1. United States Constitution

3. History of the Constitution
1776: Colonies declared independence from Great Britain
: Colonies needed a plan for unity to grow and prosper
March 1, 1781: Colonies governed by Articles of Confederation. 1st Constitution.
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the “Declaration of Independence”

4. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…

5. “Father of the Constitution”
Constitutional Conventions
May of 1787: delegates from each state met to write a new Constitution.
Debates involved important issues:
states’ rights
individual rights
the power of the national government
A compromise was made and the result became the “law of the land,” the U.S. Constitution.
Constitutional History Timeline
James Madison
“Father of the Constitution”

6. Preamble of the U.S. Constitution
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. 3 Branches Article One: The Legislative Branch
Why is this one first?
Duty of Legislative Branch is to make the laws
Explicit limits on what Congress can do
Constitutional limits
Presidential veto
Judicial review
States’ rights
How is Congress elected?
House – proportionate representation
Senate – two from each state

8. Wanna be a Congressperson?
Who can be a Congressperson?
House:
Citizen of the state you represent
United States citizen for 7 years
25 years old
Senate:
United States citizen for 9 years
30 years old

9. Article Two: The Executive Branch
The President of the United States
And the Vice President
And the Cabinet
And the military
Duty of this branch is to enforce the laws passed by Congress
Express powers include:
Commanding the armed forces
Negotiating treaties
Nominating Supreme Court justices
So, you want to be President?
Natural born citizen of the United States
35 years old
Resident of the United States for 14 years

10. Article Three: The Judicial Branch
The duty of this branch is to interpret the laws.
Judges and justices have the power to declare laws or actions unconstitutional – this is pretty powerful stuff.
This is the shortest article: the framers spent little time on it.
So, you want to be a judge?
There are no requirements set out in the Constitution for being a judge!

11. Signer of the Constitution and Founding Father
Benjamin Franklin
Signer of the Constitution and Founding Father
The Bill of Rights:
Our Individual Freedoms
The first ten amendments to our Constitution are concerned with the following topics:
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition.
Right to keep and bear arms
Rights regarding the quartering of soldiers
Regulation of search and seizure
Protection of persons and their property
Rights of persons accused of crime
Right of trial by jury
Protection against excessive fines, bail, punishment
Guarantee of unspecified rights
Powers reserved to states and the people

12. Constitutional Safeguards
Separation of Powers
Each branch has a job
No one branch has all the power
Limits power of national government/leaders
Checks and Balances
Balance of power
Each branch has some oversight over another branch
Veto
Military/War/Appropriation
Court appointments
Judicial Review

13. September 17, 1787
The U.S. Constitution was signed by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention.

14. Limited vs. Unlimited Government
Democracy
Constitutional Monarchy
Communism
Dictatorship
Monarchy

15. Test yourself with these Constitution activities
Now, It’s Your Turn:
Test yourself with these Constitution activities
School House Rocks -
Constitutional Timeline:

16. Resources http://www.constitutioncenter.org/timeline/flash/cw.html