US Government and Politics September 9, 2015

The United States Constitution Guide and directions for government Readable Sections – Preamble, Articles 1-7, Signatories, and Amendments

Article 1 The Executive Branch President, Cabinets, and Executive departments Enforces the Law – signs a bill into law or vetoes the bill and the bill dies Proposes bills Commands military Appoints ambassadors and other officials of executive departments Appoints Supreme Court Justices Conducts foreign policy Negotiates treaties May adjourn Congress in certain situations

Article 2 The Legislative Branch Congress – the Senate and the House of Representatives Writes bills to become laws Congress can force a bill into law with 2/3 a vote to override the Presidential veto Can declare war Can levy taxes Confirms or rejects presidential appointments Propose Constitution amendments May impeach Supreme Court Justices or President May reject appointments to the Supreme Court May withhold funding for presidential initiative

Article 3 The Judicial Branch Supreme Court – 1 Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices Review the laws and determines if laws are unconstitutional Interprets the Constitution Review lower-court decisions Rules in court cases of impeachment Can declare executive actions are unconstitutional

Other Articles and Amendments Article 4 – the States: Creates rules for states to get along with other states, guarantees to states, admitting states to the Union “All powers not assigned to the federal government are assumed by the states and the people” Article 5 – Amendment: How to add amendments to the Constitution Article 6 – Debts, Supremacy, and Oaths: The Constitution is the highest law of the land Article 7 – Ratification/Signatories: The Constitution became effective when 9 out of 13 states approved it Lastly, the 27 Amendments to the Constitution

Principles of the Constitution Popular Sovereignty: People have the right to rule themselves and make decisions based on voting. Majority rules, elections and the republican clause. Federalism: Government is divided into levels and the federal government is highest followed by the states and then local governments, state-national power. Separation of Powers, The government is divided into three branches at every level -Articles I, II, III Checks and Balances: Each branch of government has power over the other branches Limited Government: Bill of Rights, Constitution - the distinction between enumerated and restricted powers.