Warm-Up (12/4) Directions: Pick up the page from the side table and answer the following question in the space up at the top: Imagine you are forming your own government. What are the things that you would want to include as responsibilities of the government? What would your government be like?

The Constitution and Preamble Objective: SWBAT explain and analyze the purpose of government stated in the Preamble to the Constitution Guiding Question: What should we count on the U.S. government to do for us? The Constitution and Preamble

The Preamble [Intro] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKPmobWNJaU

“In order to form a more perfect union” This means that one purpose of the Constitution is design a better government. Efficiency

“Establish justice” This means that there will be equality under the law, so that no one will be unfairly treated. Equality

“Ensure domestic tranquility” This means to make sure that there is peace amongst the citizens and to make sure that things run smoothly Security and Efficiency Domestic means “at home” Tranquility means “peaceful”

“Provide for the common defense” This means to protect the citizens from harm that could come from outside the country. Security

“Promote the general welfare” This means to make social policies that are good for the country as a whole and to take care of peoples’ needs. Equality

“Secure the blessings of liberty, to both ourselves and our posterity” This means to make sure that future generations enjoy the same rights and freedom that we have. Liberty Posterity means “generations after us”

Exit Ticket: Analyze What are two goals (of the Preamble) that the government does well? What are two goals that the government does not do well? Your response MUST be supported with explanation, evidence, and REASONING.

http://www. youtube. com/watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBuPQgV8yBM&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

US Constitution

Limiting the U.S. Government 1787 – Constitutional Convention meets to create the government we have today. In the United States our government is considered a limited government. It is limited by the restrictions placed on it by our United States Constitution. Authored by James Madison

Important Ideas the founding fathers wanted to include: 1) Popular Sovereignty (majority rule) 2) Republicanism (elect representatives) 3) Federalism (share of powers between STATE and FEDERAL government) 4) Separation of Powers (no one part too strong) 5) Checks and balances (each branch can overrule another) 6) Limited Government 7) Individual Rights (of the people)

Principles of the Constitution

Sovereignty = power, control, or rule Popular Sovereignty a government receives its authority from the people. A government cannot rule without the people’s consent Popular = the people Sovereignty = power, control, or rule

Republicanism The concept of representative government. A form of government where the people rule through elected representatives.

Federalism Federalism is the division of power between the state governments and the national, federal government. Why doesn’t the national government have all the power? What are some of the benefits of dividing and sharing the Powers between the governments of the states and nation?

Individual Rights Rights that the government is obligated to protect. These protections are provided by various amendments to the US and Texas Constitutions. Belief comes out of: John Locke Baron de Montesquieu English Bill of Rights (1688) Gave people more power Took power from the King BILL OF RIGHTS!!!

Separation of Powers Separation of powers is the division of government into 3 branches-the executive, legislative and judicial, --with each branch having different powers and responsibilities.

To ensure that the government was not too powerful, the Constitution divided the government into three separate branches Legislative Executive Judicial

Checks and Balances Each branch has the ability to check or, control, the power of the other two branches.

Article I Establishes Bi-Cameral Legislature (lawmaking branch) and Powers Power to tax Power to make laws Power to wage war

Plans for Representatives: Virginia Plan – proposal by James Madison, pushed for a proportional legislature where representatives were determined by population New Jersey Plan – proposed a one house legislature where every state received one vote.

Great Compromise The Great Compromise – proposal by Roger Sherman for a two house legislature. The lower house, House of Representatives, the number of seats for each state would vary based on population. The upper house, the Senate, each state would have two representatives.

The Three-Fifths Compromise - The issue of how the slaves would count towards representation in this new constitution. Southerners wanted slaves to count towards the population in order to gain delegates in the house of Representatives. Northerners argued that enslaved persons should be counted for taxation but not representation, since they were usually thought of as property. A compromise will be made to count the slaves as 3/5 of a person for both taxation and representation purposes.

Article II Establishes President and powers Veto power Commander in chief *Determined by Electoral College KA

Article III Establishes Judiciary (court system) and powers Supreme Court (highest court) Hear cases when laws broken Decides if law is “Constitutional”

Article IV Assurance of Rights Rules for statehood Guarantee states get rights

¾ of the States Article V 2/3 of House and Senate + How to make changes Requirements for amendments 2/3 of House and Senate + ¾ of the States

Article VI Constitution is Supreme Law No other laws made are higher than Constitution Laws must be “Constitutional”

Article VII What’s needed to put in place Requirements for implementation Article VII