The story The story of the U.S. of the U.S. ConstitutioConstitutio

nn

The story The story of the U.S. of the U.S. ConstitutioConstitutio

nn Liberty TreeLiberty Tree

Magna CartaMagna Carta English Bill English Bill of Rightsof Rights

Liberty TreeLiberty Tree

FundamenFundamental Orders tal Orders

of of ConnecticConnectic

utut

MayfloweMayflower Compactr Compact

Town Town Hall Hall

MeetingsMeetings

House of House of BurgessBurgess

eses

Articles of Articles of ConfederationConfederation

ContinenContinental tal

CongressCongress

U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution

At the At the Constitutional Constitutional Convention, Convention,

the delegates the delegates created a new created a new plan for the plan for the

U.S. U.S. government government that focused that focused

on two things.on two things.

Structure and

Function

Structure and

Function

StructureStructureStructureStructure is the framework of our government.

structureWhat do you notice What do you notice

about the about the structure of a of a tree?tree?

What do you notice What do you notice about the about the structure of a of a

tree?tree?

limbslimbs

root systemroot system

branchesbranches

leavesleaves

tree barktree bark

three

JudicialJudicial

LegislativeLegislative

ExecutiveExecutive

The government structure has three branches.

StructureStructure

LegislativLegislative Branch:e Branch:StructureStructure

SenateSenate •2 per state2 per state•6-year 6-year termsterms

House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

•based on based on populationpopulation•2-year 2-year termsterms

Elected by the peopleElected by the people

BicameralBicameral = = made of two made of two

houseshouses

StructureStructure

Executive Executive Branch:Branch:

StructureStructure

•President President (4-year (4-year term)term)

•Vice-PresidentVice-President

•Cabinet MembersCabinet Members

•AppointeesAppointees

StructureStructureExecutive Executive Branch:Branch:StructureStructure

Vice-PresidentVice-President PresidentPresident Secretary of Secretary of StateState

Joe BidenJoe Biden Barak ObamaBarak Obama Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton

StructureStructure

Judicial Judicial Branch:Branch:

StructureStructure

•U. S. Supreme Court U. S. Supreme Court (life-terms)(life-terms)

•District Courts District Courts (appointed)(appointed) •County and Local Courts County and Local Courts (elected)(elected)

•U. S. Supreme Court U. S. Supreme Court (life-terms)(life-terms)

•District Courts District Courts (appointed)(appointed) •County and Local Courts County and Local Courts (elected)(elected)

functionfunction

provideprovidess shadeshade

home home for for

some some animaanima

lsls

holdsholds soilsoil inin placeplace

What is the What is the functionfunction of a of a tree?tree?

• provide for provide for the common the common

defensedefense

• ensure ensure domestic domestic

tranquilitytranquility

• promote promote the general the general

welfarewelfare

• establish justicejustice

•secure the blessings of liberty to secure the blessings of liberty to

ourselves, and our ourselves, and our posterity•secure the blessings of liberty to secure the blessings of liberty to

ourselves, and our ourselves, and our posterity

The preamblepreamble to the Constitution tells the function or WHAT the

government does for the people.

The preamblepreamble to the Constitution tells the function or WHAT the

government does for the people.

Idea may Idea may become a become a bill bill

(proposed law) (proposed law) in House of in House of

Representatives Representatives or Senateor Senate

•MakesMakes lawslaws

Legislative Branch:FunctionFunction

Legislative Branch:FunctionFunction

U.S. U.S. CongressCongress•ElectedElected byby thethe peoplepeople

People discuss ideas People discuss ideas and tell and tell

representativesrepresentatives in in CongressCongress

Bill becomes a law if Bill becomes a law if approved by both approved by both houses and signed houses and signed by the Presidentby the President

Executive Branch: Function

Executive Branch: Function

The White The White HouseHouse

•Ensures that Ensures that the laws are the laws are carried outcarried out

•Elected by Elected by the people the people

and electoral and electoral college college systemsystem

Judicial Branch: Judicial Branch: FunctionFunction

Judicial Branch: Judicial Branch: FunctionFunction

Supreme Supreme CourtCourt

•Interprets the laws (decides if laws are fair)•Tries civil and criminal cases in lower courts

•Nine justices on Nine justices on U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Supreme Court

•AppointedAppointed byby PresidentPresident andand approvedapproved byby CongressCongress

Each branch checks and balances the other

branches.

Each branch checks and balances the other

branches.

PresidentPresidentCongress Supreme

CourtCourt

Legislative branchLegislative branch can can remove judges from officeremove judges from office

Executive branchExecutive branch can veto law can veto lawLegislative branchLegislative branch makes laws makes laws

Checks and BalancesChecks and BalancesChecks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Legislative branchLegislative branch can can override presidential override presidential veto with a 2/3 voteveto with a 2/3 vote

Judicial branchJudicial branch can can declare a law declare a law

unconstitutionalunconstitutional

Executive branch appoints Supreme Court

justices

LegislativeLegislative branch branch hashas toto approveapprove thethe appointmentappointment ofof

thethe justicesjustices

House of House of Representatives Representatives brings charges against brings charges against the President the President (impeach)(impeach)

Legislative branchLegislative branch can remove can remove president from president from officeoffice

Legislative branchLegislative branch can remove can remove president from president from officeoffice

Senate holds a trial Senate holds a trial and 2/3 vote needed and 2/3 vote needed to remove President to remove President from officefrom office

The U.S. The U.S. Constitution has Constitution has

seven articles that articles that explain the explain the

structure and structure and function of the function of the government.government.

The U.S. The U.S. Constitution has Constitution has

seven articles that articles that explain the explain the

structure and structure and function of the function of the government.government.

Article 1: Legislative BranchArticle 1: Legislative Branch

Article 2: Executive BranchArticle 2: Executive Branch

Article 3: Judicial BranchArticle 3: Judicial Branch

Article 4: Relations Among StatesArticle 4: Relations Among States

Article 5: Amending the Article 5: Amending the ConstitutionConstitution

Article 6: National SupremacyArticle 6: National Supremacy

Article 7: RatificationArticle 7: Ratification

The The structurestructure and and functionfunction

of our of our government government are based on are based on

five basic five basic principles.principles.

Five Basic Five Basic Principles of the Principles of the

ConstitutionConstitution

Limited governmentovernment

Separation of Separation of powerspowers

Popular Popular sovereigntysovereignty

Checks and Checks and balancesbalances

FederalisFederalismm

Indivivual Rights

RepublicanismRepublicanism

““Sovereignty”Sovereignty” comes from comes from

“sovereign” which “sovereign” which means ruler.means ruler.

““Popular”Popular” means people. means people...““Popular”Popular” means people. means people...

Popular Popular sovereignty sovereignty == people choosepeople choose

Separation of Separation of powerspowers divides the divides the

operation of operation of government into government into

three equal three equal branches.branches.

Each branch Each branch of the of the

government government checks and balances, or , or monitors, the monitors, the power of the power of the

other two other two branches.branches.

Since King George III Since King George III had had unlimitedunlimited power, power,

the writers of the the writers of the U.S. Constitution U.S. Constitution wanted “we the wanted “we the

people” to put people” to put limits on the government.

Since King George III Since King George III had had unlimitedunlimited power, power,

the writers of the the writers of the U.S. Constitution U.S. Constitution wanted “we the wanted “we the

people” to put people” to put limits on the government.The Constitution The Constitution

outlined exactly what outlined exactly what the government could the government could

do.do.

FederalismFederalism is the division is the division and sharing of powers and sharing of powers between the state and between the state and national government.national government.

FederalismFederalism is the division is the division and sharing of powers and sharing of powers between the state and between the state and national government.national government.

National PowersNational Powers

•maintain armed maintain armed forcesforces

•coin moneycoin money

•declare wardeclare war

•make foreign make foreign policypolicy

State PowersState Powers

•maintain schoolsmaintain schools

•conduct electionsconduct elections

•provide public provide public safetysafety

•regulate trade in regulate trade in statestate

Powers Shared by National Powers Shared by National and State Governmentsand State Governments

•raise taxesraise taxes

•administer criminal justiceadminister criminal justice

•provide for public welfareprovide for public welfare

•charter bankscharter banks

•borrow moneyborrow money

Republicanism

• A nation where the people elect representatives to make laws for them.

Individual Rights

• Personal freedoms protected from the government. Example: Bill of Rights – Freedom of Religion, Right to Bear Arms, etc.

Rooted in these Rooted in these five principles, five principles,

the U.S. the U.S. Constitution has Constitution has endured since endured since

1787.1787.

Rooted in these Rooted in these five principles, five principles,

the U.S. the U.S. Constitution has Constitution has endured since endured since

1787.1787.

This living document This living document protectsprotects the the rights of the individuals by rights of the individuals by limiting the powerlimiting the power of the of the

government.government.

Visual Metaphor:Visual Metaphor:

How is the U.S. government like a How is the U.S. government like a tricycle?tricycle?

Visual Metaphor:Visual Metaphor:

How is the U.S. government like a How is the U.S. government like a tricycle?tricycle?

Handle bars =Handle bars = ConstitutionConstitution

Platform = Separation of powers

Label the parts of the tricycle Label the parts of the tricycle with these other words.with these other words.

The PeopleThe People

Executive Executive BranchBranch

Legislative Legislative BranchBranch

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch

PresidentPresident

CongressCongress

Supreme CourtSupreme Court

Checks and Checks and BalancesBalances

The foundation of our The foundation of our government and the government and the

supreme law of the landsupreme law of the land