What is a constitution? The rules for government The highest law of the land

Structure Preamble – describes the purpose of the government being created.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, 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.

Structure Preamble Articles, Sections, Clauses

Structure Preamble Articles, Sections, Clauses Legislative branch (Congress) Executive branch (president) Judicial branch (Supreme Court) States Amending Miscellaneous, including Supremacy Clause Ratification

Structure Preamble Articles, Sections, Clauses Legislative branch (Congress) Executive branch (president) Judicial branch (Supreme Court) States Amending Miscellaneous, including Supremacy Clause Ratification Amendments Bill of Rights Civil War Amendments Eighteen and Twenty-one

Principles Separation of Powers Checks and Balances

Principles Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Federalism (Tenth Amendment)

Principles Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Federalism (Tenth Amendment) Limited Government

Principles Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Federalism (Tenth Amendment) Limited Government Popular Sovereignty Judicial Review Marbury v. Madison

Three Branches Legislative – decides what government does House of Representatives “voice of the people” directly elected short term of office (2 years) Senate represent states stability staggered, six-year terms

Three Branches Legislative Executive – does what the legislative branch decides “president” -> new concept designed to “check” legislative branch Judicial – clarifies what legislative decided, what the constitution means only Supreme Court described judicial review – power to declare acts of congress, the president and the states “unconstitutional”