2. The United States Constitution
A More Perfect Union…..
The United States
Constitution

3. Defined………
The United States Constitution is the central instrument of government and the "supreme law of the land".  It is the oldest written Constitution in the world that is in force. Written in 1787, it was officially adopted in 1789. 

4. Preamble (introduction)

5. I. Popular Sovereignty The people hold the ultimate authority
A ____________ democracy lets the people elect leaders to make decisions for them.

6. II. Limited Government Framers wanted to guard against tyranny
Government is limited to the power given them in the Constitution.
The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed

7. III. Federalism
The division of power between State and National Governments
Some powers are shared
The National Government has the “supreme power”

8. IV. Separation of Powers
No one holds “too much” power
Legislative branch makes the ____
Executive branch carries out the ____
Judicial branch interprets the ____

9. Three Branches of Government

10. Legislative Branch Senate and _____ __ ____________ Make our laws
Appropriate Money
Regulate Immigration
Establish Post Offices and Roads
Regulate Interstate Commerce and Transportation
Declare _____

11. Executive Branch The President of the United States Chief Executive
Chief of State
Chief Legislator
Commander
in Chief

12. Judicial Branch ________ Court and other Federal Courts
Preserve and protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution
Considers cases involving national laws
Declares laws and acts “unconstitutional”

13. V. Checks and Balances Prevents the abuse of power in government
Each branch can check each other

14. Executive Checks Propose laws to Congress Veto laws made by Congress
Negotiate foreign ________
Appoint federal judges
Grant pardons to federal offenders

15. Legislative Checks Override president’s _______ Ratify treaties
Confirm executive appointments
_________ federal officers and judges
Create and dissolve lower federal courts

16. Judicial Checks Declare executive acts unconstitutional
Declare laws unconstitutional
Declare acts of Congress unconstitutional
The Supreme Court holds the final check

17. Bill of Rights Constitution constitute the Bill of Rights.
The first ten amendments to the
Constitution constitute the Bill of Rights.
These amendments were designed to
protect the basic rights and freedoms of “the people.”
The meanings and applications of these
rights have changed
over time as judicial interpretations of these freedoms have changed.

18. Other Amendments
The _______ Amendment (1865), barring slavery, and the _________ Amendment (1868), protecting the citizenship of African Americans, effectively overturned the Supreme Court. The ________ Amendment (1913) gave Congress the power to levy an income tax. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971) set the voting age at 18 years.