Just a few more notes to finish up… The U. S. Constitution Just a few more notes to finish up…

The Constitution was finished and signed . . . On September 17, 1787.

Making Amendments… One of the things that makes the Constitution great is that it can be changed. This is called amending. There are a total of 27 amendments – changes or additions – to the Constitution.

The first 10 Amendments are called the Bill of Rights. These were added all at the same time only a few years after the Constitution was finished (1791).

You should know the First Amendment. This amendment gives you . . .

FREEDOM OF SPEECH . . . the freedom to talk about your ideas without getting punished, even if your ideas aren’t the same as the government’s ideas

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS . . . the freedom newspapers have to print the news, even if it’s bad news or if it criticizes the government

FREEDOM OF RELIGION . . . the freedom to worship any religion, not one that the government tells you to

RIGHT TO PETITION . . . the right sign any petition without the fear of being punished, even if that petition disagrees with the government’s ideas

RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE . . . the right to meet or to protest without fear of arrest, even if your protest is against the government.

How does an Amendment get added? Not Easy! To add an amendment to the Constitution, three “yes” votes are needed . . . 2/3 of the House of Representatives 2/3 of the U.S. Senate ¾ of the 50 states

SEPARATION OF POWERS CHECKS AND BALANCES Finally . . . The U.S. Constitution is a great document because of SEPARATION OF POWERS that allows for CHECKS AND BALANCES

The powers the government are split up among the different branches. Separation of Powers: The powers the government are split up among the different branches. This is different from a dictatorship which gives all of the power to just one person or branch.

For example . . . The President writes treaties, The Congress declares war, The courts decide on cases of treason. In a dictatorship, one person would have all of those powers.

Separation of Powers allows for Checks and Balances. Since all of the powers are split up, each branch can check up on the other ones and can balance out their powers. That keeps branches from becoming too powerful.

For example, the president is the commander-in-chief of the military, but he can’t become too powerful and fight wars anytime he wants because Congress is the one that declares war and writes the laws that organize the army and navy.

Can you think of another example of Separation of Powers that allows for Checks and Balances?

Here’s another example: The president and the judges can’t become too powerful because the House of Representatives can impeach them and the U.S. Senate can put them on trial.

And another one: Congress can’t become too powerful or pass bad laws because the president can veto their laws and the Supreme Court can do judicial review.

All of these pieces have made the Constitution great All of these pieces have made the Constitution great. After all, it’s lasted for almost 225 years . . .