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Originally from http://www.slideshare. net/rkalaukoa U.S. Government Structure & Function Declaration, Articles of Confederation & U.S. Constitution

Basics of the Constitution

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Page 1: Basics of the Constitution

Originally from http://www.slideshare.net/rkalaukoa

U.S. Government Structure & FunctionDeclaration, Articles of Confederation &

U.S. Constitution

Page 2: Basics of the Constitution

Articles of Confederation 1777-1781 Our 1st form of government Established the name of the united states Had many problems Unicameral (one house) legislature called

Congress created from representatives of the 13 states

One vote per state Weak central government No national courts No power to tax No money meant no army Important laws had to be approved by at least

9 states

Page 3: Basics of the Constitution

Articles of Confederation No executive officer to enforce laws No way to control trade between states No way to settle quarrels between

states States had more power

They could tax They had courts States could make currency

Page 4: Basics of the Constitution

Constitutional Convention 1786

Annapolis, MD (aborted due to lack delegates) 1787 – Constitutional Convention

Philadelphia Independence Hall George Washington – president Not all agreed Compromises made Virginia plan-large state plan James Madison New Jersey plan-small state plan Ratified 1788

Page 5: Basics of the Constitution

Preamble “We the People of the United States,

in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Page 6: Basics of the Constitution

Article 1

Legislative Branch Purpose

Make laws 2 houses or bodies of Congress

House of Representatives Senate

Page 7: Basics of the Constitution

House of Representatives 435 members

Based on population (about 1 for every 500,000)

Each state gets at least one representative Term- 2 years

Unlimited terms Qualifications

25 US Citizen- 7 years Resident of state Male or female

Page 8: Basics of the Constitution

Senate 100 Total Senators 2 from each state Term

6 years, 1/3 every of Senators up for re-election every 2 years

Unlimited terms Qualifications

30 years old Citizen for 9 years Resident of the state Male or female

Page 9: Basics of the Constitution

Senate Leaders of the Senate

Vice President - Currently V.P.-Joe Biden Senate pro-tempore - Currently Harry Reid

(D., Nevada) Checks & Balance

Senate has Power of impeachment They are the Jury in the impeachment trial

Page 10: Basics of the Constitution

General information about Congress

Congress (with a capital C) is the name for both the U.S. House of Representatives and The US Senate

Both meet in: Capitol Building in Washington DC Paid the same, approximately $174,

000 a year.

Page 11: Basics of the Constitution

Lawmaking process Job of Congress is to get laws passed to make sure

our country is running smoothly How pass laws

An idea in the form of a “bill” is introduced either in the House of Reps or the Senate

Revenue laws (money laws like taxes, or refunds, etc must start in the House of Representatives)

It goes to a committee where it is heard, fixed, and voted on If it is approved in committee it goes to the floor of the

whichever house it started in and gets voted on. If it passes the first house, then it goes to the next house

Example: Bill introduced in the House of Reps, goes to a House of Reps committee, is voted on in committee and passes, then it goes to the “floor” of the House of Reps and is voted on. If it passed then it is sent to the Senate and the same process starts over again.

Page 12: Basics of the Constitution

Lawmaking Process Bill must be passed by both houses of

Congress Sent to President to sign or veto If President vetoes the bill, Congress needs

a 2/3 vote in both houses to over rides the veto

If President doesn’t act in 10 days, bill automatically becomes law if Congress is in session

Judicial Branch interprets laws to ensure they are within the limits of the Constitution

Page 13: Basics of the Constitution

Duties of Congress, not states, Article 1, Section 8 Money-power to raise, borrow, coin

money Defense-power to declare war, to raise

and support military Ex post facto law

Congress can’t convict someone of an act if that act was legal at the time when it occurred.

Postal duties Make treaties

Page 14: Basics of the Constitution

Federal system (federalism) Delegated Powers- Powers only

belonging to the federal gov’t Ex.-military, postal system, standards,

copyrights, commerce, immigration, declaration of war

Concurrent Powers- shared federal and state powers Ex.- general welfare, courts, levy taxes,

banks, borrow money Reserved Powers-Powers belonging only

to state gov’ts Ex.-schools, local gov’t, marriage regulations

Page 15: Basics of the Constitution

General information about Article 1 – The Legislature

Congress can’t tax goods exported from any state

Each citizen must treat citizens of other states the same as their citizens

Page 16: Basics of the Constitution

Article 2 – The Executive Branch

Purpose to Enforce laws Consists of

President Vice President 15 cabinet members

Page 17: Basics of the Constitution

President Takes office on Jan. 20 following an

election year Term Limits

4 years 2 terms – set by the 22nd amendment

Office located - White House Current President:

Barack Obama

Page 18: Basics of the Constitution

Qualifications & General information Age at least 35 Natural born citizen Live in US for 14 years Male or female General Info:

Only 1 resigned from office - Richard Nixon

Only 1 appointed to office - Gerald Ford 1st African American – Barack Obama

Page 19: Basics of the Constitution

Election of President Electoral college

538 total electoral votes Need 270 to win

If no candidate gets a majority of electors House of Reps decides Each state gets 1 vote

Inauguration Jan. 20

Page 20: Basics of the Constitution

Presidential duties Can call both houses into special

session Veto power Makes appointments for ambassadors,

judges, 15 cabinet members (they must be confirmed by the Senate)

Commander-in–chief Prepares annual budget

Ready by Jan., presented to Congress 2 biggest expenditures

Defense and Social Security

Page 21: Basics of the Constitution

Order of succession

Vice President Speaker of the House President pro-tempore Cabinet- Sec. of State

Page 22: Basics of the Constitution

Cabinet - 15 Sec. of State – foreign affairs Attorney General – chief legal officer Sec. of Defense – defense Sec. of Agriculture – farm programs Sec. of Treasury – coinage and printing of money and

secret service Sec. of Health and Human Service – health and social

security Sec. of Energy – energy programs Sec. of Interior – natural resources and parks Sec. of Labor – settles strikes, working conditions Sec. of Homeland Defense – oversees protection of U.S. Sec. of Education – education Dept. of Transportation – transportation and Coast

Guard Sec. Commerce – industry and business

Page 23: Basics of the Constitution

Article 3 - Judicial Branch

Purpose-to interpret laws and decide on the constitutionality of laws

Federal court system has 3 courts U.S. Supreme U.S. Appellate or Court of Appeals U.S. District

Page 24: Basics of the Constitution

Judicial Branch Judges are appointed by the President Approved by Senate

Term for life No qualifications

Supreme court 9 justices Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.

(conservative) Supreme Court Building in Washington DC

Page 25: Basics of the Constitution

Checks and Balances

Executive Branch- Vetoes Legislative Branch -passes by 2/3

vote in each house Judicial Branch– declares law

unconstitutional

Page 26: Basics of the Constitution

Articles 4 - 7

4 rights of the states 5 how to amend the constitution 6 constitution is supreme law of

the land 7 how the constitution would be

ratified (approved)

Page 27: Basics of the Constitution

Amendments-27 1-10 Bill of Rights 1 speech and press 2 bear arms 4 privacy 6 speedy trial 9 enumeration 12 election of president 13 no slavery

Page 28: Basics of the Constitution

Amendments-27 14 citizenship for blacks 15 black men the right to vote 16 income tax 18 prohibition 19 women right to vote 21 repeal 18 22 president’s term 26 vote at 18