THE CONSTITUTION
SUPREME LAW
OF THE LAND
It represents our belief in
•Power of govt. comes from the people
•Government power is limited
•Ordered, organized and structured govt.
•Representative democracy
•Written, May 1787 to Sept. 1787
•7,000 words
•Longest lasting constitution in history
Concept 1: Separation of Powers
A way of dividing power among three branches of government in which
members of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the president, and the
federal courts are selected by and responsible to different constituencies.
Cartoon #1
Which constitutional principle is represented in this cartoon? What is the message the cartoonist is
trying to get across? What symbols does the cartoonist use?
3
branches
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
3 Branches are separate, have different powers, co-equal
and checks and balances on one another to make sure one
branch does not get to powerful
Legislative Checks
On Executive
•Override a veto
•Declare war
•impeachment
On Judicial
•Approve judges
•Impeachment
Executive Checks
Judicial Checks
On Legislative
On Executive and
Legislative
•Veto a law
•Ask for war
•Propose laws
On Judicial
•Declare an act of
President
or law of Congress
unconstitutional
•Appoint judges
•Appointed for life
Concept 2: Checks and Balances
A government
structure that gives
each of the three
branches of
government some
degree of oversight
and control over the
actions of the others
Cartoon #2
Which constitutional principle is represented in this cartoon? What is the message the cartoonist is
trying to get across? What symbols does the cartoonist use?
Receive personal copy of the US
Constitution
• Feel free to write your ideas on it or highlight its main points!
Art2
WE THE PEOPLE
of the United States,
•in order to form a more perfect Union
•establish Justice
•ensure domestic Tranquility
•provide for the common defense
•promote the general welfare
•and secure the Blessings of Liberty to
ourselves and our Posterity
do ordain and establish this Constitution for
the United States of America.
Article 1
Art1
Legislative Branch
Makes the law
•Section 1--House of Representatives and Senate
•Section 2 & 3---Qualifications for Congress
•Section 4---Elections and Meetings
•Section 5---Rules of Order
•Section 6---Pay Privileges
•Section 7---How Bills Become Laws
•Section 8---Powers of Congress
•Section 9---Powers Denied to Congress
•Section 10---Powers Denied to States
Article I: Legislative Branch
• Spells out powers & duties of the bicameral legislature
• Lists powers given to Congress (Enumerated powers )
•
•
•
•
Right to tax
Declare war
Regulate commerce
Create legislation
• “Necessary and proper”a.k.a. elastic clause
• Congress is given the right to make all laws that are necessary and proper to the
maintenance of the country
Powers congress
Article 1 Section 8
•Makes the law
•Power to tax
•To coin money
•Regulate foreign and interstate trade
•Raise and maintain armed forces
•Declare war
•Grant patents and copyrights
•Building hydroelectric dams
•Interstate highway system
•Prohibit racial discrimination
Art2
Article 2
Executive Branch
Signs, carries out or executes the law into action
•Section 1---Qualifications of President &
Vice President
•Section 2---Presidential Powers
•Section 3---Presidential Duties
•Section 4---Impeachment
Article II: Executive Branch
• Defines the powers of the President
• Commander in Chief of the Armed
Forces
• “The state of the union”
• Authority to make treaties
• Appoint officials with the advice
and consent of the Senate
• “Take care that the laws are faithfully
executed”
• Implied powers = President is
assumed to have powers and
responsibilities not specifically
mentioned in the Constitution
Art3
Article 2
Executive Power
Signs or enforces the law
Veto power
Commander in Chief
Ask for a declaration of war
Enter into a treaty
Grants pardons and reprieves
Appoints ambassadors, judges
and cabinet
Call a special session of
Congress
President Bush
signing a proposed
bill of Congress
into law
Powers of pres
Article 3
Art3
Judicial Branch
Interprets the law (constitution)
•Section 1---Qualifications of Judges
•Section 2---Jurisdiction of Courts
•Section 3---Treason
Article III: Judicial Branch
• Establishes a Supreme Court and defines its jurisdiction
• Jurisdiction = Authority to hear certain cases
• Congress also given the power to create lower courts
Nevada Supreme Court
chart
Art 4
Article 4
Concerning the States
•Section 1---rights and duties of states
•Section 2---rights and liabilities of citizens
•Section 3---admitting new states
•Section 4---guarantee to states
Article 5
Art. 5, 6, 7
Amending the Constitution---adding on or
changing the Constitution---27
Amendments
Article 6
Constitution, law of the land…..Supremacy
Clause
Article 7
Ratification of Constitution by 9 states
How does this political cartoon
illustrate the concept of Article VI?
First 10 Amendments to the
Constitution in 1791
Rights and freedoms won in
the Revolution are preserved
and protected…
1.
FREEDOM of Religion,
Press, Speech, Assembly,
Petition
2. RIGHT TO KEEP AND
BEAR ARMS
3.
No QUARTERING of
soldiers in peacetime
4. NO UNREASONABLE
SEARCH and SEIZURE
5.
PROTECTION of
ACCUSED
Bill of rights
6.
RIGHT TO A SPEEDY,
PUBLIC TRIAL BY JURY
7.
TRIAL BY JURY IN CIVIL
SUITS
8.
NO EXCESSIVE FINES or
CRUEL PUNISHMENT
9.
POWERS RESERVED TO
THE PEOPLE
10. POWERS RESERVED TO
THE STATES