1. Purpose of the U.S. Constitution May, 1787-September, 1787 &TODAY!

2. I—Establish Legitimacy Establish new governments right to rule Establish new governments right to rule Had to meet the standards set forth in the Declaration of Independence (which listed why the British government was illegitimate so we needed to establish why ours is legitimate) Had to meet the standards set forth in the Declaration of Independence (which listed why the British government was illegitimate so we needed to establish why ours is legitimate) Contract between those who “ rule ” with those who are being “ ruled ” Contract between those who “ rule ” with those who are being “ ruled ”

3. II—Create Appropriate Structures Committed to the principles of representative democracy Committed to the principles of representative democracy States retain some legitimacy to rule within their borders States retain some legitimacy to rule within their borders To achieve this the framers created Congress (Legislative Branch), the presidency (Executive Branch), & the judiciary (Judicial Branch) to share the power To achieve this the framers created Congress (Legislative Branch), the presidency (Executive Branch), & the judiciary (Judicial Branch) to share the power Created a system of division of powers between national government and state government = FEDERALISM Created a system of division of powers between national government and state government = FEDERALISM

4. IIa—Checks and Balances Checks & Balances prevents one branch from dominating the others Checks on the EB by the JB Appointments are for life and federal judges are free from presidential control; can declare presidential actions unconstitutional; Checks on the LB by the EB Can veto bills of Congress; call special sessions of Congress; can influence public opinion; can propose legislation Checks on the EB by the LB Congress can override veto’s by 2/3 vote; Congress approves funding for Presidential programs; Congress can impeach and remove the President or other high officials; Senate confirms/rejects federal appointments Checks on the LB by the JB Can decide the meaning of laws; can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional (judicial review) Checks on the JB by the LB Congress establishes the lower courts; Senate confirms/rejects appointments of judges; Congress can impeach/remove federal judges; Checks on the JB by the EB Appoints federal judges; pardon/reprieve people convicted of federal crimes;

5. III—Describe & Distribute Power The powers of each branch and the states are listed in Articles 1-4 The powers of each branch and the states are listed in Articles 1-4 Lays outs duties and responsibilities of each branch of government Lays outs duties and responsibilities of each branch of government

6. IV—Limit Government Powers Framers enumerated functions that are delegated to the national government and so cannot be directed by the states Framers enumerated functions that are delegated to the national government and so cannot be directed by the states Vice-versa Vice-versa

7. V—Allow for Change Make sure the government endured by changing with the times but did not want the system to be able to make so many changes that it would be unstable Make sure the government endured by changing with the times but did not want the system to be able to make so many changes that it would be unstable The ability for the Constitution to change has made it the oldest constitution in the world The ability for the Constitution to change has made it the oldest constitution in the world How many times has the Constitution been changed? What are these changes called? How many times has the Constitution been changed? What are these changes called?

8. Preamble We the people of the United States… (used to show that the people create and run this government) We the people of the United States… (used to show that the people create and run this government) To form a more perfect union To form a more perfect union Establish justice Establish justice Insure domestic tranquility Insure domestic tranquility Provide for the common defense Provide for the common defense Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

9. Ratification The US Constitution was ratified (of course, without the Bill of Rights) in June, 1788 The US Constitution was ratified (of course, without the Bill of Rights) in June, 1788 12 Amendments were proposed to the state legislature for ratification that protected individual liberties by the federal government 12 Amendments were proposed to the state legislature for ratification that protected individual liberties by the federal government By December, 1791 10 were ratified by the required ¾ of the states By December, 1791 10 were ratified by the required ¾ of the states One of the missing two not ratified was finally ratified in 1992 as the 27 th Amendment (Congressional pay raises) One of the missing two not ratified was finally ratified in 1992 as the 27 th Amendment (Congressional pay raises)