The United States Constitution

The Basic Principles• The Constitutional Convention

▫1787 – in Philadelphia ▫They decided the new

government would be based on the ideas of limited government and representative government Limited government = there are

checks on the government so it cannot become too powerful

Representative government = the people have a role in the government

▫The government would be divided into three branches. Executive, judicial and

legislative

The Great Compromise•Representation

▫Senate: (upper house) would be made up of two delegates (2 from each state)

▫House of Representatives: (lower house) would be based on population

•Executive Branch (President)▫Single executive chosen by the

Electoral College – electors selected by individual states

The Great Compromise• Legislative Branch (Congress)

▫Senate – originally selected by state legislatures, the 17th Amendment changed it to election by the people

▫House of Representatives – elected by the people

• Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)▫National judiciary = Supreme

Court and lower courts▫Supreme Court justices

appointed by the president and confirmed by Senate

The Basic Principles

•The Constitution has three parts:▫Preamble▫Articles 1-7▫Amendments

First 10 amendments are called “The Bill of Rights”

Preamble We the People, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice,

insure (ensure) domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense promote the general welfare and secure the blessings to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

•Outlines the six goals of government:▫Establish justice▫Ensure domestic tranquility▫Provide for the common defense▫Promote the general welfare▫Secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves▫Secure the blessing of liberty to our

posterity

Preamble• Establish justice: Outline measures for people

to air complaints and bring justice to those who deserve it

• Ensure domestic tranquility: Keep the peace• Provide for the common defense: Raise an

army for protection• Promote the general welfare: Allow everyone

to benefit for our government• Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves:

Protect our country’s values for ourselves• Secure the blessings of liberty to our

posterity: Protect our country for future generations

The Articles:• Article I

▫ Describes the legislative branch (Congress)

▫ Outlines duties, powers and qualifications

• Article II▫ Describes the executive branch

(President)▫ Outlines duties, powers and

qualifications for the President and Vice President

▫ Describes the process for electing the president and vice president

• Article III▫ Creates the Supreme Court ▫ Makes the Supreme Court head of

the judicial branch

The Articles:• Article IV

▫Explains the relationship between the states and the national government

• Article V▫Describes the process for amending,

or changing, the Constitution• Article VI

▫Declares the Constitution, acts of Congress and treaties the “supreme law of the land” Also known as the supremacy clause

• Article VII▫Sets out the process for ratifying, or

formally approving, the Constitution

Six Principles of Government• Popular sovereignty – the power of

the U.S. government comes from the people▫The government can only govern

as long as it has the consent of the people

▫“government of the people, by the people, for the people” Abraham Lincoln

• Federalism – describes the relationship between the states and the national government▫The state and the federal

governments have different duties and responsibilities

Six Principals of Government• Separation of Powers –

division of duties and responsibilities for each branch of government

• Checks and Balances – Each branch has duties that “check” the power of the other two branches▫Example: President

nominates federal judges▫Example: Senate approves

or rejects the presidential candidates

Six Principals of Government• Judicial Review – gives power to the

courts ▫The courts can rule on the

constitutionality of a law or action of a local, state or the national government

▫Constitutionality = whether or not the law or action violates the U.S. Constitution.

• Limited Government – limits or restricts the power of government to do certain things and not others.▫The Bill of Rights lists freedoms that

people have that the government may not take away.