The Supreme Law of the Land Chapter 5 Section 3 The Supreme Law of the Land

Goals of Our Government Constitution - begins with the Preamble, or introduction - Framers list six goals of our government “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, 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”

Goals of Our Government page 124 Six Goals 1. To Form a More Perfect Union 2. To Establish Justice 3. To Insure Domestic Tranquility 4. To Provide for the Common Defense 5. To Promote General Welfare 6. To Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and Our Posterity

The Articles Following the Preamble… - Articles (7 Parts) - divided into subsections called clauses - Amendments

In Groups… #1. - Read your Article (10-15 minutes) - List/outline important information #2. - Choose two group members to write your list on your paper (5 minutes) - take your seat #3. - Your group will separate (10-15 minutes) - Choose which Article each group member will go to – read/copy facts - Bring information back to your group #4. - Take turns discussing/making notes about what information you received (15-20 minutes)

The Articles Page 126 Article 1: The Legislative Branch - National Legislature- called the Congress of the United States - House of Representative - Senate - most important power- make laws -other powers… - coin money, declare war, regulate trade *Not all powers are listed. What is the elastic clause?

The Articles A Bill (proposed law) - must gain a majority vote in both houses of Congress before the President approves it - President signs the bill- becomes a law - President may veto, or reject, the bill - Congress can still pass as long as they vote again with majority

The Articles Page 126 Article 2: The Executive Branch - President - 4 year term (re-elected) - power to execute- or carry out laws - head of armed forces (does not declare war) - make treaties (has to be approved by Senate) - nominate judges (Senate can reject) - appoint ambassadors to foreign countries (Senate must approve) *How does the law-making process check the power of the legislative and executive branches of government?

The Articles Page 127 Article 3: The Judicial Branch - National Court (Supreme) - settle disputes between states - President nominates/Senate approves - judges serve for life - final say in all cases involving Constitution Article 4: The States - Each state must honor the laws of others

The Articles Article 5: Amending the Constitution - instructions for making amendments - 3/4ths of states must approve an amendment Article 6: The Supremacy of the Constitution - oath supporting Constitution as “supreme law of the land” - no state law may violate constitution - federal law takes priority Article 7: Ratification -procedure for approval of Constitution

Amendments to the Constitution Bill of Rights - First 10 Amendments (1791) - added in response to Anti-Federalists - seven other Amendments

Limited Government page 129 1. Federalism - division of power between the states and federal (national) government - concurrent powers- powers shared by the Federal and state governments - reserved powers- powers that the Constitution neither givers to Congress nor denies to the states *What benefits come from dividing power among the federal and state governments?

Limited Government Page 130 2. Separation of Powers - executive, legislative, judicial 3. Checks and Balances -limiting powers of branches