Chapter 3The Constitution
Fun Facts!
The U.S. Constitution
Outlines the U.S. government
Establishes the ruling principles of that government
Preamble – What does it mean?
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America.
Parts of the U.S. ConstitutionSection Purpose
Preamble Introduces reasons for creating the document
Article I Outlines the legislative branch
Article II Outlines the executive branch
Article III Outlines the judicial branch
Article IV Discusses relations between the states and between the states and the national government
Article V Describes how to amend the Constitution
Article VI Declares the Constitution to be the supreme law of the land
Article VII Lists requirements for ratifying the Constitution
27 amendments Modifications to the Constitution
Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution
There are five basic principles of the U.S. Constitution:
• Limited government
• Popular sovereignty
• Federalism
• Separation of powers
• Checks and balances
These principles resulted from agreements and debate of the Constitutional Convention, 1787.
The Three Branches of Government
Article I - Legislative branch:
• Makes laws
Article II - Executive branch:
• Executes, or carries out, laws
Article III - Judicial branch:
• Interprets laws and judges whether they have been broken
Article IV – Relations among the states
Section 1 – Full Faith and Credit Clause
• States must grant each other “full faith and credit” on “public acts, records, and judicial proceedings”
• Means legal decisions of states must be respected and held to by other states
Section 2 – Privileges and Immunities Clause
• States must grant residents of other states all “privileges and immunities” they give to their own residents
Article V –Amendment the constitution
2 ways to propose an amendment
1. 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress
• All 27 Amendments were proposed this way
2. Constitutional Convention requested by 2/3 of the states
• Has never been used
2 ways to ratify amendment
1. 3/4 of state legislatures approve it
• 26 of the 27 Amendments were ratified this way
2. 3/4 of conventions called by the states approve it
• Only the 21st Amendment was ratified this way
Article VI – Role of the National Government
Section 2 – Supremacy Clause
• Federal laws are always supreme over state laws, U.S. Constitution is supreme over all state constitutions
Article VII – Ratification of the Constitution
Only 9 of the 13 states had to ratify the constitution
Amendments
27 total
First ten- bill of rights
Constitution Crossword
Constitution I.Q. Survey
The Bill of Rights
These are awesome!
And you get to memorize them!
The 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion
• Establishment Clause – government cannot establish a religion
• Free Exercise Clause – government cannot prohibit you from practicing religion
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of the Press
Right to Assembly
Right to Petition
The 2nd Amendment
The Right to Bear Arms
The 3rd Amendment
No Quartering of Soldiers in Times of Peace
The 4th Amendment
Protection Against Unreasonable Search and Seizure
The 5th Amendment
No Double Jeopardy (Can’t be charged with the same crime twice)
Protection against self-incrimination
Guarantee of Due Process of Law
Government can’t take property without just compensation
The 6th Amendment Right to a Criminal Trial by Jury
• Trial must be speedy, public
• Must be in the state where the crime was committed
• Right to legal counsel
• Right to call witnesses favorable to the defendant
The 7th Amendment
Right to a Civil Trial by Jury
• Civil – not criminal, typically a lawsuit for money or to repeal a government action
The 8th Amendment
Protection Against Cruel and Unusual Punishment
The 9th Amendment
Rights Retained by the People
• In other words, just because a right isn’t listed here in the Constitution doesn’t mean that people don’t have that right
The 10th Amendment
Powers Reserved for the States
• All powers that are not given to the national government are reserved for the states
Other Amendments
Amendments 11-27
Research your assigned amendment
Create an informational poster
Present to class