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The U.S. Constitution. Test on Thursday, October 25, 2007. What is a constitution?. A plan of government that describes the different parts of the government and their duties and powers. U.S. Constitution. Written in 1787 Became the law in 1788.
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The U.S. Constitution Test on Thursday, October 25, 2007
What is a constitution? • A plan of government that describes the different parts of the government and their duties and powers.
U.S. Constitution • Written in 1787 • Became the law in 1788
The Articles of Confederationthe first attempt to write a constitution for the U.S. Look at the timeline on page 53 in “We the People” • drafted or written in __________ • ratified or approved in _________
The Articles of Confederationthe first attempt to write a constitution for the U.S. List the two problems that made it difficult to write and accept the Articles of Confederation and the two solutions. Look at pages 55-58 in “We the People”
Articles of Confederationpages 55-58 in “We the People” Problem 1: Solution: Problem 2: Solution:
Articles of Confederationpages 55-58 Problem 1: Fear of a strong national government. Solution: Create a weak national government. Problem 2: Fear that some states would dominate others in the national government. Solution: Give each state one vote.
Articles of Confederationpages 55-58 What were the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation? Weaknesses: • . • . • . • . • .
Articles of Confederationpages 55-58 in “We the People” Weaknesses: • No money and no power to get it. • No power over the state governments and their citizens. • Unenforceable trade agreements • Unfair competition among the states. • Threats to citizens’ right to property.
United States Constitutionpage 173 in textbook Three Parts- Preamble, Articles, Amendments 1. Preamble a. states the purpose of the Constitution b. begins with three words- ___ ____ ______ c. lists six goals of the Constitution 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
United States Constitutionpage 173 Three Parts- Preamble, Articles, Amendments 1. Preamble a. states the purpose of the Constitution b. begins with three words- We the People c. lists six goals of the Constitution 1. form a more perfect union 2. establish justice 3. insure domestic tranquility 4. provide for the common defense 5. promote the general welfare 6. secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity
2. Articles a. There are ____ articles in the Constitution. b. describe the organization of the government c. include what the three branches of government are and do, how they interact with each other and how the federal and state governments split their duties
3. Amendments (page 187) a. changes or additions to the Constitution b. How many are there? _____ c. How is an amendment added or ratified? ___ of the members of each house of Congress and ___ of the state legislatures
3. Amendments (page 187) a. changes or additions to the Constitution b. How many are there? __27__ c. How is an amendment added or ratified? 2/3 of the members of each house of Congress and 3/4 of the state legislatures d. Bill of Rights • They are the first ____ amendments. • They describe the rights of the people. • They were added in the year 1791
Basic Facts of the Constitutional Conventionpages 150-151 • How many people attended the convention? • Where did it take place? • When did it happen? • Why did they gather? • Who is considered “the father of the Constitution”?
Virginia Plan “big” states New Jersey Plan “little” states What did each plan recommend?pages 65-67
Virginia Plan A strong national gov’t that could make and enforce its laws; collect taxes Federal system included national and state governments Three branches Two house legislature Number of reps depends on size of population or money New Jersey Plan Keep the Articles Congress would have only one house with the power to tax, trade, and have control over the states Three branches Equal representation of the states in Congress What did each plan recommend?pages 65-67
The Legislative Branch, Congress, makes the laws.big states vs. little statesPages 68-70 • What were the disagreements about representation? • What was the Great Compromise? • What powers did the Constitution give to Congress? • How can Congress “check” the other two branches of government?
The Legislative Branch, Congress, makes the laws.big states vs. little states • What were the disagreements about representation? The big states want to have more votes because they have more people; the small states want equal representation, so they are not overpowered by the big states. 2.What was the Great Compromise?A two-house Congress The House of Representatives would be based on population and the Senate would have equal representation (Two senators from each state.) 3.What powers did the Constitution give to Congress? to lay and collect taxes, to pay debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare, to regulate commerce with other nations and among states, to declare war, to raise an army and navy, to coin money and to impeach officials 4. How can Congress “check” the other two branches of government?Impeachment- executive and judicial branches
Powerspages 70-71 • What is the “necessary and proper” clause? Congress has the power to make all other laws that are “necessary and proper”; also called the elastic clause. 2. What powers did the national government have? • Federal law is supreme. • Congress can organize and use state militias for national service. • Congress can create new states, guarantee each state is a republican form of government and protect the states from invasion or domestic violence.
Limitspage 71 What limits were on the national government? • Cannot ban the slave trade before 1808 • Cannot suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus except in emergencies • Cannot pass any ex post facto laws • Cannot pass any bills of attainder • Cannot tax anything exported from a state • Cannot take money from the treasury without a law • Cannot grant titles of nobility • Cannot punish descendants of people convicted of treason • Cannot require public officials to hold any particular religious beliefs; cannot make laws to set up a religion
Three Branches of Government 1. Legislative branch- makes the laws (page 69) includes the two houses of Congress a. the House of Representatives b. the Senate 2. Executive Branch- enforces the laws includes the President, Vice-President and the Cabinet (page 93) 3. Judicial Branch- interprets the laws includes the Supreme Court and U. S. courts (page 94)
Barack Obama (D) Elected in 2006 Richard Durbin (D) Elected in 1996 and 2002 Senators from Illinois
Judicial Branch • What is judicial review? the power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of a law or treaty
