Citizenship
Structure of Government
8.28 Describe the significance of the Magna
Carta, the English Bill of Rights, and the
Mayflower Compact in relation to the
development of government in America. (C,
H, P)
8.33 Describe the principles embedded in
the Constitution, including the purposes of
government listed in the Preamble,
separation of powers, check and balances,
the amendment process, federalism, and
recognition of and protections of individual
rights in the Bill of Rights. (P)
Constitution
• Constitution has three parts
– Preamble
– Articles
– Amendments
“We the people of the United States”
the authority of the government comes
from its citizens
Goals (preamble) of the Constitution
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To form a more perfect union
To establish justice
To ensure domestic tranquility
To provide for the common defense
To promote the general welfare
To secure the blessings of liberty
Articles (7)
• First three Articles – framework of
government
– Legislative – powers and limits
– Executive – powers and limits
– Judicial – powers and limits
Article 4 – relations between states – honor each
other laws
Article 5 Process for amending the Constitution
Article 6 Constitution is the supreme law of the land
– no state or law can violate it
Article 7 procedure for states to ratify the
Constitution
Amendments
• Formal changes
• 27 Amendments
• The Ten Amendments = Bill of Rights