US Constitution Handbook

The constitution is a living document with timeless ideas and changes with the times. Preamble – opening words that state the purpose We The People ……..

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 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.

7 Principles of the Constitution 1. Popular sovereignty – people rule 2. Republicanism – people vote for representatives 3. federalism – power is shared between national and state government 4. separation of powers – government is divided into 3 branches 5. checks and balances – each branch of government has control over the other 6. limited government – ALL must obey laws – govt. is not ALL powerful 7. individual rights – all people have basic rights

7 Principles Popular Sovereignty Republicanism Federalism Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Limited Government Individual Rights

3 Branches of Government Legislative Executive Judicial Congress President Vice President Supreme Court SENATE House of Representatives JOBS = COMMAND MILITARY, MAKE TREATIES & FOREIGN POLICY AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP Federal Courts Equal representation # based on State population 2 per state JOB = INTERPRET LAWS JOB =ENFORCE LAWS JOB = MAKE LAWS

Article 1 – Section 2 House of Representatives Term is 2 yrs. – no term limits Number per state is based on state population (census every 10 years) Census = count There are currently 435 reps. Qualifications = at least 25 yrs. Old Citizen of the U.S. for 7 yrs Resident of the state that elects you Salary = $136,700

Article 1 – Section 3 Senate Term – 6 years Number per state = 2 (equal representation), currently 100 Qualifications: At least 30 years old Citizen for 9 years Resident of the state that elects you Salary $136,700 The Vice-President is the President of the Senate and ONLY votes in the case of a tie!

Article One (write on back of Senate notes) The power to declare war belongs to the Congress A quorum is a majority of the members of the House or Senate and is required if voting on a bill. If the President or a member of Congress is accused of wrongdoing, the House brings up the charges and the Senate acts as the jury

How a Bill Becomes a Law? Put these steps in order: Floor Action Final Approval Introduction Enactment Committee Action

How a Bill Becomes a Law? What is a Bill? Who introduces it? What is a veto? Is a veto final? How can a veto be overridden? Which house of the Legislative Branch is the only one who can introduce revenue (tax bills)?

Article 2 – The Executive Branch President and Vice President Main role is to enforce laws Terms = 4 yrs. (limit 2 terms) Chosen by electoral college – not a direct vote of the people. # of electors for a state = total # of senators and representatives. Ks. has 6 – see p. 256 Qualifications: 35 years old Natural born citizen US resident for 14 years

Article 2, continued Section 3 - Duties – State of the Union Address SALARY = $200,000 Benefits: Live in White House Vacations Use Air Force One $100,000 in travel expenses Section 2 – Powers Command Military Make treaties and appointments with Senate approval Convene (call together) Congress Section 3 - Duties – State of the Union Address Section 4 – Impeachment Treason Bribery Other high crimes Tried by the SENATE

Article 3 – The Judiciary Supreme Court – highest and most powerful court Other inferior (lower) federal courts Job – interpret (evaluate or make decisions about) laws Authority over all cases – Sec. 2 Original jurisdiction (they hear it first) Ex. Cases involving states or public officials OR Appellate = power to review lower court decisions (ex. Roe vs Wade)

Article 3 - continued Trial by jury in state crime is committed Section 3. defines treason – must have testimony of witnesses or confess Must be an open act of treason Punishment – Congress sets

Article 3 - continued Supreme Court qualifications: Appointed by President, approved by the Senate. Term = unlimited No age, residency or citizenship requirements

Article 4 Main idea – states must honor one another’s laws, records and court rulings. When you move from one state to another, your rights remain the same. New States may be admitted if approved by Congress.

Article 5 Main idea – The Constitution can be amended. It takes 2/3 of Congress or state legislatures to propose and ¾ of state legislatures to ratify (pass or approve) an amendment. (p. 263)

Article 6 Main idea: The Constitution, national laws and treaties are the supreme (highest) law of the land. All government officials must support them.

Article 7 9 of 13 states had to ratify (pass or approve) the Constitution before it could go into effect.

Amendments 1 – 10 = Bill of Rights 1st = Five freedoms…..freedom of 1. religion 2. speech 3. the press 4. of assembly 5. to petition

Bill of Rights, cont. 2nd – Right to bear arms 3rd – no soldier shall be quartered without consent of the owner 4th – right to privacy and ensures no unreasonable or illegal searches or seizures

Bill of Rights, cont. 5th – protects the rights of the accused 1. No person can be forced to testify against himself 2. No person can be found guilty of a crime without due process of law (fair treatment)

Bill of Rights, cont. 6th – Right to a speedy public trial. This led to the Miranda rights: Right to remain silent Anything you say can be used against you You have the right to an attorney

Bill of rights, cont. 7th – right to a trial by jury in civil cases – civil law = wrongs between people 8th – limits fines and punishments 9th – rights of people – simply to say that the rights included in the constitution are not the only rights we have 10th – Any powers not given to the national government by the Constitution are reserved for the states.

Other Important Amendments 12th – called for separate ballots for President and Vice-President 13th – Ended slavery in the United States (1865) 14th – Defined citizenship, promised equal protection of the laws (1868) 15th – Designed to protect African Americans right to vote (1870)

Other Imp. Amendments, cont. 16th – gave Congress the authority to collect income tax (1913) 18th – Prohibition (1919) prohibited alcohol production and consumption 21st – repealed Prohibition 19th – Gave women the right to vote – the BEST amendment…yeah!! (1920)

Other Important Amendments, cont. 20th - Lame Duck sessions – shortened the time before new officials take office – a lame duck is an elected official whose time in office ends soon. 22nd – Limited President’s terms to 2 24th – Abolished poll taxes – a poll tax was a fee paid to vote 26th – gave 18 yr. olds the right to vote

Teenage Bill of Rights Your assignment is to write a Teenage Bill of Rights. Here’s your chance to write down all the rights you WISH you had! Your bill of rights must have a least 10 rights.