Preamble Mission Statement – not law Form a more perfect union Establish justice Ensure domestic tranquility Provide for the common defense Promote the.

Preamble Mission Statement – not lawForm a more perfect unionEstablish justiceEnsure domestic tranquilityProvide for the common defensePromote the general welfareSecure the blessings of liberty

Article IThe Legislative Branch

House of Reps Must be at least 25 Been citizen for 7 yrs Elected every 2 yrs Live in state elected 435 members # of Reps determined by pop.

Senate Must be at least 30 Been citizen for 9 yrs Elected every 6 yrs Live in state elected 100 members 2 per state VP presides over it

Article IRules of Congress

Free from arrest during a session. Session begins on January 3 and ends

when both houses adjourn. Members of each house make their own

rules. Members vote on their salaries. Cannot hold any other public office.

Article IPowers of Congress

Make Laws Override Presidential veto by 2/3 They may coin money, borrow money,

and collect taxes. They alone have power to declare war. They alone can make treaties. The regulate trade and commerce.

Article IPowers Denied Congress

Can’t mess with slavery until 1808.Cannot levy an export tax.No money to be spent unless

appropriated by Congress.No titles of nobility can be granted.

Article IIThe Executive Branch

Elected to a 4 yr. term by the Electoral College.

Must get a majority of the electoral votes Term begins on January 20 when sworn

in by the Chief Justice. Must be 35 years of age and a natural

born citizen – 14 yrs in U.S.

Article IIPowers of the President

Commander in Chief of Armed Forces. Can appoint members to head executive

offices. Can appoint judges to federal courts;

including the Supreme Court. Can negotiate treaties. Can call a special session of Congress

Article IIIThe Judicial Branch

Appointed for life; as long as they’re nice They interpret all Constitutional law and

may be called to settle interstate law. The Constitution says what they say it

says. Today, there are nine Justices w/ one

being the Chief Justice.

Article IIIActions of the Supreme Court

Judicial Review – The power of the court to determine what laws are constitutional

Judicial Activism – A court which seeks to influence society by it’s rulings. Sometimes called legislating from bench

Judicial Restraint – A court which seeks to avoid controversy and allows legislatures to clarify laws.

Article IVRelations of States

You are free to move about the country! Deals with extradition from one state to

another of criminals. Sets up procedure to admit new states Each state is guaranteed protection by

federal government.

Article VAmending Process

2/3 of Congress to propose – ¾ of state legislatures to ratify.

2/3 of States to call convention – and ¾ of state legislatures to ratify.

And the mixture of both.

Article VIThe Supremacy Clause

The Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

No law trumps the Constitution.

Article VIIRatification of Constitution

9 of the 13 states must ratify for it to become the law of the land.

Amendments There are currently 27 amendments to

the U.S. Constitution. The first 10 are known as the Bill of

Rights. They protect our personal freedoms from the government. They were added so states would ratify

the Constitution.

Basic Principles Federalism is the idea that power is shared

between state and federal gov’t. Because we do not want the government to

have too much power the constitution is based on limited government.

The main source of power in the U.S. gov’t is the people.

In order to keep one branch from gaining too much power, we have a system of checks and balances.

Amendment 11 and 12

11 – Citizens cannot sue other states

12 – President and VP must run together as a team (ticket).

Amendments 13 - 15

13 – Freed the slaves

14 – Former slaves are now citizens

15 – Black suffrage – right to vote

Civil War Amendments

Amendments 16 - 18

16th – Federal Income Tax

17th – Direct election of Senators by state populations

18th - Prohibition

Amendments 19-21

19th – Women’s Suffrage

20th – Lame Duck Session – moved Presidential Inauguration to Jan. 20

21st – Repealed prohibition

Amendments 22 - 25

22nd – Term limit for President

23rd – Federal elections in D.C.

24th – Abolition of Poll Taxes

25th – Presidential disability and succession

Amendments 26 - 27

26th – Voting age lowered to 18

27th – Congressional Pay