1. Chapter 3 The Constitution

2. An Outline Endured for 200 years because it deals with basic principles – not details and it has built-in provisions for accommodating change Starts with Preamble – Introduction Articles – seven I. Legislative branch II. Executive branch III. Judicial branch

3. Amendments Amendments – 27 Bill of Rights – 1 st 10 – FIRST place where basic rights are mentioned – Added after the Constitution was ratified – help get it passed

4. The 6 Basic Principles This is the basis for all political and personal beliefs which we now take for granted.

5. Popular sovereignty 1. Popular Sovereignty all political power resides with the people : We the People!

6. Limited government 2. Limited Government : government may only do those things the people have given it the power to do: Rule of law; a nation run by laws, not by people.

7. Separation of Powers 3. Seperation of Powers : powers distributed between executive, legislative, judicial branches

8. Judicial Review 4. Judicial Review : Courts have power to check that government actions are constitutional.

9. Checks and Balances 5. Checks and Balances : each branch has certain powers that it can use to check the operations of the other two. a.Congress b.Judicial c.Executive

10. See page 68

11. Federalism 6. Federalism – some power held by National Gov’t (Washington D.C.) and others belong to the 50 states.

12. Federalism

14. Formal Amendment Process Amendment – change Constitution Most common method: Proposed by Congress by 2/3 votes in both houses Ratified by the State legislatures of ¾ of the States Draw chart – page 73 top 2 boxes

15. Important Amendments Bill of Rights – 1 st 10 Amendments 13 th – abolish slavery 18 th – prohibited sale / use of alcohol 19 th – gave women right to vote 21 st – repealed 18 th 26 th – lowered voting age to 18 27 th – forbids Congress from raising pay during that term – ratified 203 years after proposed

16. Informal Amendment Results from daily experiences Doesn’t involve changes in written words Tradition and accepted habits

17. 1. Basic Legislation – spells out general Constitutional principles Way powers are used

18. President 2. Executive Action – way President uses powers Executive agreement – deal made with head of a foreign state – carries the same force of law as treaty

19. Judicial 3. Court decisions – Supreme Court interprets Constitution – ie: abortion (Roe vs. Wade)

20. 4. Political party practices – made electoral college (group that makes formal selection of President) into rubber stamp for each State’s popular vote in presidential elections

21. 5. Custom – unwritten traditions – Cabinet (14 department heads advise President)