The story The story of the U.S. of the U.S. ConstitutioConstitutio
nn
The story The story of the U.S. of the U.S. ConstitutioConstitutio
nn Liberty TreeLiberty Tree
Magna CartaMagna Carta English Bill English Bill of Rightsof Rights
Liberty TreeLiberty Tree
FundamenFundamental Orders tal Orders
of of ConnecticConnectic
utut
MayfloweMayflower Compactr Compact
Town Town Hall Hall
MeetingsMeetings
House of House of BurgessBurgess
eses
Articles of Articles of ConfederationConfederation
ContinenContinental tal
CongressCongress
U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution
At the At the Constitutional Constitutional Convention, Convention,
the delegates the delegates created a new created a new plan for the plan for the
U.S. U.S. government government that focused that focused
on two things.on two things.
Structure and
Function
Structure and
Function
StructureStructureStructureStructure is the framework of our government.
structurestructureWhat do you notice What do you notice
about the about the structure of a of a tree?tree?
What do you notice What do you notice about the about the structure of a of a
tree?tree?
limbslimbs
root systemroot system
branchesbranches
leavesleaves
tree barktree bark
threethree
JudicialJudicial
LegislativeLegislative
ExecutiveExecutive
The government structure has three branches.
StructureStructure
LegislativLegislative Branch:e Branch:StructureStructure
SenateSenate •2 per state2 per state•6-year terms6-year terms
House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives
•based on based on populationpopulation•2-year terms2-year terms
Elected by the Elected by the peoplepeople
BicameralBicameral = = made of two made of two
houseshouses
StructureStructure
Executive Executive Branch:Branch:
StructureStructure
•President President (4-year (4-year term)term)
•Vice-PresidentVice-President
•Cabinet MembersCabinet Members
•AppointeesAppointees
StructureStructureExecutive Executive Branch:Branch:StructureStructure
ViceVice-PresidenPresiden
tt
ViceVice-PresidenPresiden
tt
DickDick CheneyCheneyDickDick CheneyCheney George W. BushGeorge W. Bush George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
PresidentPresidentPresidentPresidentSecretarySecretary of of
StateState
SecretarySecretary of of
StateState
ColinColin PowellPowellColinColin PowellPowell
StructureStructure
Judicial Judicial Branch:Branch:
StructureStructure
•U. S. Supreme Court U. S. Supreme Court (life-terms)(life-terms)
•District Courts District Courts (appointed)(appointed) •County and Local Courts County and Local Courts (elected)(elected)
•U. S. Supreme Court U. S. Supreme Court (life-terms)(life-terms)
•District Courts District Courts (appointed)(appointed) •County and Local Courts County and Local Courts (elected)(elected)
functionfunction
provideprovidess shadeshade
home home for for
some some animaanima
lsls
holdsholds soilsoil inin placeplace
What is the What is the functionfunction of a of a tree?tree?
• provide for provide for the common the common
defensedefense
• ensure ensure domestic domestic
tranquilitytranquility
• promote promote the general the general
welfarewelfare
• establish justicejustice
•secure the blessings of liberty to secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves, and our ourselves, and our posterity•secure the blessings of liberty to secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves, and our ourselves, and our posterity
The The preamblepreamble to the to the Constitution tells the Constitution tells the function function or WHAT the or WHAT the
government does for the government does for the people.people.
The The preamblepreamble to the to the Constitution tells the Constitution tells the function function or WHAT the or WHAT the
government does for the government does for the people.people.
Idea may Idea may become a become a bill bill (proposed law) (proposed law) in House of in House of Representatives Representatives or Senateor Senate
•MakesMakes lawslaws
Legislative Branch:FunctionFunction
Legislative Branch:FunctionFunction
U.S. U.S. CongressCongress•ElectedElected byby thethe peoplepeople
People discuss ideas People discuss ideas and tell and tell representativesrepresentatives in in CongressCongress
Bill becomes a law if Bill becomes a law if approved by both approved by both houses and signed houses and signed by the Presidentby the President
Executive Branch: Function
Executive Branch: Function
The White The White HouseHouse
•Ensures that Ensures that the laws are the laws are carried outcarried out
•Elected by Elected by the people the people
and electoral and electoral college college systemsystem
Judicial Branch: Judicial Branch: FunctionFunction
Judicial Branch: Judicial Branch: FunctionFunction
Supreme Supreme CourtCourt
•Interprets the laws (decides if laws are fair)•Tries civil and criminal cases in lower courts
•Nine justices on Nine justices on U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Supreme Court
•AppointedAppointed byby PresidentPresident andand approvedapproved byby CongressCongress
Each branch Each branch checks and checks and balancesbalances the other the other
branches.branches.
PresidentPresidentCongress Supreme
CourtCourt
Legislative branchLegislative branch can can remove judges from officeremove judges from office
Executive branchExecutive branch can veto law can veto lawLegislative branchLegislative branch makes laws makes laws
Checks and BalancesChecks and BalancesChecks and BalancesChecks and Balances
Legislative branchLegislative branch can can override presidential override presidential veto with a 2/3 voteveto with a 2/3 vote
Judicial branchJudicial branch can can declare a law declare a law
unconstitutionalunconstitutional
Executive branch appoints Supreme Court
justices
LegislativeLegislative branch branch hashas toto approveapprove thethe appointmentappointment ofof
thethe justicesjustices
House of House of Representatives Representatives brings charges against brings charges against the President the President (impeach)(impeach)
Legislative branchLegislative branch can remove can remove president from president from officeoffice
Legislative branchLegislative branch can remove can remove president from president from officeoffice
Senate holds a trial Senate holds a trial and 2/3 vote needed and 2/3 vote needed to remove President to remove President from officefrom office
The U.S. The U.S. Constitution has Constitution has
seven articles that articles that explain the explain the
structure and structure and function of the function of the government.government.
The U.S. The U.S. Constitution has Constitution has
seven articles that articles that explain the explain the
structure and structure and function of the function of the government.government.
Article 1: Legislative BranchArticle 1: Legislative Branch
Article 2: Executive BranchArticle 2: Executive Branch
Article 3: Judicial BranchArticle 3: Judicial Branch
Article 4: Relations Among StatesArticle 4: Relations Among States
Article 5: Amending the Article 5: Amending the ConstitutionConstitution
Article 6: National SupremacyArticle 6: National Supremacy
Article 7: RatificationArticle 7: Ratification
The The structurestructure and and functionfunction
of our of our government government are based on are based on seven basic seven basic principles.principles.
Seven Basic Principles Seven Basic Principles of the Constitutionof the Constitution
Limited powers of governmentgovernment
Separation of Separation of powerspowers
Popular Popular sovereigntysovereignty
Checks and Checks and balancesbalances
Individual Individual rightsrights
RepublicaniRepublicanismsm
FederalisFederalismm
Since King George III Since King George III had had unlimitedunlimited power, power,
the writers of the the writers of the U.S. Constitution U.S. Constitution wanted “we the wanted “we the
people” to put people” to put limits limits on the governmenton the government..
The Constitution The Constitution outlined exactly what outlined exactly what the government could the government could
do.do.
Separation of Separation of powerspowers divides the divides the
operation of operation of government into government into
three equal three equal branches.branches.
““Sovereignty”Sovereignty” comes from comes from
“sovereign” which “sovereign” which means ruler.means ruler.
““Popular”Popular” means people. means people...““Popular”Popular” means people. means people...
Popular Popular sovereignty sovereignty == people choose people choose
In other words…In other words…
Popular Popular sovereignty sovereignty is the is the
belief that the belief that the people hold the people hold the final authority in final authority in
government.government.
Each branch Each branch of the of the
government government checks and balances, or , or monitors, the monitors, the power of the power of the
other two other two branches.branches.
Individual rights Individual rights are the are the basic liberties and rights basic liberties and rights
that are guaranteed in the that are guaranteed in the first 10 amendments to the first 10 amendments to the
Constitution, the Bill of Constitution, the Bill of Rights. These individual Rights. These individual
rights have been extended rights have been extended through subsequent through subsequent amendments to the amendments to the
Constitution.Constitution.
Individual rights Individual rights are the are the basic liberties and rights basic liberties and rights
that are guaranteed in the that are guaranteed in the first 10 amendments to the first 10 amendments to the
Constitution, the Bill of Constitution, the Bill of Rights. These individual Rights. These individual
rights have been extended rights have been extended through subsequent through subsequent amendments to the amendments to the
Constitution.Constitution.
ExamplesExamples
Freedom of speechFreedom of speech Freedom of Freedom of presspress
Freedom of religionFreedom of religion Right to a Right to a trial by trial by
juryjury
RepublicanismRepublicanism is a is a philosophy of limited philosophy of limited
government in which elected government in which elected representatives serve at the representatives serve at the
will of the people.will of the people.
RepublicanismRepublicanism is a is a philosophy of limited philosophy of limited
government in which elected government in which elected representatives serve at the representatives serve at the
will of the people.will of the people.
ExamplesExamples
State legislaturesState legislatures Congress Congress
FederalismFederalism is the division is the division and sharing of powers and sharing of powers between the state and between the state and national government.national government.
FederalismFederalism is the division is the division and sharing of powers and sharing of powers between the state and between the state and national government.national government.
National PowersNational Powers
•maintain armed maintain armed forcesforces
•coin moneycoin money
•declare wardeclare war
•make foreign make foreign policypolicy
State PowersState Powers
•provide for provide for educationeducation
•conduct electionsconduct elections
•provide public provide public safetysafety
•regulate trade in regulate trade in statestate
Powers Shared by National Powers Shared by National and State Governmentsand State Governments
•raise taxesraise taxes
•administer criminal justiceadminister criminal justice
•provide for public welfareprovide for public welfare
•charter bankscharter banks
•borrow moneyborrow money
Rooted in these Rooted in these seven seven
principles, the principles, the U.S. U.S.
Constitution has Constitution has endured since endured since
1787.1787.
Rooted in these Rooted in these seven seven
principles, the principles, the U.S. U.S.
Constitution has Constitution has endured since endured since
1787.1787. This living document This living document protectsprotects the the
rights of the individuals by rights of the individuals by limiting the powerlimiting the power of the of the
government.government.
Visual Metaphor:Visual Metaphor:
How is the U.S. government like a How is the U.S. government like a tricycle?tricycle?
Visual Metaphor:Visual Metaphor:
How is the U.S. government like a How is the U.S. government like a tricycle?tricycle?
Handle bars =Handle bars = ConstitutionConstitution
Platform = Separation of powers
Label the parts of the tricycle Label the parts of the tricycle with these other words.with these other words.
The PeopleThe People
Executive Executive BranchBranch
Legislative Legislative BranchBranch
Judicial BranchJudicial Branch
PresidentPresident
CongressCongress
Supreme CourtSupreme Court
Checks and Checks and BalancesBalances
The foundation of our The foundation of our government and the government and the
supreme law of the landsupreme law of the land
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