A CLOSE LOOK AT THE CONSTITUTION
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 Identify the basic principles behind the Constitution.
 Explain how the Constitution sets up the federal
government in seven articles.
 Explain the meaning and importance of the Bill of Rights.
Chapter 4
Words To Know
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Legislative branch – the part of government that
makes the laws.
Executive branch – the part of government that carries
out the laws
Judicial branch – the part of government that rules on
what the laws mean
Trial – a case heard at court before a judge or jury
Senator – a member of the Senate
Unconstitutional – a law or government act that goes
against the Constitution
The Basic Principles Behind the Constitution
 On July 4, 1788 the people of Philadelphia gathered for a parade to
celebrate a model ship named Constitution.
 The ship stood for the new government of the United States.
 In 1987, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the writing of the
Constitution.
 The Constitution has only changed 27 times.
 The Constitution sets up a plan for government in seven (7) articles.
That plan is based on the following principles:
1. Rule by the people : In a democracy, the people hold the power to
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
make all the laws.
Limited powers : Government must not be too strong; freedoms
protected
Separation of powers : Power in government is divided among
three (3) branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
Checks and Balances : Each branch of government has some
powers over the others branches
Judicial review : The courts must throw out any state laws that go
against the U.S. Constitution
Federal Government : The United States government has some
powers. The state governments have their own powers.
Outline of the U.S. Constitution
 Preamble – opening words – tells why the Constitution was written
 Article 1 – legislative branch – sets up a way to make laws (congress)
 Article 2 – executive branch – sets up a way to carry out the laws (Pres
and VP)
 Article 3 – judicial branch – sets up a way to judge the laws (supreme
court and the lower federal courts)
 Article 4 – the states – says that states must honor each others’ laws
Article 5 – amendments – sets up a way to change the Constitution
Article 6 – supreme law – states that the Constitution is the highest law
of the land
Article 7 – ratification – sets up how the states must vote for the
Constitution to become law
AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUITION
First – 1791 – protects freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly
Second – 1791 – protects the right to bear arms
Third – 1791 – protects people from having to house s0ldiers during
peacetime
Fourth – 1791 – protects people and their property from government
searches without good reason
Fifth – 1791 - sets up grand jury; protects citizens against having to face
trial more than once; guarantees due process
Sixth – 1791 – guarantees fair and quick trial for accused persons
Seventh – 1791 – guarantees a jury trial for court cases
Eighth – 1791 – guarantees reasonable treatment and
punishment for accused persons
Ninth – 1791 – reserves for the people all rights not listed in
the constitution
Tenth – 1791 – saves all other powers for the states and
people
Eleventh – 1798 – protects states from federal lawsuits
Twelfth – 1804 – requires a separate vote for president and a separate
vote for VP in the electoral college
Thirteenth – 1865 – Ends slavery in the United States
Fourteenth – 1868 – grants citizenship to African Americans, protects
people’s right from unfair treatment by state governments
Fifteenth – 1870 – grants African Americans the right to vote
Sixteenth – 1913 – sets up a federal income tax
Seventeenth – 1913 – allows people of each state to directly
elect their own senators to Congress
Eighteenth – 1919 – outlaws manufacture, sale, and
transportation of alcoholic beverages
Nineteenth – 1920 - grants women the right to vote
Twentieth – 1933 – sets dates for the beginning of congress’s
meetings and President’s term of office
Twenty-First – 1933 – repeals, or ends, the Eighteenth
Amendment
Twenty-Second – 1951 – allows President to have only two
elected terms
Twenty-Third – 1961 – grants citizens of Washington DC the
right to vote for President
Twenty-Four – 1964 – ends taxes on voting in national elections (poll tax)
Twenty-Five – 1967 – sets guidelines for filling the offices of the President
and VP should they become vacant
Twenty-Six – 1971 – grants 18 year olds the right to vote
Twenty-Seven – 1992 – stops congress from increasing the salary of its
current members
A PLAN FOR GOVERNMENT IN SEVEN ARTICLES
THE PREAMBLE
The Constitution starts with a few words that tell you its
purpose. It says the Constitution is to set up ways to keep
the country safe, peaceful, and fair in its laws.
ARTICLES 1 - 3
Article 1: The Legislative Branch – Creates a Congress with powers to
make laws. It holds the Senate and House of Representatives.
Article 2: Executive Branch – Describes duties of the President. Gives
President power to carry out laws and to represent country in dealing
with other countries.
Article 3: Judicial Branch – Creates Supreme Court.The highest court in
the land.
ARTICLES 4 & 5
State Governments – All states have to honor the
laws of the other states.
Article 4:
Making Changes – Describes the methods for
makingchanges to the Constitution
Article 5:
ARTICLES 6 & 7
Article 6: The Constitution is Supreme Law
This article makes the Constitution the
highest law in the land
Article 7: Ratification – The Constitution had to be
ratified (passed) by the states before it
became law. 9 out of 13 had to pass it
before it could take effect