1. Quiz-Open book quiz chapter 3 section 1 and 2

2. The Parts of the Constitution
The main purpose of the United States Constitution is to provide a plan of government.
The Constitution is the highest authority in the nation
It is a symbol of our nation and represents the United States system of government
It stands for our basic ideals such as personal liberty and democracy

3. Preamble Is the introduction
It states the goals and purposes of the government

4. Articles They are the main parts-there are seven
Describe the way the government is set up

5. There are 27 amendments
Amendment=additions and changes to the Constitution

6. The Constitution Is brief Contains less then 7,000 words
It does not go into a lot of detail
It is flexible

7. Preamble “To form a more perfect union”
Summary: to unite the states together so they can act as a single nation, for the good of all

8. “To establish justice”
Summary: to create a system of fair laws and courts and make certain that all citizens are treated equally

9. “to insure domestic tranquility”
Summary: provide peace and order, keeping citizens and their property from harm

10. “provide for the common defense”
Summary: to be ready militarily to protect the country and its citizens from outside attacks

11. “to promote general welfare”
Summary: to help people live happy, healthy, and prosperous (successful) lives

12. “To Secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity
Summary: to guarantee the freedom and basic rights of all Americans, including future generations

13. The Seven Articles
Article I- set up the legislative branch-congress would have two houses (House of Rep and Senate)
Article II-Set up executive branch-law enforcing branch headed by president-tells how leaders are to be elected-lists presidents powers
Article III-sets up the judicial branch-interprets the law-describes what kind of cases the court could hear-established a supreme court

14. Article IV-explains relationship between state and national governments
Article V- describes how the Constitution can be changed
Article VI-claims the constitution is the supreme law of the land
Article VII- describes how the Constitution was to be ratified

15. The Amendments
The amendments make up the last section of the constitution
There are 27 amendments
The first 10 amendments make up the Bill of Rights

16. Amending and Interpreting the Constitution
Any change made to the Constitution is called an amendment
Although thousands of amendments have been considered, only 27 have been amendments have been ratified
Why have so few been ratified?
The framers made the amendment process difficult
majority of people have to support the changes before it could be changed

17. How might our government be different if it could not be ratified?
The framers believed it was necessary to be able to change the Constitution with the changing social conditions
How might our government be different if it could not be ratified?
Enslaved people may have never gotten their freedom
African Americans may not have ever gotten the right to vote
Women would have never had the right to vote

18. Amending the Constitution
Step One: Proposed by:
A 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress Or
A constitutional convention called by Congress on petition of two thirds of the 50 states

19. Step Two: Ratified by: 3/4 of the 50 state legislature Or
3/4s of special constitutional conventions called by the 50 states

20. Amending the Constitution is a process made up of two steps
First an amendment is proposed then ratified
Official (formal) amendments are part of the Constitution
However there are certain actions taken by the president that have led to informal or unofficial changes
What is an example of an informal change in the Constitution?

21. Interpreting the Constitution
The writers of the Constitution knew that the world would change in ways that they could not predict
They attempted to keep the document as general as possible
They went into details about some things, but left other matters open for interpretation or explanation

22. Necessary and Proper Clause
Article I states Congress can make all laws that shall be necessary and proper to carry out its duties
allows Congress to use powers directly listed in the Constitution -these are the implied powers
Much of what the federal government does is based on implied powers

23. Loose Interpretation v Strict Interpretation
Loose Interpretation : Congress should be allowed to make any laws the Constitution does not forbid
Strict Interpretation: Congress should only make the kind of laws that are mentioned in the Constitution

24. The final authority for interpreting the Constitution is the Supreme Court
They interpret the Constitution in different ways. Sometimes strictly and sometimes loosely