The Structure of the Constitution
Essential Terms
     U.S. Constitution Preamble 7 Articles Amendments Bill of Rights
Essential Questions
 How did the Constitution improve the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
 How is Constitution structured and what is each part’s purpose?

 constitution – the written plan for government  the “supreme law of the land” or basic law of the land  Every country/nation has their own version of a Constitution…or plan for their government.
 Each state in our nation has their own Constitution for their state.  The U.S. Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation during the Constitutional Convention.

Articles of Confederation
     No president No power to collect taxes Unicameral Congress No court system too difficult to pass laws   too much power to the states TOO WEAK
United States Constitution
     President Congress has the power to collect taxes Bicameral Congress federal court system (districts, appellate, & supreme) law making process = simple majority  centralized the government and created a system to balance the power between the states and the national government

 Introduction to the Constitution  Lists the goals of the Constitution

 1. The Preamble – the introduction  2. The 7 articles – organizes the details of the government  3. The amendments – the changes to the constitution  including the 1 st ten changes = the Bill of Rights

Articles of Confederation United States Constitution Preamble Preamble
 To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of the States affixed to our Names send greeting. 
We, the people of the
United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
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.

 constitution – the written plan for government  the “supreme law of the land” or basic law of the land  Since each state needs a government to run it…each state has their own STATE constitution.
 Very similar set up to the U.S. Constitution  Obviously not as powerful…

The U.S. Constitution’s Preamble

order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure 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.

 Introduction to the Constitution  Lists the goals of the Constitution

Introduction to the Constitution Lists the goals of the Constitution   1.
2.
We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure 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.
The SIX goals of the Constitution: “to form a more perfect union” “establish justice” 3.
4.
5.
6.
“insure domestic tranquility” “provide for the common defense” “promote the general welfare” “secure the blessings of liberty”

 What are examples of the government showing this goal in action?



 What are examples of the government showing this goal in action?

 What are examples of the government showing this goal in action?

 What are examples of the government showing this goal in action?

The Structure of the Constitution
Essential Terms
     U.S. Constitution Preamble 7 Articles Amendments Bill of Rights
Essential Questions
 How did the Constitution improve the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
 How is Constitution structured and what is each part’s purpose?

Essential Terms
          Article 1 Congress Article 2 President Article 3 Supreme Court Federalism Amendment Process Supremacy Clause Ratification
Essential Questions
 How is the separation of powers shown in the U.S. Constitution?
 How did the amendment process and federalism solve the disputes between the Federalists and the Anti Federalists?

 Structure, power, & responsibilities of the Legislative
Branch — Congress
 Main Job - Makes laws  Lists powers the national gov. has

 Isn’t PRO the opposite of CON?
And… How many combinations of 13 can you find on our nation’s seal??
 Progress move forward, to make better – to advance, to  Why did they choose the name congress?
 Marinate on that!!!

 Structure, power, and resp. of Executive Branch—the
president
 Main Job - Enforces laws  Powers of the Pres.
 Sets up Electoral College and Presidential elections

How many combinations of 13 can you find on our nation’s seal??
             Presidential Trivia Shortest –Madison 5’4” Tallest – Abe 6’$” Heaviest – Taft 300+ lbs Oldest – Reagan 69 Youngest – Teddy 42 Assassinated – 4 Attempted Assassinations – 6 Virginia is the birthplace of the most Presidents – 8 1906 Teddy was the first to travel internationally Nixon – first to visit all 50 states 2 father son combos have been President (the Adams and the Bushes) Gerald Ford was only President who was not elected by the people as Pres or V.P.
3 Presidents have been impeached – Jackson, Nixon, and Clinton  DOES ANY OF THIS REALLY MATTER?

 Structure, power, resp. of Judicial Branch  Main Job - Interprets laws  Sets up the US Supreme Court and any other federal courts Congress wants to create

 Justice Clarence Thomas has not asked a question or made a comment in any oral hearing in over five years!!!!!
How many combinations of 13 can you find on our nation’s seal??

 Let’s Eat Jello  Legislative, Executive, Judicial  Articles 1, Article 2, Article 3  Congress, President, Supreme Court


LEJ MCI Articles
  Legislative Makes laws Executive I Carries out laws II  Judicial Interprets laws III

 Creates a system to share power between the states and the federal (national or central) government  Explains the relationship between the national and state governments

 Explains how the Constitution can be amended (changed)

Article V – The Amendment Process  The Constitution cannot be changed by just anyone!!!
 This document is permanent and so are its changes…   Once you amend/change the document you must amend that amendment!!
WHAT!?!?!

Article V – The Amendment Process  Why do you think the “founding fathers” wanted this as the way to change the nation’s plan?
  Why not have the President change it?
Why not have the Supreme Court change it?
 What two groups did they allow to change the document??

Article V – The Amendment Process  Propose – to put forward; to plan; to make an offer  Ratification – to officially approve  How many ways are there to:   Propose an amendment?
Ratify an amendment?

 Constitution is the supreme law of the land 
Supremacy Clause

 Constitution will go into effect when 9 states ratify (approves) it 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Essential Terms
          Article 1 Congress Article 2 President Article 3 Supreme Court Federalism Amendment Process Supremacy Clause Ratification
Essential Questions
 How is the separation of powers shown in the U.S. Constitution?
 How did the amendment process and federalism solve the disputes between the Federalists and the Anti Federalists?

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Warm Up: Set up the columns of each chart Cool Down: Create the rows for the gallery walk chart Amendment Chart - # Supreme Court Case Chart - # Amendment # Description Additional Details Limits Related court cases Title of Case (and related amendment or right) What Happened?
(20 words of less) Ruling & Effect (precedent set)

make sure you leave enough space to add a lot of detail to your notes (room for both your notes and mine) Amendment # Description Additional Details Limits Related court cases 5 th – E 5 th - D 1 st – R 1 st – A & P 6 th – RIGHT TO ….
7 th 1 st – P 1 st – S 8 th 2 nd 9 th 3 rd 10 th 4 th Civil War Amendments 5 th – S 5 th – I 5 th – D President/Executive Branch Amendments Alcohol Amendments Voting Amendments

make sure you leave enough space to add a lot of detail to your notes (room for both your notes and mine) What Happened?
(20 words of less) Ruling & Effect (precedent set) Plessy v. Ferguson Title of Case (and related amendment or right) Marbury v. Madison McCulloch v. Maryland Gibbons v. Ogden Schenck v. U.S.
Korematsu v. U.S.
Brown v. the B.o.E.
Heart of Atlanta v. U.S.
Mapp v. Ohio Roe v. Wade Gideon v. Wainwright Miranda v. Arizona Furman v. Georgia Texas v. Johnson Engel v. Vitale Tinker v. Des Moines Gregg v. Georgia New Jersey v. TLO Dredd Scott v. Sandford Bethel v. Fraser Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

14 - Bill of Rights & Amendments
Essential Terms Essential Questions
    Bill of Rights                  “establishment clause” “free exercise” petition libel slander “clear and present danger” bear arms quartering troops seizure self incrimination indictment due process eminent domain double jeopardy civil suit cruel and unusual punishment enumerated rights Voting Amendments President or Executive Amendments Civil War (or Civil Rights) Amendments  How does the Bill of Rights protect individual rights with the rule of law?
 Give examples of how the Bill of Rights and/or the amendments balances civil liberties with government power.
 Alcohol Amendments

the Bill of Rights
 the first 10 amendments to the Constitution
Amendments 11 - 27
 added all at once during the Constitutional Convention  outlines the rights of citizens

 Changes to the Constitution  There are 27 total amendments  Bill of Rights—first 10 amendments  protects the rights of citizens (civil liberties)