1. The Constitution

2. Origins Ancient Greek and Roman origins representative democracy
balanced and limited government
John Locke and natural rights (ex. life, liberty, and the protection of property)
Montesquieu and separation of powers  each branch of government should have different roles

3. Why have a written constitution?
Americans felt that the British had wronged them, and wanted to make sure that the certain rights could not be changed or even taken away from them.
A written constitution was a way to outline all of the principles of government and the rights of the people, which could last for generations.

4. 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.

5. Organization
The Constitution is composed of seven parts, which are called articles. They are:
The Legislature (Congress)
The Executive (President)
The Judiciary (Court System, Supreme Court)
Relations Among States
Amending the Constitution
Supremacy of National Government
Ratification

6. Article I: The Legislature
TWO houses of government
Bicameral  2 houses
Unicameral  1 house
The Senate and The House of Representatives
Why are there two houses?

7. Total Members in Congress: 535 (or 541)
House of Representatives: 435 Senate: 100

8. Impact of Census Data

9. What are the requirements to be a U.S. Senator or Representative?

10. Representative Requirements
At least one Representative from each state; determined by population
Elected every two years
Must be at least 25 years old
Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years
Must live in the state you represent

11. Senator Requirements 2 Senators from each state
1/3 of the Senators are elected every other year (6 year terms)
Why would they do this?
Must be at least 30 years old
Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least nine years
Must live in the state you represent

12. Vice President and Officers
The members of the Senate and the House of Representatives elect their own officers.
The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate.
The leader of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House.

13. Powers of Congress According to Section 8, Congress has the power to:
collect taxes
spend for the general welfare
borrow money
regulate commerce among the states and between countries
regulate immigration
coin money
regulate mail
regulate patents and copyrights
declare war
raise and support military forces
establish federal courts
“necessary and proper clause”

14. Necessary and Proper Clause
“To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers.”
Also called the “elastic clause”
Gives Congress the power to make laws about topics that were not an issue when the constitution was written
Can you think of examples of this?

15. Powers Denied to Congress
Section 9 states that Congress cannot:
suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus
requires government to bring a prisoner to court and explain why they are being held
pass ex post facto laws
can not punish someone for a law that was passed after they did something
favor one state over another
grant titles of nobility
no one can be a King, Queen, etc.

16. Powers Denied to the States
The state governments can not pass any laws that are inconsistent with federal laws
example: marriage equality
States are not allowed to:
coin money
make treaties or alliances
tax other states
keep troops or engage in war

17. The Executive Branch
The President

18. Presidential Requirements
Must be born in the United States
Must be at least 35 years old
Must have lived in the United States for 14 years
22nd Amendment: 2-term limit
25th Amendment: If the President dies while in office, the Vice President takes over

19. Electoral College We do not directly elect the President.
Instead, voters select their choice for president on the ballot. Whichever candidate wins the majority vote in that state gains all of the electors for that state.
This approach is called Winner Take All.

20. 2016 Presidential Election Results
What might be the benefits of a Winner Take All system?

21. Powers of the President
Some of the power of the President include:
nominate judges to the Supreme Court
pardon criminals who have broken the law
makes treaties with other countries
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
can create a Cabinet of advisors
can veto legislation passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives

22. Limits to the Executive
Veto can be overridden if 2/3rd of the Senate and the House of Representatives agree
Congress can impeach the president due to misconduct, and remove him or her from office
The House of Representatives can impeach, and the Senate holds a trial on the accusations
No President has been impeached AND removed from office.

23. The Judiciary
Supreme Court

24. Supreme Court Justice 9 justices Appointed by the President
one Chief Justice of the United States
eight associate justices
Appointed by the President
Appointed for life; no term limits
No age requirements

25. Powers of the Supreme Court
Highest Federal Court
Hears cases arise from the Constitution, federal laws, or treaties
Hears cases of appeal from all state courts or lower courts as needed
Judicial Review: power to determine if a law is constitutional or not

26. Limits to the Judiciary
Justices can only decide the cases that come before them and cannot act on their own
Justices can be removed from office or impeached for bad behavior.
Congress can pass an amendment to overturn a Supreme Court Decision.

27. Article IV: The States full faith and credit
requires each state to recognize the laws and court decisions of every other state
privileges and immunities
states cannot discriminate against citizens from other states
Congress can admit new states to the Union

28. Article V: How to Pass an Amendment
Step 1:Amendments must be proposed by 2/3rds of both houses.
Step 2: Amendment must be approved by 3/4ths of states.
Only 27 amendments have been proposed and approved.

29. Article VI: Supremacy of National Government
All debts from before the Constitution are still valid
The Constitution, all U. S. laws, and U.S. Treaties are to be the “Supreme Law of the Land”
No state or local law can go above national laws and treaties.
Layer Cake Analogy:
Frosting (on the top): Constitution
Top Layer: Federal/National Gov’t
Middle Layer: State Gov’t.
Bottom Layer: Local Gov’t

30. Article VII: Ratification
9 of the 13 states needed to ratify, or pass, the Constitution

31. Image Credits
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Andrew Johnson:
Bill Clinton: 
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