Understanding Words -Read each of the sentences on the left and right Understanding Words -Read each of the sentences on the left and right. -Decide what each underlined word means. -Write the underlined word in a sentence of your own. Cats, dogs and parrots are considered domestic pets. After a vicious beating of his wife, in the living room, the husband was charged with domestic violence. Shana sought tranquility by laying on her recliner after work. The sound of the ocean created a sense of total tranquility. After earning a college degree and passing the teacher’s exam the person was ordained a license to teach high school. The priest was ordained by the church leadership the right to supervise services on Sundays. The teacher established rules for students to follow. After John and Mary get married they want to establish a family of their own. Many people believed the rapist’s prison sentence of 25 years given by the judge was justice. Seeing the murderer executed by hanging made the victim’s family believe justice was finally served. Most fathers insure their families are taken care of. The Police help insure laws are obeyed.

NOW LET US LOOK AGAIN AT THE PREAMBLE “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Directions: Recreate the Preamble of the United States Constitution by rewriting the underlined goals into your own words.

The Constitution Goal 2.01

Getting the idea… The Constitution embodies the basic principles upon which the American democratic system of government is based. It reinforces the concept of federalism, a system of government in which power is shared between the national and state levels. National, or federal, authority outweighs state authority, but the state retain a range of powers.

The Preamble Introduces the document by explaining its principles and goals. These are: To form a more perfect Union Insure domestic tranquility Provide for the common defense Promote the general welfare Secure the blessings of liberty These sum up the “Purpose of the American Government”

The Constitution assumes the principle of Popular Sovereignty, meaning the “authority of the people.” This principle says that government power lies with those who consent to being governed. It also ensures limited government . Limited Government: The framers of the Constitution were afraid if they gave too much power to a central government the people of the United States would be in the same position they were with Great Britain.

Powers of the Government Enumerated Powers Power specifically given to the national government Power to Coin Money Regulate Trade Oversee nation’s defense Concurrent Powers Powers shared by both the state and national government Establish courts Enforce laws Collect taxes Borrow Money Reserved Powers Powers retained to only the states Conduct Elections Regulate trade within the state Establish Local Government

The Clauses…………. Article I Section 8: The Elastic Clause Gives Congress flexibility to “make all laws that shall be necessary and proper” for executing all the powers of government. Gives congress implied powers, powers not specifically stated in the Constitution. Expressed powers, powers specifically assigned to the federal government. Article IV Section 1: The full faith and credit clause Requires that each state recognizes the laws, court decisions, and records of the other states. i.e. Marriage. Article VI, Section 2: The Supremacy Clause Places the authority of the federal Constitution over state laws and constitutions.

Amendments… The Constitution was drafted with built-in flexibility that would allow it to be changed as the circumstances demand. There are 27 Amendments (changes) to the Constitution. Article V (5) spells out how the Constitution can be amended. The Constitution typically has been amended 1st way- by the approval of 2/3 of both houses of Congress and then approval by ¾ of states legislatures 2nd way- ¾ of special state constitutional conventions

Separation of Powers… Drawing on the philosophy of Montesquieu. The Constitution provides for a separation of powers into three branches of the federal government. The Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branch. Legislative Branch ~ Structure ~ Function Executive Branch ~ Structure ~ Function Judicial Branch ~ Structure ~ Function