1. Constitution- “Cheat Sheet”
Principles of the constitution
Article I: Legislative Branch
“Quiz”
HW: Due Friday- 7 Hats of the President…

2. Following the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked, What have you wrought”.
Franklin answered, “A
Republic, if you can keep it”
Who are “YOU”?
What did Franklin mean?

3. Limited Government Power
the Constitution describes the specific powers and limits on power given to the national and state governments

4. Separation of Powers:
The Constitution creates three separate branches of government: the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial

5. Checks and Balances:
The Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances to prevent one branch from dominating the others. Each branch can “check” the power of the other two

6. Federalism-
The Constitution divides power between the national and state governments

7. Flexibility-
The Constitution leaves room for interpretation and allows the government powers that are not specifically granted it. The Amendment process allows future generations to change the document to suit their needs.

8. the source of all power or authority to govern is the people
Popular Sovereignty:
the source of all power or authority to govern is the people
“We the people”…..

9. The 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 ...

11. Legislative Branch
MAIN JOB/ ROLE IN GOVERNMENT:
WRITES THE LAWS

12. The Legislative Branch is called CONGRESS

13. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES-
Paul Tonko-Democrat
2009- present
435 MEMBERS,
(originally just 65)
BASED ON POPULATION
PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MOST CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THE PEOPLE:
Every member has to run every two years
In original Constitution, only part of government that citizens directly voted for
MOST “DEMOCRATIC” PART OF GOV’T

15. Approximately every 700,000 Americans have one representative in the House of Representatives

16. 100 MEMBERS: TWO PER STATE SENATE: MORE “STABLE” HOUSE OF CONGRESS
1/3 of Senators run every 6 years
Originally, appointed by state governments
Kristen Gillibrand-
Democrat
House- 2007
Appointed to Senate-
2009
Elected 2012
Chuck Schumer-
Democrat
House
1999- present
(re-elected 2004,
2010)

17. CONGRESS
PRESIDENT
THE SUPREME
COURT
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
SENATE
The STATE GOVERNMENT
VOTERS
The PEOPLE

18. How a Bill becomes a law
A “bill”, or a proposed law, must pass both houses of Congress with over 50% voting for it
It then goes to the President, who signs it into law or vetoes it
If vetoed, Congress can override the veto with 2/3 majority in both houses

19. KEY POWERS: (DELEGATED POWERS)
Taxation
Can borrow Money
Regulate (make rules for) foreign and interstate commerce
Naturalization (Immigration) laws
Copyrights and Patents
Declaring war/ regulating the military
Print/ coin money

20. ****Elastic clause****
“Congress has the power to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers”
The first 17 clauses grant Congress very specific powers. This final clause allows the government to
S-T-R-E-T-C-H its powers and do things not specifically listed if they are “necessary and proper”

21. POWERS DENIED TO CONGRESS:
Can’t suspend habeas corpus- right of prisoners to challenge imprisonment in court
GOV’T has to bring charges

22. POWERS DENIED TO THE STATES:
States cannot make treaties with other nations
Creating their own money
Tax imports to the state
Maintain an army

23. KEY CHECKS ON EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Override a presidential veto with 2/3 vote
Approves or rejects Presidential treaties or appointments
Impeach (bring charges against) and try (judge whether he is guilty) the President

24. KEY CHECKS ON JUDICIAL BRANCH
Approves or rejects nominations for federal judges
Creates the court system
Can remove judges through impeachment

25. Article 1 (Legislative Branch) Quiz Please answer on any sheet of paper:
If the President vetoes a bill, how can it still become law?
Which part of the federal government is most “democratic” (most closely connected to “the people”?) How so?
Name 3 powers given to Congress in the Constitution.
Why is the “necessary and proper” clause called the elastic clause?
Congress may not suspend “habeas corpus”? What does that mean?

26. Executive Branch- The President
PRESIDENT Chosen by the ELECTORAL COLLEGE (NOT BY POPULAR VOTE)
Each state has an election; the winner of that state gets all its “electoral votes”

28. Electoral College- 2000 election

29. MAIN ROLE IN GOVERNMENT:
Enforce (“execute”) the law

31. Key Words:
Cabinet- President’s advisors; heads of executive departments
Veto- saying “no” to a law passed by Congress
Electoral College- system of electing our president- not by popular vote

32. CHECKS BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH:
KEY CHECKS ON LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
KEY CHECKS ON JUDICIAL BRANCH
Can veto bills passed by Congress
Appoints judges when there is a vacancy
Can grant presidential pardons (forgiveness of a crime)

33. JUDICIAL BRANCH MAIN JOB/ ROLE IN GOVERNMENT
INTERPRET THE CONSTITUTION
Lower federal courts- hear federal trials
Supreme Court hears issues of Constitutional interpretation

34. SUPREME COURT 9 justices
Appointed by the President; approved by Congress
“independent judiciary”- SERVE FOR LIFE

35. JUDICIAL REVIEW- KEY CHECKS ON OTHER BRANCHES
COURT CAN DECLARE LAWS PASSED BY CONGRESS AND PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL
KEY CHECKS ON LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
JUDICIAL REVIEW: can declare a law passed by Congress unconstitutional if challenged in court
KEY CHECKS ON EXECUTIVE BRANCH
 JUDICIAL REVIEW: can declare an executive action/ order unconstitutional
 Justices appointed for LIFE

36. LIMITED GOVERNMENT A B F G H Separation of powers/ Checks and Balances
A B G I L
federalism
B F K
Popular Sovereignty
C E H
Flexibility
D J
Limi