1. “We the People of the United States…”
The U.S. Constitution
“We the People of the United States…”

2. Preamble We the people of the United States
In order to form a more perfect union
Establish justice
Ensure 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

3. Principles of the Constitution
Popular Sovereignty
“people rule”
Government gets its power from the people (aka “consent of the governed”)
Limited Government/Rule of Law
citizens are governed by the law and institutions, not individuals. The law supersedes all else and is intended to be constant, predictable, and just.
Restraining the power of the national government
like Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights in England

4. Principles of the Constitution
Separation of Powers
Dividing the powers of the national government into three branches
Checks & Balances
Giving each branch a way to “check up” on the other two branches

5. Principles of the Constitution
Federalism
Dividing and sharing powers between the federal government and the states
Judicial Review
Power of the Supreme Court to declare actions of Congress or President unconstitutional
Established in Marbury v. Madison

6. Structure of the U.S. Government

7. Structure of the Constitution
Article I: Legislative Branch
Article II: Executive Branch
Article III: Judicial Branch
Article IV: relationship between the states
Article V: Amendment process
Article VI: Supremacy of the national gov’t
Article VII: Ratification of the Constitution

8. Cabinet EXECUTIVE BRANCH JUDICIAL BRANCH Enforces the laws
What (Job):
Enforces the laws
Makes the Laws
Interprets the Laws
Elected By:
Electoral College
people
Appointed By: President
Approved By: Senate
Term: ___4____ years
Term Limit: _2 (22nd Amendment)
Minimum Age: __35___
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Term: __LIFE___
SENATE
15 Executive Departments
known as:
Cabinet
SUPREME COURT
9 Justices
13 Circuit Courts of Appeals
hear cases on appeal from District Courts
Term: years
Term Limit: __none__
Minimum Age: _25__
Members
Based on:
population
Members
2 per state
Term: years
Term Limit: None
Minimum Age: 30
Who:
President, VP, and Cabinet
Congress
Supreme Court & FederalCourts
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
originally: St. Gov’t
17th Amendment: people
91 Federal
District Courts
federal trial courts

9. Separation of Powers & Checks and Balances

10. SEPARATION of POWERS LEGISLATIVE BRANCH JUDICIAL BRANCH
impeach the president
pass laws over the president’s veto (override) by 2/3 majority vote of both houses
confirm/reject appointments made by the president
propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution
declare war
ratify treaties
appropriate federal funds
collect taxes
regulate interstate commerce
JUDICIAL BRANCH
overrule decisions made by lower courts
declare acts of Congress to be unconstitutional
declare actions of the executive branch unconstitutional
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
appoint federal court judges
veto bills passed by Congress
establish treaties with other countries
can pardon convicted criminals

11. judicial Checks and Balances LEGISLATIVE executive BRANCH
Who: President, VP, Cabinet
Job: Carries out the Laws
judicial
Who: Supreme Court and Lower Federal Courts
Job: Interprets the Laws
Who: Congress
Job: Make laws
LEGISLATIVE
Override veto
Propose amendments
Impeach the president
Approve court appointments
Confirm/Reject appointments
Regulate interstate trade
Creates lower federal courts
Ratify treaties
Impeach & remove judges
Declare war
Veto bills
Appropriate money
Negotiate
treaties
Call special sessions of Congress
Judicial Review
Make appointments
Appoint judges
Pardon convicted criminals
Judicial Review

12. Let’s Practice!

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