Chapter 3The Constitution

Fun Facts!

The U.S. Constitution

Outlines the U.S. government

Establishes the ruling principles of that government

Preamble – What does it mean?

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.

Parts of the U.S. ConstitutionSection Purpose

Preamble Introduces reasons for creating the document

Article I Outlines the legislative branch

Article II Outlines the executive branch

Article III Outlines the judicial branch

Article IV Discusses relations between the states and between the states and the national government

Article V Describes how to amend the Constitution

Article VI Declares the Constitution to be the supreme law of the land

Article VII Lists requirements for ratifying the Constitution

27 amendments Modifications to the Constitution

Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution

There are five basic principles of the U.S. Constitution:

• Limited government

• Popular sovereignty

• Federalism

• Separation of powers

• Checks and balances

These principles resulted from agreements and debate of the Constitutional Convention, 1787.

The Three Branches of Government

Article I - Legislative branch:

• Makes laws

Article II - Executive branch:

• Executes, or carries out, laws

Article III - Judicial branch:

• Interprets laws and judges whether they have been broken

Article IV – Relations among the states

Section 1 – Full Faith and Credit Clause

• States must grant each other “full faith and credit” on “public acts, records, and judicial proceedings”

• Means legal decisions of states must be respected and held to by other states

Section 2 – Privileges and Immunities Clause

• States must grant residents of other states all “privileges and immunities” they give to their own residents

Article V –Amendment the constitution

2 ways to propose an amendment

1. 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress

• All 27 Amendments were proposed this way

2. Constitutional Convention requested by 2/3 of the states

• Has never been used

2 ways to ratify amendment

1. 3/4 of state legislatures approve it

• 26 of the 27 Amendments were ratified this way

2. 3/4 of conventions called by the states approve it

• Only the 21st Amendment was ratified this way

Article VI – Role of the National Government

Section 2 – Supremacy Clause

• Federal laws are always supreme over state laws, U.S. Constitution is supreme over all state constitutions

Article VII – Ratification of the Constitution

Only 9 of the 13 states had to ratify the constitution

Amendments

27 total

First ten- bill of rights

Constitution Crossword

Constitution I.Q. Survey

The Bill of Rights

These are awesome!

And you get to memorize them!

The 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion

• Establishment Clause – government cannot establish a religion

• Free Exercise Clause – government cannot prohibit you from practicing religion

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of the Press

Right to Assembly

Right to Petition

The 2nd Amendment

The Right to Bear Arms

The 3rd Amendment

No Quartering of Soldiers in Times of Peace

The 4th Amendment

Protection Against Unreasonable Search and Seizure

The 5th Amendment

No Double Jeopardy (Can’t be charged with the same crime twice)

Protection against self-incrimination

Guarantee of Due Process of Law

Government can’t take property without just compensation

The 6th Amendment Right to a Criminal Trial by Jury

• Trial must be speedy, public

• Must be in the state where the crime was committed

• Right to legal counsel

• Right to call witnesses favorable to the defendant

The 7th Amendment

Right to a Civil Trial by Jury

• Civil – not criminal, typically a lawsuit for money or to repeal a government action

The 8th Amendment

Protection Against Cruel and Unusual Punishment

The 9th Amendment

Rights Retained by the People

• In other words, just because a right isn’t listed here in the Constitution doesn’t mean that people don’t have that right

The 10th Amendment

Powers Reserved for the States

• All powers that are not given to the national government are reserved for the states

Other Amendments

Amendments 11-27

Research your assigned amendment

Create an informational poster

Present to class