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United States Government
And the U.S. Constitution
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The Constitution…
• Is the “Supreme Law of the Land”
• It specifically lists all of the powers of the national government.
• It divides power between the national and state gov’ts (federal system)
• Delegated powers--federal• Reserved powers--state
• Spells out our representative democracy -- a gov’t which people elect their leaders.
• It describes a system of checks and balances where each branch can check on the other two so no branch gets too powerful
• It also separates powers to balance the branches
Article I -- The Legislative Branch (Congress)
• This branch makes the laws.• It is divided into two
branches -->• The House of
Representatives and the Senate
• House of Reps has 435 members and each state is represented through population (more people in the state the more reps you get in the House)
• Members of the House are elected every two years. And they are the house that can impeach a president.
• The Senate has 100 members (each state sends two)
• Senators serve six year terms and they are the branch that hear the impeachment trials.
• Both houses can propose bills
Powers of the Legislative Branch
• To borrow money• To raise and lower taxes• To coin money• To set up post offices• To build roads• To declare war• To provide a military• Regulate trade between
states and foreign countries
• ELASTIC CLAUSE:– Allows congress to to
stretch their powers to change with changing times.
On your dry erase boards.
• 1. Where would you look to find all the powers you have as the Legislative Branch?
• 2. What is a representative democracy and give an example of it.
• 3. What are the names of the two houses in the Legislative Branch? Which branch has a longer term?
• 4. What does the Legislative branch do when it comes to laws?
• 5. List two powers you have as our Legislative Branch
Analyze and explain the point of the cartoon
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Article II --> The Executive Branch
(President)• The President enforces the
laws. • He/she is the commander
and chief of the armed forces though he cannot declare war.
• To be president one must be 35 years old, be born in the U.S. and have lived in the U.S. for the past 14 years.
• The President serves four year term. He can serve no more than two terms.
• The president can sign and veto bills
• He appoints federal judges
• He appoints his cabinet (those hired to advise him)
• He also has the power to pardon federal offenders
Flip over your notes
• 6. What is the President’s job when it comes to laws?
• 7. What is on requirement someone must meet before becoming president?
• 8. What is the purpose of the President’s cabinet?
• 9. Besides his cabinet, who else can the President appoint (hire)?
In your groups, analyze and explain the cartoon
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Article III-->Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)
• The judicial branch makes sure that the laws are carried out fairly
• The judicial branch is a system of courts whose head is the supreme court.
• There are 94 federal/district courts in the U.S. today
• Cases may make it all the way to the Supreme Court
• Supreme Court hears about 100 cases a year.
• The court can determine that some laws or actions by our gov’t are unconstitutional
• It also hears cases involving disputes between states and internt’l leaders
• The President appoints these members with the approval of Congress.
• It is a life long appointment
Flip over your notes!
• 10. Is the Supreme Court the only national or federal court? Explain.
• 11. What type of cases does the Supreme Court take?
• 12. What is the Supreme Court’s job when it comes to laws?
• 13. What happens if the Supreme Court feels a law is breaking the Constitution?
In your groups analyze and explain the following cartoon.
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Article IV -->The States.
• This section just shows that states must honor the laws and court decisions of other states.
• For example if a someone flees his state because he is about to be arrested and goes to a state where he did not commit a crime, the new state must send him back
• It talks about how new states can be added to the country.
• Blah, blah, blah, blah
Article VHow to amend (change)the
constitution• The following is the
process in amending the constitution:
• 2/3 of both houses of congress must deem it necessary to propose the amendment or 2/3 of the states can do the same
• Then 3/4 of the states must vote to ratify the amendments
• The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. These were added to protect the rights of the citizens.
• In our 200 + year history there have only been 27 amendments to out constitution
Articles VI and VII
• Article VI just says that if a state law conflicts with a federal law, then the federal law wins
• Whoever cares about Article II, raise your hand.
• Me neither.
Bill of Rights First 10 Amendments to the
Constitution• 1--Freedoms. Ex: Speech,
religion, assembly• 2--Bear arms. Ex: own a
gun• 3--No Quartering Acts• 4--Privacy. Ex. Police need
warrants, need probable cause to enter your house
• 5,6,7--Describe procedures the courts must follow when trying people accused of crimes.
• 8--Cruel and unusual punishment.
• 9--can’t mess with the constitution to deny rights
• 10--all rights not in the constitution go to the states or people
Which Amendment is this cartoon about? Explain.
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With Rights come Responsibilities
• Citizens have responsibilities/ duties to other citizens and to the gov’t
• Ex:– Obey laws
– Know what the laws are
– Respect people in authority (police/teachers)
• Cont: – Paying taxes
– Protect the nation from harm.
– Register for the draft
– Called to and serve on jury
– Parents have resp to take care of children, children have resp to listen to parents.
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