1. U1C3: The Constitution
Civics

2. Essential Questions
1. How does the U.S. Constitution structure government and divide power between the national and state governments? 2. Why and how has the U.S. Constitution been amended and interpreted throughout our history? 3. How do state constitutions and local charters structure government and protect individual rights?

3. 3.1 A Blueprint for Government
The Constitution establishes 6 goals for the U.S. government to meet
The Constitution outlines 6 basic principles of U.S. government and a system that safely and fairly distributes and balances power
Under the Constitution the powers of government are limited in order to protect individual rights.
The Constitution divides the powers of government among 3 separate branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The Constitution includes checks on and balances of government power to prevent any one branch of government from overpowering the others.

4. 3.2 An Enduring Document
The Constitution is an enduring document that has the ability to grow and change over time.
The Constitution includes a formal process for adding amendments to the Constitution.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.

5. 3.3 Applying the Constitution
Over time, the three branches of government-legislative, executive, and judicial-have expanded the scope and application of the Constitution.
Political parties, customs, and traditions have affected how the Constitution is applied and carried out.
Political scholars have debated what some see as disadvantages of the framework of government established by the Constitution.

6. 6 Goals form a more perfect union establish justice
ensure domestic tranquility
provide for the common defense
promote the general welfare
secure the blessings of liberty
Strengthen the relationship among the states as part of a union and between the states and the national government as part of a new federal system
Provide laws that are reasonable, fair, and impartial and make sure that the administration of those laws is also reasonable, fair, and impartial
Keep peace and maintain order within the country
Defend the nation against foreign enemies
Allow all states and citizens to benefit militarily and economically from the protection of a strong national government
Protect the liberties recently won in the American Revolution and prreserve them for the generations to come

7. 6 Principles popular sovereignty limited government
separation of powers
checks and balances
judicial review
federalism
The people establish government and are the source of its power.
Government powers are restricted to protect individual rights.
The power to govern is divided among executive, legislative, and judicial branches to prevent the concentration and abuse of power by any one brance
Each branch of government has the authority to check, or restrain, some powers of the other two branches
The judiciary has the power to strike down laws and other government actions as invalid under the Constitution
The rights of the states are protected by dividing powers between the national govenrment and the state governments

8. Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances: Legislative (makes laws)
Executive
Judicial
Can veto acts of congress
Can call special sessions of congress
Can suggest laws and send messages to Congress
Can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional through the power of judicial review

9. Separation of Powers: Executive (carries out laws)
Legislative
Judicial
Can impeach and remove the president
Can override veto
Controls spending of money
The senate approves or rejects certain presidential nominations
The senate must ratify all formal U.S. treaties
Can declare executive acts unconstitutional
Judges are appointed for life and are free from executive control

10. Separation of Powers: Judicial (interprets laws)
Executive
Legislative
Appoints federal judges
Can grant reprieves and pardons for federal crimes
can impeach and remove federal judges
Establishes lower federal courts