The U.S. Constitution
Test on Thursday, October 25, 2007
What is a constitution?
• A plan of government that describes the different parts of the government and their duties and powers.
U.S. Constitution
• Written in 1787
• Became the law in 1788
The Articles of Confederationthe first attempt to write a constitution for the U.S.
Look at the timeline on page 53 in “We the People”
• drafted or written in __________
• ratified or approved in _________
The Articles of Confederationthe first attempt to write a constitution for the U.S.
List the two problems that made it difficult to write and accept the Articles of Confederation and the two solutions.
Look at pages 55-58 in “We the People”
Articles of Confederationpages 55-58 in “We the People”
Problem 1:
Solution:
Problem 2:
Solution:
Articles of Confederationpages 55-58
Problem 1: Fear of a strong national government.
Solution: Create a weak national government.
Problem 2: Fear that some states would dominate others in the national government.
Solution: Give each state one vote.
Articles of Confederationpages 55-58
What were the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation?
Weaknesses:
1. .
2. .
3. .
4. .
5. .
Articles of Confederationpages 55-58 in “We the People”
Weaknesses:
1. No money and no power to get it.
2. No power over the state governments and their citizens.
3. Unenforceable trade agreements
4. Unfair competition among the states.
5. Threats to citizens’ right to property.
United States Constitutionpage 173 in textbook
Three Parts- Preamble, Articles, Amendments1. Preamble
a. states the purpose of the Constitutionb. begins with three words- ___ ____ ______ c. lists six goals of the Constitution
1.2.3.4.5.6.
United States Constitutionpage 173
Three Parts- Preamble, Articles, Amendments1. Preamble
a. states the purpose of the Constitutionb. begins with three words- We the People c. lists six goals of the Constitution
1. form a more perfect union2. establish justice3. insure domestic tranquility4. provide for the common defense5. promote the general welfare6. secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity
2. Articles
a. There are ____ articles in the Constitution.
b. describe the organization of the government
c. include what the three branches of government are and do, how they interact with each other and how the federal and state governments split their duties
3. Amendments (page 187)a. changes or additions to the Constitutionb. How many are there? _____c. How is an amendment added or ratified?
___ of the members of each house of Congress and
___ of the state legislatures
3. Amendments (page 187)a. changes or additions to the Constitutionb. How many are there? __27__c. How is an amendment added or ratified?
2/3 of the members of each house of Congress and
3/4 of the state legislaturesd. Bill of RightsThey are the first ____ amendments.They describe the rights of the people.They were added in the year 1791
Basic Facts of the Constitutional Conventionpages 150-151
1. How many people attended the convention?
2. Where did it take place?
3. When did it happen?
4. Why did they gather?
5. Who is considered “the father of the Constitution”?
PRIMARY AUTHOR OF THE CONSTITUTION IS JAMES MADISON
What did each plan recommend?pages 65-67
Virginia Plan
“big” states
New Jersey Plan
“little” states
What did each plan recommend?pages 65-67
Virginia Plan
A strong national gov’t that could make and enforce its laws; collect taxes
Federal system included national and state governments
Three branches
Two house legislature
Number of reps depends on size of population or money
New Jersey Plan
Keep the Articles
Congress would have only one house with the power to tax, trade, and have control over the states
Three branches
Equal representation of the states in Congress
The Legislative Branch, Congress, makes the laws. big states vs. little states
Pages 68-70
1. What were the disagreements about representation?
2. What was the Great Compromise?
3. What powers did the Constitution give to Congress?
4. How can Congress “check” the other two branches of government?
The Legislative Branch, Congress, makes the laws. big states vs. little states
1.1. What were the disagreements about representation?What were the disagreements about representation? The big states want to have more votes because they have more people; the small states want equal representation, so they are not overpowered by the big states.
2.2. What was the Great Compromise?What was the Great Compromise? A two-house CongressThe House of Representatives would be based on population and the
Senate would have equal representation (Two senators from each state.)
3.3. What powers did the Constitution give to Congress?What powers did the Constitution give to Congress?to lay and collect taxes, to pay debts and provide for the
common defense and general welfare, to regulate commerce with other nations and among states, to declare war, to raise an army and navy, to coin money and to impeach officials
4. 4. How can Congress “check” the other two branches of government?How can Congress “check” the other two branches of government? Impeachment- executive and judicial branches
Powerspages 70-71
1. What is the “necessary and proper” clause?Congress has the power to make all other laws that are
“necessary and proper”; also called the elastic clause.
2. What powers did the national government have? Federal law is supreme. Congress can organize and use state militias for national
service. Congress can create new states, guarantee each state is a
republican form of government and protect the states from invasion or domestic violence.
Limitspage 71
What limits were on the national government? Cannot ban the slave trade before 1808 Cannot suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus
except in emergencies Cannot pass any ex post facto laws Cannot pass any bills of attainder Cannot tax anything exported from a state Cannot take money from the treasury without a law Cannot grant titles of nobility Cannot punish descendants of people convicted of treason Cannot require public officials to hold any particular
religious beliefs; cannot make laws to set up a religion
Three Branches of Government1. Legislative branch- makes the laws (page 69)includes the two houses of Congress
a. the House of Representativesb. the Senate
2. Executive Branch- enforces the lawsincludes the President, Vice-President and the Cabinet
(page 93)3. Judicial Branch- interprets the laws includes the Supreme Court and U. S. courts
(page 94)
Legislative BranchName of the two houses House of
RepresentativesSenate
Total number of members
Number of members from each state
Requirements
Length of term
Number of times possible to be elected
Presiding officer
Portion elected every two years
Legislative BranchName of the two houses House of
RepresentativesSenate
Total number of members(page 291)
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292)
Number of times possible to be elected (page 292)
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
Legislative BranchName of the two houses House of
RepresentativesSenate
Total number of members(page 291)
435
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292)
Number of times possible to be elected (page 292)
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
Legislative BranchName of the two houses House of
RepresentativesSenate
Total number of members(page 291)
435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292)
Number of times possible to be elected (page 292)
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
Legislative BranchName of the two houses House of
RepresentativesSenate
Total number of members(page 291)
435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292) 2 yearsNumber of times possible to be elected (page 292)
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
Legislative BranchName of the two houses House of
RepresentativesSenate
Total number of members(page 291)
435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292) 2 years 6 yearsNumber of times possible to be elected (page 292)
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
Legislative BranchName of the two houses House of
RepresentativesSenate
Total number of members(page 291)
435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292)
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292) 2 years 6 yearsNumber of times possible to be elected (page 292)
unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
Legislative BranchName of the two houses House of
RepresentativesSenate
Total number of members(page 291)
435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292)
depends on the population
2
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292) 2 years 6 yearsNumber of times possible to be elected (page 292)
unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer (page 297)
Portion elected every two years
Legislative BranchName of the two houses House of
RepresentativesSenate
Total number of members(page 291)
435 100
Number of members from each state (page 292)
depends on the population
2
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term (page 292) 2 years 6 yearsNumber of times possible to be elected (page 292)
unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer (page 297) Speaker of the House
Portion elected every two years
Legislative BranchName of the two houses
House of Representatives
Senate
Total number of members
435 100
Number of members from each state
depends on the population
2
Requirements (page 91)
Length of term 2 years 6 years
Number of times possible to be elected
unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer Speaker of the House
Vice-president, Pres pro tempore
Portion elected every two years
Legislative BranchName of the two houses
House of Representatives
Senate
Total number of members
435 100
Number of members from each state
depends on the population
2
Requirements (page 91) 25, 7 year citizen,
live in the state
30, 9 year citizen,
live in the state
Length of term 2 years 6 years
Number of times possible to be elected
unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer Speaker of the House
Vice-president, Pres pro tempore
Portion elected every two years
Legislative BranchName of the two houses
House of Representatives
Senate
Total number of members
435 100
Number of members from each state
depends on the population
2
Requirements 25, 7 year citizen, live in the state
30, 9 year citizen, live in the state
Length of term 2 years 6 years
Number of times possible to be elected
unlimited unlimited
Presiding officer Speaker of the House
Vice-president, Pres pro tempore
Portion elected every two years
all 1/3
Senators from Illinois
Barack Obama (D)Elected in 2006
Richard Durbin (D)Elected in 1996 and 2002
Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
Congress shall meet at least once a year.
Judicial Branchpage 329
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
What is the length of a term?
What are the requirements?
Who nominates the justices?
Who approves the justices?
Judicial Branchpage 329
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
What is the length of a term? (page 335)
What are the requirements? (page 335)
Who nominates the justices? (page 339)
Who approves the justices? (page 339)
Judicial Branchpage 329
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
What is the length of a term? (page 335)
life
What are the requirements? (page 335)
Who nominates the justices? (page 339)
Who approves the justices? (page 339)
Judicial Branchpage 329
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
What is the length of a term? (page 335)
life
What are the requirements? (page 335)
“good behavior”
Who nominates the justices? (page 339)
Who approves the justices? (page 339)
Judicial Branchpage 329
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
What is the length of a term? (page 335)
life
What are the requirements? (page 335)
“good behavior”
Who nominates the justices? (page 339)
the president
Who approves the justices? (page 339)
Judicial BranchHow many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
What is the length of a term?
life
What are the requirements?
“good behavior”
Who appoints the justices?
the president
Who approves the justices?
the Senate
Judicial Branch
• What is judicial review?
the power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of a law or treaty
U.S. Supreme Court
Executive Branchpage 262
Who is the executive branch headed by?
Length of term
Number of times possible to be elected
Maximum number of years possible in office
Requirements
Name for advisors
Date term begins-Inauguration Day
Executive Branchpage 262
Who is the executive branch headed by?
the president
Length of term (page 91)
Number of times possible to be elected
Maximum number of years possible in office
Requirements
Name for advisors
Date term begins-Inauguration Day
Executive Branchpage 262
Who is the executive branch headed by?
the president
Length of term (page 91) 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected
Maximum number of years possible in office
Requirements (page 262)
Name for advisors(page 268)
Date term begins-Inauguration Day
Executive Branchpage 262
Who is the executive branch headed by?
the president
Length of term (page 91) 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected
Maximum number of years possible in office
Requirements (page 262) 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors(page 268)
Date term begins-Inauguration Day
Executive Branch
Who is the executive branch headed by?
the president
Length of term 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected
Maximum number of years possible in office
Requirements 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors the Cabinet
Date term begins- (page 247) Inauguration Day
Executive Branch
Who is the executive branch headed by?
the president
Length of term 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected (page 249)
Maximum number of years possible in office (page 249)
Requirements 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors the Cabinet
Date term begins- (page 247) Inauguration Day
January 20
Executive Branch
Who is the executive branch headed by?
the president
Length of term 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected (page 249)
2 times
Maximum number of years possible in office (page 249)
Requirements 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors the Cabinet
Date term begins- (page 247) Inauguration Day
January 20
Executive Branch
Who is the executive branch headed by?
the president
Length of term 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected
2 times
Maximum number of years possible in office (page 249)
10 years
Requirements 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors the Cabinet
Date term begins- Inauguration Day
January 20
Executive BranchWho is the executive branch headed by?
the president
Length of term 4 years
Number of times possible to be elected
2 times
Maximum number of years possible in office
10 years
Requirements 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
Name for advisors the Cabinet
Date term begins-Inauguration Day
January 20
Executive Branch questions1. What is a lame duck? (page 109)
2. In case of an emergency, who would be the new president? (page 250)
3. What is impeachment? (page 251)
4. Who has the power to impeach?
5. Who holds the trial?
6. Which two presidents have been impeached?
7. Which presidents have been removed from office after impeachment?
8. What is the head of each state called?
Executive Branch questions1. What is a lame duck?A person who is still in office, but has not
been re-elected.2. In case of an emergency, who would be
the new president? (page 250)1. President2.3.4.5.
Executive Branch questions1. What is a lame duck?A person who is still in office, but has not
been re-elected.2. In case of an emergency, who would be
the new president? (page 250)1. President2. Vice-President3. Speaker of the House4. President pro tempore5. Secretary of State
Executive Branch questions3. What is impeachment? (page 251)
4. Who has the power to impeach?
5. Who holds the trial?
Executive Branch questions3. What is impeachment? (page 251)
to formally charge an official with a crime for which they can be removed from office
4. Who has the power to impeach?
5. Who holds the trial?
Executive Branch questions3. What is impeachment? (page 251)
to formally charge an official with a crime for which they can be removed from office
4. Who has the power to impeach?
The House of Representatives
5. Who holds the trial?
The Senate
Executive Branch questions6. Which two presidents have been
impeached?
Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson
7. Which presidents have been removed from office after impeachment?
None
8. What is the head of each state called?
governor
Electionspage 234
The Electoral College elects the president and vice-president.
Each state has a number of electors.
The number of electors = the number of senators + the number of representatives.
ALL electoral votes from each state goes to one candidate.
If there is no majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives elects the president.
Powers and Duties of the Presidentpage 258
• Power to enforce or execute laws• Is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces• Appoints many officials (e.g. ambassadors)• Power to make treaties• Power to inform Congress about the State of the
Union• Is the legislative leader of the majority party (e.g.
power to sign or veto laws)• Grants pardons and reprieves• Power to nominate federal judges• Prepares the budget of the nation
The White House
Checks and Balancespage 86
• The system that balances the three branches of government, so no one person or group is able to dominate the others.
Examples of checks:1. on the judicial branch- the president appoints
the federal judges and Congress approves them. Congress can also impeach them.
2. on the legislative branch- the president can veto laws.
3. on the executive branch- Congress can impeach the president.
4. on the executive and legislative branches- judicial review
Checks and Balances
NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
STATE
GOVERNMENTSBOTH
CONCURRENTPOWERS
RESERVED POWERS
- PROVIDE SCHOOLS
- CONDUCT ELECTIONS
DELEGATED POWERS
- DECLARE WAR
- PRINT MONEY
- REGULATE BANKS
- COLLECT TAXES
- BUILD ROADS
Amendmentspage 13
Which one is the only one to be repealed?
18th- prohibition of alcohol
What did the 17th amendment do?
allowed U.S. senators to be elected by the people
Which one ensured women’s suffrage?
19th
U.S. flagpage 41
What is the proper way to dispose of a flag?
burn it
Good luck!
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
PROBLEMS
1. STRONG STATESVS.
STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
2. LARGE STATES VS.
SMALL STATES
3. NORTHVS SOUTH
COMPROMISES
1. GREAT COMPROMISE
2. 3/5 COMPROMISE
GOVERNMENT
1. FEDERAL SYSTEM
2. SEPARATION OF POWERS
3. CHECKS AND BALANCES