The United States Constitution
The Constitution is an agreement between the citizens of the United States and the government that the people will grant powers to the government. In return, the government is to carry out the goals of the
Constitution. The Constitution is made up of different parts, which often get talked about as separate documents: the Preamble, the Articles, the Bill of
Rights, and the Amendments.
To keep the new government from becoming too powerful, the framers created a Limited Government.
The Constitution sets limits so that citizens know what their government is allowed to do and not allowed to do. It spreads the powers out!

1. Federalism the system where some powers of government belong only to the federal government, while others belong only to the state. government, and powers shared directly by both levels of government.
The Constitution recognizes governments at TWO different levels
Federal Powers
(Delegated/Expressed)
• Declare War
•Maintain Armed
Forces
•Admit New
States
•Coin $$$$
•Trade w/ other nations
Shared Powers
(Concurrent)
• Maintain Law & order
•Borrow $$$
•Establish courts
State Powers
(Reserved)
• Establish and maintain schools
•Establish local government
•Regulate business w/in states
•Make marriage laws

2. Separation of Powers -
The powers of the government are divided among THREE branches
Executive
Enforce Laws
President
Vice President
Executive Depts
Legislative
Make Laws
Congress
House Senate
Judicial
Interpret Laws
Supreme Courts
Lower Courts

3. Checks and Balances –
Each of the three branches of government has ways to check, or limit the powers of the other branches
What checks does the executive branch have over the other two?
• Veto acts of Congress
• Suggesting laws
What checks does the judicial branch have over the other two?
• Declare laws constitutional or unconstitutional
• Judicial review
What checks does the legislative branch have over the other two?
• Impeach and remove president or officials
• Override presidential veto
• Power declare war

Four Main Parts of the
Constitution
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Four Main Parts of the
Constitution
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7 articles
First 3 deal with 3 branches of government
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Outlines powers of government

Four Main Parts of the
Constitution
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1st 10 amendments to the
Constitution
Ensures that basic rights can’t be take away by the government

Four Main Parts of the
Constitution
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Helps the structure of the govt. change along with people and time
Only been amended 27 times