1. Quick and Painless! Or maybe long and painful?
Constitution Notes
Quick and Painless!
Or maybe long and painful?

2. The US Constitution was written by infallible people, from all walks of life, who knew everything about the future of the country and the world, and who possessed perfect answers to all of life’s problems.

3. The world never changes, our country is exactly the same today as it was when it was founded, people never get smarter, no one knows any more today than the first humans who existed nearly 200,000 years ago.

4. True or False?
Why am I asking you this seemingly stupid question?

5. Supreme law of the land!

6. Adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Congress in Philly. The main author was James Madison After ratification in eleven states (only needed nine) it went into effect on March 4, 1789.

7. The Preamble of the Constitution
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The purpose of the Preamble was simply to explain why they were creating a national government.

9. Articles I, II, and III…

10. Checks and balances! Separation of Powers Legislative Executive
Congress: House of Reps. & Senate
Executive
President and the President’s peoples
Judicial
The Supreme Court and so on
Checks and balances!

11. Separation of Powers Legislative – makes laws
Senate: 2 from each state
6-year term
House of Representatives: based on population
2-year term
(5 slaves count as 3 people: Compromise!)
Bicameral legislature
(compromise due to conflict over representation)
Implied v. Direct powers
Direct = Declare war, Ability to tax, etc.
Implied = Set a minimum wage, etc.

12. The Necessary and Proper Clause
Also known as “The Elastic Clause”
Congress (Legislative branch) shall have power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper

13. Separation of Powers Executive – enforces laws
Chief executive: President
4-year term
Elected by the Electoral College
Must be a “natural born citizen” (born in the US)
Commander-in-chief
President’s cabinet
Law enforcement: FBI

14. Separation of Powers Judicial – interprets laws and provides trials
Supreme Court: states whether laws are constitutional
9 Supreme Court Justices
Life-long term
Appointed by President
Appellate court: hears appeals from district courts
District court: tries people who break federal laws

15. Articles I, II, and III, STOP!

17. Federalism
Authority is divided between a central governing authority and constituent political units (such as states or provinces).
Remember the circles?

18. Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
Federalists wanted a strong national government
Anti-Federalists were afraid of giving the national government too much power

20. Judicial Review
Legislative and executive actions are subject to review (and possible invalidation) by the judiciary
In other words, the courts can decide whether or not the government’s actions are constitutional
Established in Marbury v. Madison

22. Limited Government
The national government is only allowed the powers given to it by the Constitution; not supreme power
Intervention in personal liberties and the economy is supposed to be minimal

24. Popular Sovereignty “We the people…” !
Government is legitimate only so far as it is supported by the consent of “the people”
“The people” are the source of all political power
Of course, at the time, “the people” excluded most of the population, such as women, African Americans, Native Americans, those lacking sufficient property, and children. But we have come a long way since then!!!

26. Article V: Amendments!
Additions and alterations can be made to the Constitution

27. Upcoming: The Bill of Rights
After much debate, the compromise that finally resulted in the Anti-Federalists going along with the ratification of the Constitution was the promise to add a Bill of Rights.