1. The United States Constitution

2. What is a constitution? Constitution: legal framework for a government
In other words: How it is organized.
Questions that constitutions answer:
What are the purposes of government?
What is the organization of government?
What parts does it have? What do they each do?
How does the government make laws?
How are people selected to serve in government?
Who is a citizen?
What rights do citizens have?

3. Historical Precedents
Magna Carta
(1215)
jury trial
private property
limits on taxation
religious freedoms
The Petition of Right (1628)
taxes can be levied only by Parliament
habeus corpus
Freedom from martial law during times of peace
English Bill of Rights (1688)
Freedom of speech
Right to elect parliament
Right for Protestants to bear arms
Freedom from standing armies during times of peace.
Mayflower Compact (1620)
Pilgrim’s social contract

4. What is a constitutional government?
Limits on the powers of government
Even governmental leaders must follow the higher law.

5. Before the Constitution
Confederation: loose union (states have the power, not a central government)
Articles of Confederation (1781)
Fear of too much central power because of Britain
Weaknesses:
Congress could not pass taxes
Congress could not force states to obey its laws
Congress could not regulate or manage trade
Laws needed to the approval of 9 of the 13 states
All 13 states had to agree to changes in the Articles
There was no executive branch
There was no judicial branch
Debt: major, crippling, war debt

6. Constitutional Convention
Held in Philadelphia 1787
55 men appointed to represent 12 states (Rhode Island did not send delegates)
George Washington was selected to be President of the Convention
Realized strengthening the articles of confederation was not enough
Each state had one vote
7 out of 12 had to approve
Public would not be told
The Articles had to be replaced by a new plan of government

7. Major Compromises Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan The Great Compromise
Three-fifths compromise
Slave Trade
Export taxes
Electoral College

9. Ratifying the Constitution
9 out of 13 needed to ratify
Anti-Federalists: opposed the Constitution, wanted a Bill of Rights
Federalists: supported ratification, won opposition with Federalist Papers

10. Preamble:
Purposes
Article 2:
Executive
Article 1:
Legislative
Article 3:
Judicial
Article 4:
Federalism
Article 5:
Amending
Article 6:
Supremacy Clause
Article 7:
Ratification

11. Basic Principles: Popular Sovereignty Federalism Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Judicial Review
Bill of Rights

13. Amendments

14. Bill of Rights
Freedom of: Religion, Press, Speech, Petition, and Assembly
State militias and right to bear arms
Bans quartering soldiers
Unreasonable search & seizure
self-incrimination; double-jeopardy; compensation for takings
Speedy and public trial; right to a lawyer;
Trial by Jury
Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Peoples rights are not limited to the previous rights
Powers of the states

15. Other Amendment Highlights:
13: abolishes slavery (1865)
14: Citizenship rights; equal-protection (1868)
15: Race no bar to vote (1870)
16: income tax (1913)
17: direct election of senators (1913)
18: prohibition (1919)
19: women’s right to vote (1920)
21: repeals prohibition (1933)
22: term limits (1951)
25: presidential succession (1967)
26: voting age to 18 (1971)