1. The story of the U.S. Constitution
Liberty Tree

2. Articles of Confederation Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Liberty Tree
U.S. Constitution
Articles of Confederation
Continental Congress
Town Hall Meetings
House of Burgesses
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Mayflower Compact
Magna Carta
English Bill of Rights

3. Structure and Function
At the Constitutional Convention, the delegates created a new plan for the U.S. government that focused on two things.
Structure and Function

4. Structure is the framework of our government.

5. What do you notice about the structure of a tree?
limbs
branches
leaves
tree bark
root system

6. The government structure has three branches.
Legislative
Executive
Judicial

7. Bicameral = made of two houses
Legislative Branch:
Structure
Structure
Senate
2 per state
6-year terms
House of Representatives
based on population
2-year terms
Bicameral = made of two houses
Elected by the people

8. Executive Branch: Structure
President (4-year term)
Vice-President
Cabinet Members
Appointees

9. Executive Branch:Structure
Vice-President
President
Secretary of State
Joe Biden
Barak Obama
Hillary Clinton

10. Judicial Branch: Structure Structure
U. S. Supreme Court (life-terms)
District Courts (appointed)
County and Local Courts (elected)

11. What is the function of a tree? function
home for some animals
provides shade
holds soil in place

12. The preamble to the Constitution tells the function or WHAT the government does for the people.
ensure domestic tranquility
provide for the common defense
promote the general welfare
establish justice
secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves, and our posterity

13. People discuss ideas and tell representatives in Congress
Legislative Branch:
Function
Makes laws
Idea may become a bill (proposed law) in House of Representatives or Senate
Bill becomes a law if approved by both houses and signed by the President
People discuss ideas and tell representatives in Congress
U.S. Congress
Elected by the people

14. Executive Branch: Function
Ensures that the laws are carried out
Elected by the people and electoral college system
The White House

15. Nine justices on U.S. Supreme Court
Judicial Branch:
Function
Interprets the laws (decides if laws are fair)
Tries civil and criminal cases in lower courts
Nine justices on U.S. Supreme Court
Appointed by President and approved by Congress
Supreme Court

16. Each branch checks and balances the other branches.
Supreme Court
Congress
President = =

17. Checks and Balances Judicial branch can declare a law unconstitutional
Legislative branch can override presidential veto with a 2/3 vote
Legislative branch makes laws
Legislative branch can remove judges from office
Executive branch can veto law

18. Executive branch appoints Supreme Court justices
Legislative branch has to approve the appointment of the justices

19. Legislative branch can remove president from office
House of Representatives brings charges against the President (impeach)
Senate holds a trial and 2/3 vote needed to remove President from office

20. The U.S. Constitution has seven articles that explain the structure and function of the government.

21. Article 1: Legislative Branch
Article 2: Executive Branch
Article 3: Judicial Branch
Article 4: Relations Among States
Article 5: Amending the Constitution
Article 6: National Supremacy
Article 7: Ratification

22. The structure and function of our government are based on five basic principles.

23. Five Basic Principles of the Constitution
Federalism
Checks and balances
Popular sovereignty
Five Basic Principles of the Constitution
Separation of powers
Indivivual Rights
Limited government
Republicanism

24. “Popular” means people..
“Sovereignty” comes from “sovereign” which means ruler.
Popular sovereignty = people choose

25. Separation of powers divides the operation of government into three equal branches.=

26. Each branch of the government checks and balances, or monitors, the power of the other two branches.

27. The Constitution outlined exactly what the government could do.
Since King George III had unlimited power, the writers of the U.S. Constitution wanted “we the people” to put limits on the government.
The Constitution outlined exactly what the government could do.

28. Federalism is the division and sharing of powers between the state and national government.
State Powers
maintain schools
conduct elections
provide public safety
regulate trade in state
National Powers
maintain armed forces
coin money
declare war
make foreign policy

29. Powers Shared by National and State Governments
raise taxes
administer criminal justice
provide for public welfare
charter banks
borrow money

30. Republicanism
A nation where the people elect representatives to make laws for them.

31. Individual Rights
Personal freedoms protected from the government. Example: Bill of Rights – Freedom of Religion, Right to Bear Arms, etc.

32. Rooted in these five principles, the U. S
Rooted in these five principles, the U.S. Constitution has endured since 1787.
This living document protects the rights of the individuals by limiting the power of the government.

33. Handle bars = Constitution Platform = Separation of powers
Visual Metaphor:
How is the U.S. government like a tricycle?
Handle bars = Constitution
Platform = Separation of powers

34. Label the parts of the tricycle with these other words.
The People
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
President
Congress
Supreme Court
Checks and Balances

35. The foundation of our government and the supreme law of the land
The Tree
of Liberty
The foundation of our government and the supreme law of the land