1. The U.S. Constitution CHAPTER 3 Section 1: Basic Principles
4/19/2017
CHAPTER 3
The U.S. Constitution
Section 1: Basic Principles
Section 2: Amending the Constitution
Section 3: A Flexible Document
Section 4: The Constitution and the Public Good
THE US CONSTITUTION

2. Section 1: Basic Principles
Objectives:
What are the five basic principles on which the U.S. Constitution is based?
How does the Constitution ensure the people’s authority over government?
How does the Constitution provide for a system of limited government?
In what way does the Constitution protect the rights of the states?

3. Section 1: Basic Principles
Basic principles which form the basis of the U.S. Constitution:
popular sovereignty
limited government
separation of powers
checks and balances
judicial review

4. Section 1: Basic Principles
How the Constitution ensures popular sovereignty:
All the power of the government resides in the people, exercised by elected representatives. (Aristotle)
Avoids aristocracy,monarchy and a direct democracy
“A republic if you can keep it.” - Ben Franklin

5. Section 1: Basic Principles
Ways the Constitution limits government:
Holds that government is not all powerful.
Government has authority because people give it
Federalism (local,state,national)
Change by electoral process
Referendum >
Initiative >
Petition >

6. Section 1: Basic Principles
Separation of Powers
Ensures that all government power doesn’t fall into the hands of one person or group of people
Legislative > Makes the laws (Article I) Power of Purse
Executive > Enforces laws (Article II) State of Union
Judicial > Interprets laws (Article III) Serve for life, salary can never be reduced. No fear of retribution
In theory it’s 3 separate branches exercising powers over the other, but in reality it’s “three separate institutions sharing powers”

7. Section 1: Basic Principles
Checks and Balances
Giving each branch of government some form of control over the other branches
Example:
President: Power to appoint Judges, Pardon Powers
Senate: Approves Federal Judges,Power to alter size of Supreme Court
Judicial: Chief Justice presides as President of Senate during presidential Impeachment, Judicial Review > unconstitutional

8. Section 2: Amending the Constitution
Objectives:
Why did the framers establish ways to amend the Constitution?
What are the methods for amending the Constitution?
What is the purpose of the Bill of Rights?

9. Section 2: Amending the Constitution
The framers established ways to amend the Constitution because they realized they were unable to anticipate future challenges that the United States would face as it grew.

10. Section 2: Amending the Constitution
Methods for amending the Constitution:
proposal of amendments by a two thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a national convention called by two thirds of the states
ratification of amendments by approval of three fourths of the state legislatures or by approval of special conventions in three fourths of the states

11. Section 2: Amending the Constitution
The purpose of the Bill of Rights:
to protect individual freedoms
to acknowledge the powers of the states and the people

12. Section 3: A Flexible Document
Objectives:
How does the Constitution give the three branches of government flexibility in using their powers?
How have political parties changed the way government operates?
How does the Constitution allow custom and tradition to help shape government?

13. Section 3: A Flexible Document
Flexibility the three branches of government have in using their powers:
ability of the federal courts to make decisions about interpreting laws
ability of Congress to create and amend legislation
ability of the executive branch to interpret its powers to take action

14. Section 3: A Flexible Document
Effects of political parties on the government:
influence the election of the president and other government officials
have a role in organizing the day-to-day operations of Congress

15. Section 3: A Flexible Document
Roles of custom and tradition in shaping the government:
affect the organization or composition of government areas
can bring pressure to make formal changes to the Constitution

16. Section 4: The Constitution and the Public Good
Objectives:
What were some of James Madison’s contributions to the development of the U.S. government?
How does the Constitution ensure that government makes laws that promote the public good?
Why do critics claim that the Constitution sometimes makes government less effective?

17. Section 4: The Constitution and the Public Good
Some of James Madison’s contributions to the development of the U.S. government:
argued that the Constitution prevented control by factions because of the large size of the United States and the system of checks and balances provided by the Constitution
reasoned that large republics, like the United States, would represent the broad interests of society and promote the public good

18. Section 4: The Constitution and the Public Good
How the Constitution ensures that government makes laws promoting the public good:
places control of all government power in the hands of U.S. citizens
prevents the passage of policies that represent the narrow interests of just a few groups

19. Section 4: The Constitution and the Public Good
Reasons critics claim the Constitution makes government less effective:
promotes gridlock
eases the ability of government leaders to avoid responsibility for problems

20. Chapter Wrap-Up
1. In what ways does the Constitution reflect the principles of popular sovereignty and limited government?
2. Why did the framers of the Constitution create a distinct form of federalism instead of adopting a unitary system of government?
3. How does the Bill of Rights work to protect individual rights?

21. Chapter Wrap-Up
4. Why has the Constitution been amended only 27 times in more than 200 years?
5. Why did James Madison believe that the U.S. republic’s large size would help government serve the public good?
6. How does the system of checks and balances help prevent one branch of government from becoming too powerful?