Congress
*Article I spells out the other powers of Congress.
- To decide how to spend money raised through
taxes.
- To raise an army and navy.
- To declare war.
- To pay government debts.
- To grant citizenship.
- To ”make all laws which shall be necessary
and proper” to carry out its other powers.
- This is known as the “elastic clause.”
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Test Prep
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The main job of the legislative branch is to
A) resolve disputes involving the law.
B) enforce and carry out federal laws.
C) make laws needed for the country.
D) obey laws once they are passed.
 Answer: C) make laws needed for the country.
Test Prep
 A bill cannot become a law until it is
 A) approved by Congress and judged constitutional by
the supreme court.
 B) proposed by the president and approved by
Congress.
 C) approved by Congress and signed by the president.
 D) proposed by Congress and ratified by the states.
 Answer: C) approved by Congress and signed by the
president.
Test Prep
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The “elastic clause” gives Congress the power to
A) amend the Constitution as times change.
B) declare actions of the president unconstitutional.
C) veto decisions of the Supreme Court.
D) pass laws needed to carry out its other powers.
Answer: D) pass laws needed to carry out its other powers.
9.4 The Executive Branch Carries Out the Laws
*Article II of the Constitution describes the
executive branch.
*The head of the executive branch is the
president.
Electing a President
*To win the presidency, a candidate needs
a majority of the “electoral vote.”
*The president serves a four-year term.
*A president may be reelected only once.
*President makes a solemn promise called
the “oath of office” and promises to defend
the Constitution.
*The president must be a natural-born
American citizen and at least 35 years old.
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9.4 Continued…
The Powers of the President
*Commander in chief of the nation’s military
forces.
*Can make treaties with other nations.
*Nominates ambassadors to other nations as
well as Supreme Court justices (judges).
*Can grant pardons to people convicted of
violating federal laws.
*Executive branch has over a dozen departments
to help carry out its duties, including:
- State Department (handles relations with
other countries).
- Justice Department (is involved in law
enforcement and court actions).
*The president’s cabinet(advisors) is made up of
the heads of the executive departments.
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Members of the First Cabinet of the First President, George Washington
9.4 Continued…
Removing the President
*The Constitution gives Congress the power
to remove a president from office if he/she
commits certain crimes related to their duties.
*The House of Representatives can vote to
impeach (formally accuse) the president of a
crime specified in the Constitution.
*If the House votes to impeach, the Senate
puts the president on trial, with senators
serving as jury.
*If found guilty, the president is removed from
Office.
Drawing of the Impeachment
Of President Andrew Johnson
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Test Prep
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The most important task of the executive branch is to
A) resolve disputes involving the law.
B) enforce and carry out federal laws.
C) decide which laws are constitutional.
D) change laws to fit changing needs.
 Answer: B) enforce and carry out federal laws.
9.5 The Judicial Branch Interprets the Law
*The judicial branch is responsible for
protecting the Constitution.
*It consists of a system of federal courts and
judges.
*Article III of the Constitution establishes the
country’s highest court, the Supreme Court.
*Inferior (lower) courts meet the nations needs
at the local level.
*Federal courts have the power to resolve
disputes involving national laws, the federal
government or the states.
The Federal Court System
*The United States is divided into large geographical districts that cover
several states. District courts hear cases involving federal laws. Appellate
courts review cases to determine if the original trial was fair and legal. A
decision by an appellate court can be appealed to the Supreme Court.
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9.5 Continued…
The Powers of the Supreme Court
*The last stop in the judicial system.
*Its decisions are final.
*Consists of nine judges.
*Once appointed, they serve for life.
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*Cases go to the Supreme Court after a
trial and an appeal in lower courts.
*Review about a hundred cases a year.
*Reviews cases if the justices think that
a lower court decision might be
unconstitutional.
*After hearing arguments from both sides, the justices debate among
themselves and vote. The decisions are announced in writing and are final.
*The power to decide whether laws and actions by the legislative and
executive branches conflict with the Constitution is called “judicial review.”
Test Prep
 The Supreme Court’s power to declare a law
unconstitutional is known as
 A) judicial review.
 B) veto power.
 C) federalism.
 D) the amendment process.
 Answer: A) judicial review.
Test Prep
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The judicial branch is responsible for
A) resolving disputes under the law.
B) putting federal laws into effect.
C) vetoing laws it doesn’t like.
D) making new laws to stop crime.
 Answer: A) resolving disputes under the law.
9.6 Checks and Balances Between the Branches
*System of Checks and Balances:
A system that enables each branch
of the government to limit the power
of the other branches.
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9.6 Continued…
Checking the Power of Other Branches
*”Checks” allow one branch to block the actions
of another branch.
Balancing the Power of Other Branches
*”Balances” allow each branch of the
Government to have some role in the
actions and power of the other branches.
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Test Prep
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The framers designed a system of checks and balances to
A) share power between the national and state governments.
B) make it difficult but not impossible to amend the Constitution.
C) make sure that the Constitution was the supreme law of the land.
D) keep any one branch of government from becoming too
powerful.
 Answer: D) keep any one branch of government from becoming too
powerful.
9.7 The Amendment Process Changes the Constitution
Changing the Constitution
*Amendments (changes to the Constitution)
are described in Article V.
*Proposing an amendment requires 2/3 vote
of both houses of Congress…
-or…a national convention called by Congress at
the request of 2/3 of the legislatures of all the
states.
*Before an amendment can become part of the
Constitution, it must be approved by the
legislatures (or by special conventions) in 3/4
of the states.
*Once an amendment is approved, it becomes
part of the supreme law of the land.
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9.7 Continued…
*Over the years, people have suggested
more than 10,000 amendments to the
Constitution.
*Only 27 of these have been approved.
*The first ten amendments are called the
Bill of Rights.
*They guarantee specific rights to citizen.
*They were added almost immediately
after the Constitution was ratified.
*The other 17 amendments became part
of the Constitution one at a time.
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James Madison reads his
proposed Bill of Rights in
the First Congress in 1789.
9.8 The Federal System Connects the Nation
and the States
*The Framers of the Constitution created
a federal system of government in which
power is shared between the national and
state governments.
Powers Belonging to the National Government
-to declare war.
-to print and coin money.
-to regulate commerce with foreign nations and
among states (interstate commerce). Known as
the “commerce clause.”
*Commerce clause made the entire United States
a common market.
*Advantages to having a common market:
-Goods and services can flow easily across the
Country.
-Easier to create large businesses that cross
state lines.
Helps to create a single national economy.
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9.8 Continued…
Powers Belonging to the States
*States retain any powers that are not
given to the national government.
*States make laws involving schools,
marriage, local governments, owning
property, licensing doctors and lawyers,
and most crimes.
*States must accept other states’ laws
and decisions as legal.
*States must help each other track down
fleeing criminals.
*States cannot discriminate against a
citizen of another state.
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9.8 Continued…
Shared Powers
*Raise taxes
*Build roads
*Borrow money
*Regulate commerce
*Punish criminals
*This sharing of power
between the national
and state governments
is called Federalism.
It continues to evolve
through new laws,
court decisions, and
constitutional amendments.
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9.9 Popular Participation in Government
*Constitution establishes the principle of
majority rule.
*Laws are passed and elections are
decided by a majority of voters.
*Elections serve as the vital function of
expressing the will of the people.
*The Constitution makes no mention of
political parties, but parties select most
candidates for political office.
*Interest groups promote the views of some part of the public on specific
issues. Interest groups also get people involved in politics.
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Test Prep
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The Constitution has survived for more than 200 years because it
A) gives more power to the states than to the national government.
B) combines a strong framework for the government with flexibility.
C) creates a framework for government that can never be changed.
D) has been amended thousands of times to make it work better.
 Answer: B) combines a strong framework for the government with
flexibility.
9.10 Chapter Summary
*The Constitution created in 1787 is both strong and
flexible.
*The Preamble explains that authority comes directly
from the people.
*Power is divided among the three branches of
government.
*Legislative branch makes the laws.
*Executive branch carries out the laws.
*Judicial branch makes sure that the actions of the other two
branches agree with the Constitution.
*System of checks and balances keeps any branch from
gaining too much power.
*The system called federalism ensures that power is
shared between the states and the national government.
*The Constitution is flexible enough to adapt to changing times.
*27 amendments have been added to the Constitution.
*The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights. They guarantee the
most cherished rights of American citizens.
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