U.S. History
Living Constitution – Preamble & Article 1
I’m Just A Bill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyeJ55o3El0&feature=related
Living Constitution – Preamble & Article 1
CA Standards:
11.1.3 Understand the history of the
Constitution after 1787 with emphasis on
federal vs state authority and growing
democratization
Objectives:
• Explain the purpose for establishing the Constitution
• Identify the powers of the Legislature
Homework
In Notebook – write definitions for:
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Chief Executive
Electoral College
Succession
State of the Union Address
Supreme Court
Judicial Power
Judicial Review
Definitions are found on page 27 in
Reading Study Guide Workbook
Read Pages 90 -93
The Americans: Reconstruction to the 21st Century
Prepare for Open notebook Quiz
Living Constitution –
Preamble & Article 1
Main Idea
The Articles of Confederation was an agreement
among states. But the framers of the Constitution
wanted to be sure its legitimacy came from the
American people, not from the states, which might
decide to withdraw their support at any time.
Living Constitution –
Preamble & Article 1
Why It Matters Now
The Constitution, as a living document, is interpreted
anew every American generation to meet the changing
needs of our nation.
Living Constitution –
Preamble & Article 1
Terms & Names
page 25 in Reading Study Guide Workbook
Preamble
Enumerated Powers
Congress
Implied Powers
House of Representatives
Senate
Checks and Balances
Elastic Clause
Notes: Living Constitution
The Preamble
 The Preamble establishes the purpose of the Constitution:
 - To form a more perfect Union
 - Establish justice
 - Insure domestic tranquility
 - Provide for the common defense
 - Promote the general welfare
 - Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity
Notes: Living Constitution
Article 1 – The Legislature
 Article 1 – creates Congress:
 - All legislative powers lies with a Congress of the United States
 - Congress shall consist of a Senate and House of
Representatives
Notes: Living Constitution
House of Representatives
 - Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected every
2 years.
 - To be eligible to be elected into the House of Representatives
one must be at least twenty-five years old, a citizen of the United
states for at least seven years, and lives within the state he/she is
elected.
 - The number of Representatives shall be apportioned according
to the population of their states.
 - The House of Representatives shall chose their Speaker and
other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
Notes: Living Constitution
The Senate
 - Members of the Senate shall be elected every 6 years.
 - To be eligible to be elected into the Senate one must be at least
thirty years old, a citizen of the United states for at least nine
years, and lives within the state he/she is elected.
 - Every state will have two senators.
 - The Vice-President of the United States shall be the President of
the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless there is a tie.
 - The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments.
Notes: Living Constitution
Interesting privileges
 - Senators and Representatives shall in all cases, except for
treason, felony, and breach of peace, be privileged from arrest
during their attendance at a session, including transportation to
and from.
 - And for any speech or debate .
Notes: Living Constitution
How a Bill Becomes A Law
 - A bill is introduced in the House or Senate and referred to a
standing committee.
 - A bill can be reported out of a committee with or without changes
or shelved.
 - Either house of Congress debates the bill and may make
revisions. If passed, the bill is sent to the other house. A majority
of members must be present to pass a bill.
 - If the House and the Senate pass different versions of the bill,
both versions go to a conference committee to workout the
differences
Notes: Living Constitution
How a Bill Becomes A Law
 - The conference committee submits a single version of the bill to
the House and the Senate
 - If both houses accept the compromise version, the bill is sent to
the president to be signed
 - If the President signs the bill, it becomes law.
 - If the President vetoes the bill, the House and the Senate may
override the veto by a vote of two-thirds of the members present in
each house, and then it becomes law.
Notes: Living Constitution
Short list of other powers granted to
Congress
 - Congress shall have to power to lay and collect taxes.
 - Borrow money on the credit of the United States.
 - To regulate commerce with foreign nations and between states.
 - To print money
 - To declare war
 - To raise, maintain and regulate the armed forces
 - To make all laws necessary to carry out its duties (Elastic
Clause)
Notes: Living Constitution
Powers denied the states
 - No state:
 - shall enter into a treaty or alliance
 - print its own money
 - declare war unless invaded or in such imminent danger that it can not
delay action.
Notes: Living Constitution
Guided Reading
The Preamble and Article 1
Read Pages 25 & 26
Reading Study Guide
Notes: Living Constitution
Guided Reading
1. What are the two purposes of the Preamble?
-To show the legitimacy of the new government
or its rights to rule.
- To show why the new government is being
formed.
Notes: Living Constitution
Guided Reading
2. What are two important differences between the
House and the Senate?
-Representatives serve 2yrs. Senators serve 6
yrs.
- The number of representatives sent by states
to the House of Representatives is based on the
population of the individual states. Each state
has two senators.
Notes: Living Constitution
Guided Reading
3. Why does Congress limit the power of the
president and military?
Civilian control of the military is to prevent the
armed forces from staging a coup or seizing
control of the government.
Be prepared for open
notebook exam