The Constitution of the United States of America What is the importance of the Constitution? How does it affect your everyday life?

Today we will learn…. What is a Constitution Three Branches of Government Roles and Responsibilities Checks and Balances Role of the Federal Government Rights of the States Rights Granted to the People The Ways in Which all of These Interact to Affect Your Life

Write your definition of a constitution…

What is a Constitution? Webster’s defines a constitution as: the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people in it For the purpose of this unit: A constitution is a set of customs, traditions, rules, and laws that sets forth the basic way a government is organized and operated. Most constitutions are in writing, some are partly written and partly unwritten, and some are not written at all.

Purposes of the Constitution Met in Philadelphia in 1787 to ratify the Articles of Confederation Establish Legitimacy Create appropriate structures Allow for change

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

Qualifications to be in Congress Must be 30 years of age Must be a citizen for at least 9 years Must be a resident of the State of which they choose to represent Serve a six year term Must be 25 years of age Must be a citizen for at least 7 year Must be resident of the State of which they choose to represent Serve a two year term

House Representation The House takes the 435 representatives and divided them proportionally, according to the population taken from the census taken every 10 years, for the entire House of Representatives with each state having at least one representative

How House Representation Works If your school had 23 representatives you would have to split representation proportionally between all the grades. If your school had 2,300 students with 700 freshmen, 600 sophomores, 500 juniors, and 500 seniors representation would be split as 7 for the freshmen, 6 for the sophomores, and 5 for both the junior and senior class. The house of representatives works in a similar way…

Responsibilities of Congress Lay and Collect Taxes, Duties, and provide for the General Welfare Coin Money Establish and Maintain the Post Office Declare War Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States Begin and Prosecute Impeachment of the President

How does a Bill Become A Law It is written by a committee and then presented to Congress. Then each house votes on it. Usually making amendments to it that they see fit, some not always relating to the bill. Once it gets past the House and the Senate it is then sent to the President. The President can either sign the bill and make it law or veto it. If it is Vetoed it can either be ignored, revised by Congress and sent through the whole process again, or the Presidents veto can be overridden by a 2/3 majority vote.

Article II: The Executive Branch President and V.P. Must be a natural born citizen Must be at least 35 year old Must have lived in the United States for 14 years Is it fair to let only people who were born in the U.S. hold the position of President?

Powers of the President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Services Can have a cabinet of advisors that report directly to him/her Can grant Reprieves, delays on punishments, and Pardons, forgiveness of crimes, in all cases except impeachment Has the power to sign treaties, with 2/3 of the Senate’s approval Has the power to appoint ambassadors to foreign countries and Supreme Court Justices, with the approval of the Senate

How the Electoral College works The President and Vice-President are listed on the same ballot. Each State chooses electors for the college from each Political Party. Each state then has their citizens vote Whichever candidate gets the majority vote for that state gets to have their Party’s electors Vote, most of whom vote along party lines.

Originally this system was designed because the Founders didn’t have faith in the common man because most were uneducated. Do you think, since people are now more educated than they were at the time of the founding, that the electoral college system should stay in place or should the President be elected by popular (majority) vote of the citizens?

Article III: Supreme Court While the Legislature makes the Laws And the Executive Branch upholds those Laws The Judicial Branch has a much harder job… They must interpret the Law and overturn those laws and executive actions it deems unlawful or unconstitutional

What are Checks and Balances? Out of the Three Branches of the Federal Government which ONE is most Powerful? All of the Three Branches are kept equal by a system called CHECKS AND BALANCES!!!!!

Bill of Rights freedom of speech freedom of religion freedom of assembly freedom of press right to bear arms no quartering of troops no unlawful search and seizure right to trial by jury right to an attorney no cruel and unusual punishment the right to speedy trial

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