1. Let’s get Started!
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Federalist
Anti- Federalist

2. The United State Constitution and Its Parts

3. What does our Constitution represent?
Our system of government
Basic beliefs and ideals

4. Breakdown of the Constitution
3 Main Components
Preamble– Why the Constitution was written
7 Articles– Explain how the gov’t is to work
27 Amendments– changes made to the Constitution

6. Preamble – Purposes of Government
To form a more perfect union
Establish Justice
Ensure domestic tranquility
Provide for common defense
Promote the general welfare
Secure liberty

7. Articles Article I – Legislative Branch Article II – Executive Branch
Makes the laws
Article II – Executive Branch
Enforces the laws
Article III – Judicial Branch
Interprets the laws
Establishes the US Supreme Court

8. Articles continued… Article IV – Relations Among States
Requires that states give citizens from other states the same rights as its own
How to admit new states
National government will protect states
Article V – Amendment Process
Explains the different processes for amending (changing) the Constitution

9. Articles continued… Article VI – National Supremacy
Contains the “supremacy clause” – establishes that the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and treaties are the “Supreme Law of the Land”
Article VII – Ratification
Addresses approval of the Constitution and that it would take effect after 9 states ratified, or approved, it

10. Basic Principles of the Constitution

11. Popular Sovereignty Popular = people
Sovereignty = right or power to rule
Popular sovereignty = People should have the right and the power to rule themselves

12. How was popular sovereignty portrayed by...
English citizens?
Magna Carta
Glorious Revolution
Parliament made up of representatives that the people elected

13. How was popular sovereignty portrayed by...
Colonist in America?
Mayflower Compact
Colonial governments
VA House of Burgesses
Town meetings
Declaration of Independence

14. How was popular sovereignty portrayed by...
Writers/ Framers of the Constitution?
“We the People…”
Gov’t must always reflect the will of the people (the majority)
Will of people expressed through elections

15. The Principle of Limited Government
Writers of the Constitution wanted the government strong but not to strong
The Constitution tells what the government may and may not do
Rule of law means the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

16. Federalism
Federalism- the distribution of power in a government between the federal authority and the states
Shared power between federal gov’t and state gov’t

17. Separation of Powers
Framers of the Constitution wanted to make sure that no one person or group had too much power
Montesquieu gave the idea to clearly separate the 3 branches of government
Legislative, Executive, Judicial

18. Checks and Balances
The system of checks and balances allows each branch to check or limit the power of the other branches

19. What happens if there is a conflict between federal and state authority?
Supremacy clause- The Constitution and the laws of the national government are the “supreme law of the land”.

20. Can the Constitution be changed. YES
Can the Constitution be changed? YES! Amendment- Any change to the Constitution

21. Amendment Process Step 1: The Amendment Proposal (2 ways)
The Amendment is proposed by a 2/3 vote in each house of Congress
The Amendment is proposed by a national convention, called by congress, at the request of 2/3 of the state legislatures

22. Amendment Process continued…
Step 2: Ratification (2 ways)
The Amendment is passed by ¾ of the state legislatures
The Amendment is passed by ¾ of the state conventions