The Constitution
Here we go…
Vocabulary
Constitution:
A written plan of government for
the United States.
Levels of Government:
• National
• State
• Local
Federal:
A system in which states share power
with a national government.
Amendment:
A change to the Constitution
Bill of Rights:
The first ten amendments to the
Constitution.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Basic Freedoms
Weapons
Housing Soldiers
Search and Seizure
Rights of the Accused
6. Rights to a Fair Trial
7. Jury Trial
8. Bail and Punishment
9. People Power
10. State Power
Did You Know…?
Builders make a plan before they build a
house. The founders of the United
States made the Constitution as a plan
for the nation’s government.
So… the Constitution is the plan we use to
run our country.
Main Idea:
The Constitution describes how the
United States works…
What is a Democracy?
A Democracy is…
When the people have the power to make
political decisions: These decisions
include:
• Making laws
• Electing leaders
In America we help to make these
decisions by exercising our right to
vote!
Did You Know?
In the Preamble, (beginning of our
Constitution) the authors listed their
goals for the United States.
They wanted citizens to:
Be safe
Live in peace
Have a good life
Branches of Government:
The Constitution divides the national
government into 3 parts, or branches:
• Legislative (Congress – Senate and House of
Representatives)
• Executive (Lead by the President)
• Judicial
Legislative Branch
(Congress)
• Makes laws
• Approves judges chosen by the President.
• Raise money through taxes, or by borrowing
to pay for goods and services such as:
• An army
• Roads
• National Parks
Who makes up the Legislative
Branch?
(Congress)
• Senate
• House of Representatives
• Senate + House of Reps. = Legislative
Branch (Congress)
Executive Branch
• Lead by the President who is also
commander of our military.
• Suggests laws (but only the Legislative
Branch (Congress) can MAKE laws.
Judicial Branch
(Made up of many courts across our
nation.)
• Decides the meaning of laws
• Decides if laws are being followed
• Hint: The Judicial Branches judges…
Question:
What is known as the highest
court in our land?
Answer
The Supreme Court
Let’s Review
What are the jobs of each branch of the
national government?
Legislative (Congress)
• Makes laws
• Raises money through taxes or by
borrowing
Executive
(Lead by the President)
Suggests and carries out laws
Judicial
• Decides the meaning of laws
• Decides whether laws are
constitutional
What is another name for the
Legislative Branch?
Congress!
Remember… the Legislative branch is made up of
both the Senate and the House of
Representatives. These two together are called
“CONGRESS.”
So…..
Congress = Legislative branch
Senate + House of Representatives = Congress which =
Legislative branch
Senate, House of Representatives, Congress, Legislative
branch… are all the same!!!
Pretty cool, huh?
Congress is made up of 2 parts,
what are they?
Hint…
Together they’re called the Legislative
Branch…
• Senate
• House of Representatives
Remember:
Senate + House of Reps. = Congress.
What role do citizens play in a
democracy?
Citizens take part in making
laws and choosing leaders.
Why would the writers of the
Preamble to the Constitution
think it was important to live
in peace?
Americans had just fought the American
Revolution and wanted to there to be
peace in their new country.
Why did early leaders write the
Constitution?
The nation needed a better plan of
government than it had.
Enough with the review already…
Let’s move on!
Limits on Government
Main idea:
The Constitution puts limits on the
government…but why?
The authors of the Constitution
created a government with 3
branches because…
They wanted to make sure the
government’s powers were limited!!
No single person or branch has the power
to run the United States alone.
What would happen if one branch
became stronger than another?
It won’t…but why?
Hmmm…
Checks and Balances!!!
This keeps all 3 branches of government
from gaining power over each other !!
Open your book to P. 44
Notice the diagram showing some of the
ways each branch of our national
government can check the power of the
other 2 branches
Pretty cool huh?
The Federal System
The U.S. has 3 branches of government.
We also have 3 levels of government.
• National
• State
• Local
Let’s talk about the national
government’s (Federal)
responsibilities
The U.S. President is in charge
• Defending our country
• Printing money
• Running the Post Office
• Regulating trade between states
National government has power over issues
that affect the whole country.
State Government’s
Responsibilities
The state’s Governor is in charge
•
•
•
•
Sets up schools
Organizes local government
Runs elections
Regulates trade within the state
State government has power over issues that
affect its individual state.
Responsibilities shared by both
national and state governments
•
•
•
•
Collect taxes
Pass laws
Set up courts
Borrow money
• When a federal law and a state law do not
agree, the federal law must be obeyed!
Local Government’s
Responsibilities
The City’s Mayor is in charge
• Provide police and fire protection
• Run public schools and libraries (with help
from state.)
• Provide public transportation
• Collect sales and property taxes
Let’s Review
Why did the authors of the constitution
create checks and balances and a
federal system?
The answer is…
To limit the power of the government and
the branches of government.
Why did the Constitution set up a
federal system?
The answer is…
So that both the national government and
the state governments have powers.
What law has more authority
when there is a disagreement
between federal and state law?
Why?
The answer is…
The federal law!
Why?
The Constitution makes federal laws
stronger than state laws!!!
Changing the Constitution
Can it be done? Yes!
Hmmm…but how?
To make an amendment to the
Constitution…
First…
Two-thirds of the members of the House of
Representatives and the Senate must
agree with the amendment.
Then…
Three-fourths of the states must ratify (or
officially accept) the amendment.
Good stuff to know…
The authors of the Constitution knew the
U.S. would grow and change. So, they
included a way to add amendments
(changes) to the Constitution.
People wanted the U.S. Constitution to list
the rights of its citizens. Thomas Jefferson
wanted a bill of rights “to guard people
against the federal government.”
James Madison wrote
the bill of rights.
In 1791, the 10 amendments known as the
Bill of Rights were ratified (accepted).
Who wrote the Bill of Rights?
Hint: His initials are J.M.
Answer…
James Madison
Can you identify the following amendments
within the bill of rights?
First Amendment?
Fifth Amendment?
Tenth Amendment?
First Amendment
• Freedom of speech
• The right to assembly peacefully
• Freedom of religion
Fifth Amendment
• No person shall be forced to be a witness
against himself.
I plead the 5th!!!
Tenth Amendment
• The powers not delegated to the United
States by the Constitution, nor prohibited
by it to the states, are reserved to the
states respectively, or to the people.
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout!
What’s up with that?
In 1790, the Constitution did not protect the
rights of ALL Americans. Thousand of
African Americans remained in slavery.
Some states allowed only WHITE MEN to
vote. The rights of women, African
Americans, American Indians, and poor
people were NOT recognized!
Changes made since then…
Ideas about democracy have changed, and
the Constitution has changed with them.
And aren’t we glad!!
Different groups have fought for their rights
and WON!!
Can you name some of the changes?
Let’s Review…
• The federal government is divided into:
– Legislative branch
– Executive branch
– Judicial branch
Checks and Balances…
Checks and balances keep any one branch
from becoming too powerful.
There are three levels of
government…
• Federal (President)
• State (Governor)
• Local (Mayor)
Power…
The Constitution divides power between the
federal government and the states.
Amendments…
The Constitution can be changed by
amendments.
Question…
Why does the Constitution include a way to
make amendments?
Answer…
The Constitution includes a way to make
amendments so changes can be made as
the country grows and changes.
Chapter 2 Lesson 2
The End.
See how much smarter you are…?