1. THE CONSTITUTION

2. Today’s Essential Question
How does the structure of the United States Constitution control the power of the government?

3. Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and Our Posterity
PREAMBLE
A preamble is an introduction. The introduction to the Constitution lists the goals of the Constitution (to solve problems under the Articles).
GOALS OF THE CONSTITUTION
Form a More Perfect Union
Establish Justice
Insure Domestic Tranquility
Provide for the Common Defense
Promote the General Welfare
Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and Our Posterity

4. Create Lower Federal Courts
ARTICLE I: LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CONGRESS (BICAMERAL) – PURPOSE = MAKE LAWS
MAJOR POWERS OF CONGRESS
Tax
Declare War
Raise/Maintain and Army
Regulate Interstate Trade
Tax Imports
Create Postal System
Coin Money
Create Lower Federal Courts
POWERS DENIED CONGRESS
Suspend Writ of Habeas Corpus
Pass Bills of Attainder
Ex Post Facto Law
Tax Exports
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Based on State Population
Directly Elected by People

5. ARTICLE II: EXECUTIVE BRANCH PRESIDENT: PURPOSE – ENFORCE THE LAW
ROLES OF THE PRESIDENT
Chief Executive
Commander-in-Chief
Legislative Leader
Judicial Leader
Chief of State
Foreign Policy Maker
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT
Enforce laws passed by Congress
Send troops into battle
Enter into Treaties
Appoint Federal Judges
Appoint Ambassadors
Grant Pardons - Reprieves

6. ARTICLE III: JUDICIAL BRANCH SUPREME COURT – PURPOSE – INTERPRET THE LAW
9 Justices – Appointed by the President
Justices serve life terms.
Supreme Court oversees actions of Congress and the President. Court uses the Constitution to make sure government actions are Constitutional.

7. Protect against invasion
ARTICLE IV: RELATIONS AMONG THE STATES This article establishes what the states agree to do for one another, and what the federal government will provide to each state. Called “Full Faith and Credit Clause”
STATE to STATE
Respect laws, contracts, etc..
Extradition – send criminal to stand trial in other states.
FEDERAL to STATE
Rules for admitting new states to the Union
Republican form of Government
Protect against invasion

8. ARTICLE V: AMENDMENTS PROCESS BY WHICH CHANGES CAN BE MADE TO THE CONSTITUTION

9. Methods of Proposal Method 1
By 2/3 vote in both the House and the Senate
[most common method of proposing an amendment]
Method 2
By national constitutional convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of the state legislatures
[This method has never been used]

10. Methods of Ratification
By legislatures in ¾ of the states
[in all but one case, this is how amendments have been ratified]
Method 2
Ratified through conventions in ¾ of the states.
[Only been used once to ratify the 21st Amendment]

11. ARTICLE VI: SUPREMACY OF NATIONAL LAW
All debts contracted under the Articles of Confederation will be honored by US Government
US Constitution, Federal Law, and Treaties are the Supreme Law of the Land (Supremacy Clause)
All Federal Public Officials will take an oath to protect and support the Constitution
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12. ARTICLE VII: RATIFICATION
For the Constitution to go into effect, it had to be ratified, or approved by 9 of 13 states.
RATIFICATION
9 of 13 STATES

13. What do you think the term living constitution means?

14. Summing Up...
How does the structure of the United States Constitution control the power of the government?