#1K-12 CAROLINA www.CarolinaK12.org Constitution 101: An Introduction & Overview to the US Constitution We the People To view this PDF as a projectable presentation, save the file, click “View” in the top menu bar of the file, and select "Full Screen Mode" If you would like an editable version of this PDF, e-mail [email protected] and include the name of the file.#2What is the US Constitution? Supreme Rd States, • The supreme law of the United States. * The supreme law o and common dy Mish this Constituti It is the foundation and source of the legal authority underlying the existence of the United States of America and the Federal Government of the United States. It provides the framework for the organization of the United States Government.#3What are the basic principles of the Constitution? eignty Popular Sovereignty - Government power resides in the people Limited government and ● - Government is not all powerful, can only do what the people let it. Separation of Powers - Helps prevent one branch from becoming too powerful 1 Checks and Balances Federalism Division of power among national and state governments on d Constituti#4What are the Checks and Balances? SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES IN THE U. S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Grant reprieves and pardons Appoint judges to fill vacancies in the court EXECUTIVE BRANCH 8888888 Approve presidential appointments Authority to bring impeachment hearings Power to override presidential vetoes Control appropriations Ratify treaties Declare war mon de Constitutio and Interpret laws and Presidential actions Judges appointed by the President Serve for life Authority to call special sessions of Congress President is Commander-in-Chief Power to veto bills Arrows indicate the direction of a check one branch exerts over the other. JUDICIAL BRANCH Power to institute new courts Authority to impeach Approve Judicial appointments made by President LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Interpret laws Determine constitutionality Serve for life#5Who Wrote It? • James Madison is considered "the father of the Constitution." ty • His important contributions: - - The Virginia Plan Wonde - Separation of Powers - Bill of Rights#6After th Why was it written? After the Revolutionary War, the Articles of Confederation set up the structure of the US Government. wa • The federal government was extremely weak and this created many problems such as: 1. No separation of powers-only unicameral legislature. 2. Weak central government - states had most power. 3. Congress did not have the power to tax - this means they could not get their finances in order.#7Why was it written? More problems with the Articles of Confederation: 4. In order to change the Articles, all thirteen states had to approve of the changes. This made it essentially insure and impossible to make any changes. pass tha 5. For any major laws to pass they had to be approved by 9 or the 13 states which was difficult. 6. Congress did not have the power to regulate commerce which caused competition between states. It also caused diplomatic issues when states refused to pay for goods. their received from other nations.#8Why was it written? Shays' Rebellion: - An uprising of farmers in Massachusetts - led by insure Daniel Shays. - Helped convince leaders that a strong central government was needed. "A scene at Springfield, during Shay's Rebellion, when the mob attempted to prevent the holding of the Courts of Justice."-E. Benjamin Andrews, 1895#9When was it written? Le common d dis Constituti and our •May 25th to September 17th, 1787 Philadelphia • Intention was to revise Articles of Confederation Ended up replacing the Articles and creating a new government • Called the "Constitutional Convention."#10What were the important outcomes of the Constitutional Convention Virginia Virginia Plan: - - insure and - Separation of powers Bicameral legislature based on population dan Federal government had increased powers New Jersey Plan: — - Unicameral legislature where every state received equal representation. onvention • Great Compromise: - Hybrid of VA and NJ Plans: ● Bicameral legislature: - House of Reps based on population - Senate based upon. equal representation Three-Fifth's Clause: • Slaves count as 3/5's of a person for representation purposes.#11Ratification Debate Needed 9 of 13 states to ratify or official approve of the Constitution before it went into effect. is Constitutio nd esta • A huge debate emerged between two sides: - Federalists - Anti-Federalists —#12Federalists v. Anti-Federalists • Federalists: - indere and - - Supported the Constitution and a strong central government Anti-Federalists: - Supported a weaker central government - felt too much power was taken away from the City felt too much Fordain Alexander Hamilton, onde James Madison, John Jay Federalist Papers - series of articles written in defense of the Constitution and - - - states Opposed the Constitution Wanted a Bill of Rights included Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry#13Ratification of the Constitution Votes of State Ratifying Conventions Ratification • Se Officially adopted after ratified by New Hampshire. • Once the new Bon Constitutio government convened, they added a Bill of Rights to the Constitution. State Date For Against Delaware December 1787 30 0 Pennsylvania December 1787 46 23 New Jersey December 1787 38 0 Georgia January 1788 26 0 Connecticut January 1788 128 40 Massachusetts February 1788 187 168 Maryland April 1788 63 II South Carolina May 1788 149 73 New Hampshire June 1788 57 47 Virginia June 1788 89 79 New York July 1788 30 27 North Carolina November 1789 194 77 Rhode Island May 1790 34 32#14Structure of the Constitution Preamble: - Statement of purpose Articles: and - - - - - - I: Legislative Branch II: Executive Branch III: Judicial Branch Winde IV: Relations Among the States V: Amendment Process VI: Federal Power VII: Ratification Amendments: - - 27 Total 1st ten are the Bill of Rights We the People dunty, denon and con dan Kat Jahon The United States, in onder Minicle.1.#15Article I: Legislative Branch Bicameral: - Senate Be 2 Senators for each state indu-House of and Representatives • Gence 1 • Based on population Reps serve for 2 year terms Senators serve for 6 year terms Important Powers: - - - - - - Make laws Set taxes Declare war UNITE CON STATES PLURIBUS UNLA NGR RESS his Constitutio - Override Vetoes Borrow money Regulate international and national trade - Print money#16Presi Article II: Executive Branch President and Vice President are elected to 4 year terms • Qualifications: and - - - • ranquilitys Wordain Winde 1 At least 35 years old 14 year resident of the US Natural born citizen Elected by the Electoral College Important powers: - - - - - OF THE Commander-in-Chief butic Grant pardons Make treaties - Appoint federal officers Ensure laws are executed#17Article III: Judicial Branch Supreme Court judges serve for life unless impeached. Judicial power rests • SUPREME E CO SEAL OF THE Important Powers: - . OF THE Decides cases of stitutio dain and nde 1 with US Supreme Court and other courts created by Congress - - Constitutional law and federal law Cases involving ambassadors go straight to Supreme Court Judicial Review comes later (1803 - Marbury v. Madison)#18Other Important Articles: Article V: Amendments: - ndure and - - Amendments are proposed when 2/3 of House and Senate deem it necessary Amendments are proposed when 2/3 of states deem it necessary Amendments must be ratified by 3/4 of state legislatures or by conventions in 3/4 of states • Article VI: Federal Power pro a - Supremacy Clause: Federal law is supreme to state law No religious tests for public office Comm diony#19Important Amendments: Bill of Rights 1. Freedom of religion, of 2. 3. 4. speech, of the press, to assemble, and to petition Right to bear arms No quartering of soldiers dan No unreasonable search and seizure 5. Indictments; Due process; Self-incrimination; Double jeopardy, and rules for Eminent Domain. 6. Right to a fair and speedy public trial, Notice of accusations, Confronting one's accuser, Subpoenas, Right to counsel 7. 8. Right to trial by jury in civil cases No excessive bail & fines or cruel & unusual punishment 9. There are other rights not written in the Constitution 10. All rights not given to Federal Government belong to states and people.#20Other Important Amendments: 13th Amendment abolished slavery 14th Amendment - and ou - à Amendments provide for the common dy Jain and establish this Constitutio Due process and equal protection under the law All persons born in US are citizens 15th Amendment - Right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous servitude#21Other Important Amendments: 18th Amendment - Prohibition of alcohol 19th Amendment: - Women's suffrage 21st Amendment: 22nd Amendment: common de quility provide for the ordain and establish this Constituti Winde 1 Repeals prohibition Presidential term limits 24th Amendment: - Prohibits poll taxes for voting 26th Amendment: - lowers voting age to 18