United States Government
And the U.S. Constitution
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The Constitution…
• Is the “Supreme Law of
the Land”
• It specifically lists all of
the powers of the national
government.
• It divides power between
the national and state
gov’ts (federal system)
• Delegated powers--federal
• Reserved powers--state
• Spells out our
representative democracy
-- a gov’t which people
elect their leaders.
• It describes a system of
checks and balances
where each branch can
check on the other two so
no branch gets too
powerful
• It also separates powers to
balance the branches
Article I -- The Legislative
Branch (Congress)
• This branch makes the
laws.
• It is divided into two
branches -->
• The House of
Representatives and the
Senate
• House of Reps has 435
members and each state is
represented through
population (more people
in the state the more reps
you get in the House)
• Members of the House are
elected every two years.
And they are the house
that can impeach a
president.
• The Senate has 100
members (each state sends
two)
• Senators serve six year
terms and they are the
branch that hear the
impeachment trials.
• Both houses can propose
bills
Powers of the Legislative Branch
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To borrow money
To raise and lower taxes
To coin money
To set up post offices
To build roads
To declare war
To provide a military
Regulate trade between
states and foreign
countries
• ELASTIC CLAUSE:
– Allows congress to to
stretch their powers to
change with changing
times.
On your dry erase boards.
• 1. Where would you look to find all the powers
you have as the Legislative Branch?
• 2. What is a representative democracy and give an
example of it.
• 3. What are the names of the two houses in the
Legislative Branch? Which branch has a longer
term?
• 4. What does the Legislative branch do when it
comes to laws?
• 5. List two powers you have as our Legislative
Branch
Analyze and explain the point of
the cartoon
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Article II -->
The Executive Branch (President)
• The President enforces the
laws.
• He/she is the commander
and chief of the armed
forces though he cannot
declare war.
• To be president one must
be 35 years old, be born in
the U.S. and have lived in
the U.S. for the past 14
years.
• The President serves four
year term. He can serve
no more than two terms.
• The president can sign and
veto bills
• He appoints federal judges
• He appoints his cabinet
(those hired to advise him)
• He also has the power to
pardon federal offenders
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Flip over your notes
• 6. What is the President’s job when it
comes to laws?
• 7. What is on requirement someone must
meet before becoming president?
• 8. What is the purpose of the President’s
cabinet?
• 9. Besides his cabinet, who else can the
President appoint (hire)?
In your groups, analyze and
explain the cartoon
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Article III-->
Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)
• The judicial branch makes
sure that the laws are
carried out fairly
• The judicial branch is a
system of courts whose
head is the supreme court.
• There are 94
federal/district courts in
the U.S. today
• Cases may make it all the
way to the Supreme Court
• Supreme Court hears about 100
cases a year.
• The court can determine that
some laws or actions by our
gov’t are unconstitutional
• It also hears cases involving
disputes between states and
internt’l leaders
• The President appoints these
members with the approval of
Congress.
• It is a life long appointment
Flip over your notes!
• 10. Is the Supreme Court the only national
or federal court? Explain.
• 11. What type of cases does the Supreme
Court take?
• 12. What is the Supreme Court’s job when
it comes to laws?
• 13. What happens if the Supreme Court
feels a law is breaking the Constitution?
In your groups analyze and
explain the following cartoon.
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Article IV -->
The States.
• This section just shows
that states must honor the
laws and court decisions
of other states.
• For example if a someone
flees his state because he
is about to be arrested and
goes to a state where he
did not commit a crime,
the new state must send
him back
• It talks about how new
states can be added to
the country.
• Blah, blah, blah, blah
•
Article V
How to amend (change)the
constitution
• Then 3/4 of the states
The following is the
process in amending
the constitution:
• 2/3 of both houses of
congress must deem it
necessary to propose
the amendment or 2/3
of the states can do the
same
must vote to ratify the
amendments
• The first ten amendments
are called the Bill of
Rights. These were added
to protect the rights of the
citizens.
• In our 200 + year history
there have only been 27
amendments to out
constitution
Articles VI and VII
• Article VI just says
that if a state law
conflicts with a federal
law, then the federal
law wins
• Whoever cares about
Article II, raise your
hand.
• Me neither.
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Bill of Rights
First 10 Amendments to the
Constitution
1--Freedoms. Ex:
• 8--Cruel and unusual
Speech, religion, assembly
2--Bear arms. Ex: own a
gun
3--No Quartering Acts
4--Privacy. Ex. Police
need warrants, need
probable cause to enter
your house
5,6,7--Describe
procedures the courts must
follow when trying people
accused of crimes.
punishment.
• 9--can’t mess with the
constitution to deny
rights
• 10--all rights not in the
constitution go to the
states or people
Which Amendment is this
cartoon about? Explain.
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Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances
With Rights come
Responsibilities
• Citizens have
responsibilities/ duties to
other citizens and to the
gov’t
• Ex:
– Obey laws
– Know what the laws are
– Respect people in authority
(police/teachers)
• Cont:
– Paying taxes
– Protect the nation from
harm.
– Register for the draft
– Called to and serve on jury
– Parents have resp to take
care of children, children
have resp to listen to
parents.