1. American Constitution
US Constitution
a ‘codified constitution’…set out in a document (written, yo)
….the supreme law of the United States of America….
Principles:
popular sovereignty
limited government
separation of powers
federalism
Why?
Articles of Confederation,
weak unicameral legislature
weak central government
Congress with no power to tax
reflected outcomes of Revolutionary War
Constitutional Convention, 1787 – Philadelphia, PA
Virginia Plan
bicameral legislature passed on population
more power for federal government
Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
Bill of Rights?
James Madison
Father of the Constitution
4th President of USA

2. Structure of US Constitution
Preamble
Statement of Purpose
Articles:
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Relations Among States
Amendment Process
2/3 of Senate and House
2/3 of States
Federal Power
Supremacy Law (Federal over State)
Ratification
¾ of state legislature or by conventions of ¾ of state
Amendments:
27 in total
first ten amendments are the Bill of Rights

3. Important Amendments
Bill of Rights
Freedom of religion, of speech, of press, to assemble, to petition
Right to bear arms
No quartering of soldiers
No unrealizable search and seizure
Indictments; Due process; Self-incrimination; Double jeopardy, etc.
Right to a fair trial, right to counsel, etc
Right to trial by jury in civil cases
Ne excessive bail, ….cruel or unusual punishment
There are other rights no written in the constitution
All rights not given to federal gov’t belong to state rights
Other Amendments:
13th Amendment – abolition of slavery
18th Amendment – prohibition of alcohol (then, see 21st Amendment….)
19th Amendment – women’s suffrage
22nd Amendment –presidential term limit
26th Amendment – lowers voting age to 18