Preamble principles

SECTION 1: GOALS AND PRINCIPLES OF THE CONSTITUTION

Chapter 8 Government, Citizenship, and Constitution (1787-Present)

The Constitution Has 3 Main Parts

The PreambleThe ArticlesThe Amendments

The Preamble

Preamble

The Preamble is an introduction. The Preamble sets 6 goals

1. To form a more perfect union2. Establish Justice3. Insure Domestic Tranquility4. Provide for the Common Defense5. Promote the General Welfare6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty

Form a more perfect union

The States need to work together as a unified nation.

Establish Justice

To create laws and a system to solve disputes

What does domestic mean? Happening in the home

Insure domestic tranquility

To make sure we have peace in our homes

Provide for the common defense

To be able to raise armies for our defense

Promote the general welfare

To make sure we are happy and healthy

Sure the blessings of liberty

To make sure we are a free country

Preamble Goals

Preamble Goal What does it mean ?

Form a more perfect union The States need to work together as a unified nation.

Establish Justice To create laws and a system to solve disputes

Insure Domestic Tranquility To make sure we have peace in our homes

Provide for the Common Defense

To be able to raise armies for our defense

Promote the General Welfare To make sure we are happy and healthy

Secure the Blessings of Liberty

To make sure we are a free country

The Articles

There are 7 Articles in the ConstitutionThe first 3 set up the legislative,

executive, and judicial branches of government.

The 4th deals with state relationsThe 5th allows us to amend or change

the ConstitutionThe 6th sets the Constitution as the

Supreme Law and more important than state laws.

The 7th allows us to ratify or accept the Constitution

Amendments

The First 1o are called the Bill of Rights (1791)

After that there have been 17 more Amendments to the Constitution

Seven Basic Principles

Popular SovereigntyLimited GovernmentSeparation of PowersChecks and BalancesFederalismRepublicanismIndividual Rights

Popular Sovereignty

Ideas started to change from a king ruling to the people ruling, “We the people…”

People have the right to alter/abolish their governmentThe people hold ultimate authority

Limited Government

Wanted to avoid tyranny of a king in new government

The government only has the powers the Constitution gives it

EVERYONE must obey the law

Separation of Powers

Constitution divides government into 3 branches

What are they?

Checks and Balances

Why is it important to have a government system where there are checks and balances? Safeguard against abuse of power

Each branch has power to check/limit the actions of the other 2

Federalism

Division of power between federal government and states

Powers not given to federal government belong to states

Republicanism

Citizens elect representatives to carry out their will

Once in office can vote how they wish, but need to keep the peoples views in mind

Individual Rights

Constitution protects individual rightsFreedom of speechFreedom of religionRight to trial by jury