American Citizenship
Chapter 3: The Constitution
Section 1
Six Basic Principles
An Outline of the Constitution
Contains roughly 7,000 words
 Preamble
 Articles


First three articles deal with the three branches
of the National Government
 Legislative
 Executive
 Judiciary

Basic Organization and Powers
An Outline of the Constitution
(Con’t)

Article IV


Article V


Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land
Article VII


Amendments Proposal and Ratification
Article VI


States Powers and Relationship with National
Government
Methods of Ratification of the Constitution
Followed by 27 Amendments
Basic Principles

Popular Sovereignty

Governed by the People
 “We

the People…” Preamble
Limited Government
Government is not all powerful
 Rule of Law

 Government
law
and its officials are always subject to the
Basic Principles (Con’t)

Separation of Powers
Congress is the lawmaking body
 Executive is the law enforcing and executing
branch
 Judiciary interprets and applies the laws
 Each Branch is separate and independent

Basic Principles (Con’t)

Checks and Balances
Each Branch, though separate, yet also tied
together
 They each contain powers to check the other
branches powers

 Ex.


Congress can pass laws and president can veto the law
Makes Compromises vital
Basic Principles (Con’t)

Judicial Review
The Power of courts to decide whether the
government is in accordance with the law
 Determine if governments actions are
unconstitutional

 To

declare illegal, null and void
Federalism

The division of power among a central
government and several regional governments
(AKA States)
Section 2
Formal Amendments
Constitution
A living and changing document
 Change has come about in two ways


Formal Amendment
 Changes

Informal
or additions to language of Constitution
Formal Amendment Process
Changes in its written words
 Two methods for proposal
 Two methods for ratification

Four methods of Formal Amendments
 First Method

 May
be proposed by 2/3 vote in each House of
Congress and ratified by ¾ State Legislatures (38)

26 of 27 Amendments adopted in this manner
Formal Amendment Process
(Con’t)

Second Method

Proposed by Congress and ratified by
conventions held for by ¾ of the States
 21st

Amendment ratified through this method
Third Method

Amendment proposed by a national convention,
called by Congress, ratified by ¾ State
Legislatures
 Never
Done Before
Formal Amendment Process
(Con’t)

Fourth Method


Proposed by a national convention and ratified
by ¾ of conventions in states
Federalism
Amendments proposed at national level
 Ratification at state level

Proposed Amendments
10,000 Proposed
 Only 27 Amendments exist today


Bill of Rights -1791
 First
10 Amendments
 First Action by the Congress in 1791
 A Major Compromise with Anti-Federalist

Later Amendments

Check Page 76 for Subject of Amendments
Section 3
Constitutional Change by Other Means
Basic Legislation

Congress has given meaning to many of the
constitution brief statements
Judiciary Act of 1789
 Homeland Security
 Etc.

Executive Action

Also given meaning to Constitution

Example
 Use

of troops without congressional declaration of war
Executive Agreements
 Pacts
between heads of state that don’t require
approval from Senate
 Treaty

Requires approval from Senate
Court Decisions

Marbury v. Madison 1803

Claimed for Supreme Court the power to declare
a law unconstitutional
 Chief
Justice John Marshall helped define the role and
power of the Supreme Court
Party Practice
Constitution does not mention political
parties
 Big use of electoral college


Group that makes formal selection of the nation’s
president
Customs

Powers and/or organizations not granted by
constitution
Creation of the cabinet
 Succession of President to Vice President

 Amended

later
No Third Term until FDR
 Started
by George Washington
 Required now by 22nd Amendment in 1951