1. Topic 3 The Constitution

2. An Outline of the Constitution
Constitution creates the U.S. government
The Constitution is a fairly brief document
Organization of Constitution
_____________ (intro)
7 _____________ (sections)
27 _____________ (changes)

3. Basic Principles of Constitution
Popular sovereignty - people are the source of any and all government power, and government can exist only with the consent of the governed
Limited government - states that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take away, “Congress shall make no law…”
Constitutionalism
Rule of Law
Separation of powers - executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government are three independent and coequal branches of government

4. Basic Principles of Constitution
Checks and balances - the system that allows the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to check, or restrain, the actions of one another
Judicial review - consists of the power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action
Federalism - a system of government in which the powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments
Republicanism - (indirect democracy) the will of the people governs through elected officials

5. Collectively, the first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights
Collectively, the first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. They set out many of our basic freedoms.

7. Formal vs. Informal Amendments
Informal amendment is the process by which over time many changes have been made in the Constitution which have not involved any changes in its written word.

8. Informal Amendments
Basic Legislation laws passed by Congress add flesh to the bones of the Constitution
Creation of Inferior Courts
Presidential Succession Act
Executive Action Presidents acting based on their own view of executive power
Executive agreements
Louisiana Purchase
Court Decisions Court decisions that clarify the meaning of the Constitution
1st Amendment – what exactly does free speech mean

9. Informal Amendments
Political Party Practices Things done by political parties today that you cannot find in the Constitution
Nominating candidates for office
Organization of Congress
Electoral College “rubber stamp”
Custom/Tradition Things that can’t be found in the Constitution, but developed over time
President’s Cabinet
2 term tradition

10. Through the 240 year history of the Constitution,
have there been more FORMAL AMENDMENTS or
INFORMAL AMENDMENTS?

11. Reminders
C.A.P.s due NEXT FRIDAY
LOQ this Thursday
Test NEXT FRIDAY