Magruder’s
American Government
• CHAPTER 3
• The Constitution
© 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc.
SECTION 1
The Six Basic Principles
• What are the important elements of the
Constitution?
• What are the five (your book says six) basic
principles of the Constitution?
Chapter 3, Section 1
Three of the Basic Principles
1. Popular Sovereignty
2. Limited Government
3. Separation of Powers
Chapter 3, Section 1
More of the Basic Principles
• Checks and balances
Chapter 3, Section 1
More of the Basic Principles
Federalism
Outlining the Constitution
• Organized into eight sections
• One preamble and seven articles
• 27 formal amendments to the original
document
Chapter 3, Section 1
The Basic Outline of the Constitution
• Article I creates the legislative branch – Congress
Congress is Bicameral
Senate
House of
Representatives
Chapter 3, Section 1
The Basic Outline of the Constitution
• Article II creates the
executive branch –
The Presidency
•
The president’s
basic job is to
“take care the
laws are
faithfully
executed.”
Chapter 3, Section 1
The Basic Outline of the Constitution
• Article III
creates the
judicial branch
Chapter 3, Section 1
The Basic Outline of the Constitution
• Article IV
creates rules
about how
states interact
with each other
- federalism
• Article is about
the
Amendment
process.
Chapter 3, Section 1
The Basic Outline of the Constitution
• Article VI creates – The Supremacy Clause
Federal Law
State Law
Chapter 3, Section 1
SECTION 2
Formal Amendment
• What are the different ways to formally amend,
or change the wording of, the Constitution?
• How many times has the Constitution been
amended?
• What is the Bill of Rights?
Chapter 3, Section 2
Article V – The Formal Amendment
Process
• The four different
ways by which
amendments may
be added to the
Constitution are
shown here:
Chapter 3, Section 2
Amendments to the Constitution
Collectively, the first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
They set out many of our basic freedoms.
Chapter 3, Section 2
SECTION 3
Informal Amendment
• How has basic legislation changed the
Constitution over time?
• What powers do the executive branch and the
courts have to amend the Constitution?
• What role do party politics and custom have in
shaping the Federal Government?
Chapter 3, Section 3
Informal Amendment Processes
The informal amendment process can take place by:
(1) the passage of basic legislation by Congress;
(2) actions taken by the President;
(3) key
decisions of the Supreme Court;
(4) the activities of political parties
Chapter 3, Section 3