Let’s get Started! Take out your Venn Homework. Copy the Venn below and complete. Scan the QR Code for help. Federalist Anti- Federalist

The United State Constitution and Its Parts

What does our Constitution represent? Our system of government Basic beliefs and ideals

Breakdown of the Constitution 3 Main Components Preamble– Why the Constitution was written 7 Articles– Explain how the gov’t is to work 27 Amendments– changes made to the Constitution

Preamble – Purposes of Government To form a more perfect union Establish Justice Ensure domestic tranquility Provide for common defense Promote the general welfare Secure liberty

Articles Article I – Legislative Branch ◦ Makes the laws Article II – Executive Branch ◦ Enforces the laws Article III – Judicial Branch ◦ Interprets the laws ◦ Establishes the US Supreme Court

Articles continued… Article IV – Relations Among States ◦ Requires that states give citizens from other states the same rights as its own ◦ How to admit new states ◦ National government will protect states Article V – Amendment Process ◦ Explains the different processes for amending (changing) the Constitution

Articles continued… Article VI – National Supremacy ◦ Contains the “supremacy clause” – establishes that the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and treaties are the “Supreme Law of the Land” Article VII – Ratification ◦ Addresses approval of the Constitution and that it would take effect after 9 states ratified, or approved, it

Basic Principles of the Constitution

Popular Sovereignty Popular = people Sovereignty = right or power to rule Popular sovereignty = People should have the right and the power to rule themselves

How was popular sovereignty portrayed by... English citizens? Magna Carta Glorious Revolution Parliament made up of representatives that the people elected

How was popular sovereignty portrayed by... Colonist in America? Mayflower Compact Colonial governments VA House of Burgesses Town meetings Declaration of Independence

How was popular sovereignty portrayed by... Writers/ Framers of the Constitution? “We the People…” Gov’t must always reflect the will of the people Will of people expressed through elections

The Principle of Limited Government Writers of the Constitution wanted the government strong but not to strong The Constitution tells what the government may and may not do Rule of law means the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

Federalism Federalism- the distribution of power in a government between the federal authority and the states Shared power between federal gov’t and state gov’t

Separation of Powers Framers of the Constitution wanted to make sure that no 1 person or group had too much power Montesquieu gave the idea to clearly separate the 3 branches of government ◦ Legislative, Executive, Judicial

Checks and Balances The system of checks and balances allows each branch to check or limit the power of the other branches

What happens if there is a conflict between federal and state authority? Supremacy clause- The Constitution and the laws of the national government are the “supreme law of the land”.

Can the Constitution be changed? YES! Amendment- Any change to the Constitution

Amendment Process Step 1: The Amendment Proposal (2 ways) The Amendment is proposed by a 2/3 vote in each house of Congress The Amendment is proposed by a national convention, called by congress, at the request of 2/3 of the state legislatures

Amendment Process continued… Step 2: Ratification (2 ways) The Amendment is passed by ¾ of the state legislatures The Amendment is passed by ¾ of the state conventions