The United States
Constitution
What is the Constitution?
• It is the supreme law of the United
States.
• It is the framework for the
organization of the United States
government and for the
relationship of the federal
government with the states,
citizens, and all people.
FUN FACTS
• The US Constitution is 224
Years Old.
• It took 116 days to write the
original Constitution.
PREAMBLE
• Describes the purpose of the document
and government.
• WE THE KIDS – BOOK – Mrs. Wilkins
will read it to you.
• Video on the next slide.
Meaning behind the Preamble
• We the people of the United States – All
of the people in our country
• In order to form a more perfect union –
to come together an make things better for
everyone who lives in our country.
• Establish Justice – To make things fair and
honest for everyone.
• Insure Domestic Tranquility – To make
sure we can all have a nice life and get along
with each other.
Continuing the Meaning of the
Preamble
• Provide for the common defense – To
protect us from other people or countries who
might try to harm us, like in war, and to help
us if we have been harmed.
• Promote the general welfare – To help make
life good for everybody. Like having enough
food, a place to live, being safe, etc.
• And Secure the Blessing of Liberty – to
protec t our rights and freedoms and not let
anyone take them away.
Continuing the Meaning of the
Preamble
• To ourselves and our posterity – For kids,
parents, other grown ups and all the people
born in our country after we are.
• Do ordain and establish the
constitution – To write down and live by a
list of rules and promises for our
government to keep and our people to obey.
• For the United States of America – For
our country – where we live.
Brain Pop Video
• Brain Pop Constitution Video
ARTICLES
• Establish how the government is structured
and how the Constitution can be changed.
• There are 7 articles.
Article 1 - LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Elected representatives
who make laws; at the
federal level it is the
Congress (Senate and
House of Representatives).
Article 2 – Executive Branch
Elected and appointed
individuals who enforce
laws; at the federal level
the President heads this
branch.
Article 3 – Judicial Branch
Justices and judges who
interpret laws through
the court system; at the
federal level it is the
Supreme Court
Branches of Government Video
Brain Pop Branches of Government
Remaining Articles
• Article 4 – addresses relations among
individual states.
• Article 5 – discusses the Amendment process
• Article 6 – “Supremacy Clause” - when
federal laws conflict with state laws, the US
Constitution and federal laws are more
powerful than the state laws
• Article 7 – Explains the ratification process
(approval of 2 3 Congress and ¾ States.)
AMENDMENTS
There are 27 amendments (or changes)
to the Constitution.
The first 10 amendments are called the
Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights Brain Pop Video
Amendments
• 1 – Freedom of religion, assembly, press,
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petition, and speech
2 – Right to bear arms
3 – No quartering in homes during times of
peace
4 – Protection from unreasonable search
and seizure
5 – Rights of accused persons; no double
jeopardy, no self-incrimination, guarantees
due process of law
Amendments
• 6 – Rights to a fair and speedy trial
• 7 – Trial by jury guaranteed in federal cases
• 8 – Guarantees reasonable bail if arrested and
protection from cruel and unusual
punishment
• 9 – Powers are reserved to the people if not
delegated to the United States by the
Constitution
• 10 – Safeguards the powers of the states by
stating that all powers not delegated to the US
by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the
states are reserved to the states.
Principles of the US Constitution
• Federalism – Power is shared between the
states and federal government
• Checks and Balances – Each branch of the
federal government has the ability to check,
or control, the power of the other 2
branches
• Popular Sovereignty – the people are the
final authority in government. The
government receives its authority from the
People.
Principles of the US Constitution
• Individual Rights – Unalienable rights of the
people that the federal government must
protect.
• Separation of Powers – The power of the
federal government is separated in to 3
branches.
• Republicanism – The people rule through
elected representatives.
• Limited Government – Government is
limited to the power given to it by the
Constitution.