Presentation Transcript

1. Chapter 8

   Government, Citizenship, and the Constitution.

2. Chapter 8, Section 1

   Goals and Principles of the Constitution
3. The Constitution is divided into three parts. The Preamble, or opening statement. The Articles. The Amendments. The Preamble Sets Goals
4. Defines six goals: To form a more perfect union To establish justice To insure domestic tranquility- peace and order at home. To provide for the common defense To promote the general welfare – well being of all citizens To secure the blessings of liberty The Preamble
5. The main body of the Constitution is dived into seven section called Articles. The first three sections describe the three branches of government. The Legislative Executive Judicial The Articles
6. Article I – establishes the powers and limits of congress. Article II & III- do the same for the President and the courts. Article IV – deals with relations between states and the process for admitting new states. The Articles continued
7. Article V – establishes the process of amending the Constitution. Article VI- states that the Constitution is the “supreme law of the land.” ( states may not make laws that violate the Constitution. Articles VII- sets up the procedure for states to ratify the Constitution. The Articles Continued
8. The Preamble reflects the revolutionary new idea: that a government derives its power from the people. Popular Sovereignty- states that people have the right to alter or abolish their government. Popular Sovereignty
9. Avoid tyranny! Limited powers became a principle of the Constitution Limited Powers- the government only has the powers the Constitution gives it. Limited Powers
10. To further limit the powers of government the framers provided for separation of powers. The Constitution divides the government into three branches. 1. Legislative 2. Executive 3. Judical Separation of Powers
11. Checks and Balances - safeguards against the abuse of power. Each branch of government has the power to check, or limit, the actions of the other two. Checks and Balances
12. Federalism- division of power between the federal government and the states. Federal Government: Coin money, declare war, regulate trade between the states. The States: Regulate trade within their own borders, make rules for state elections, establish schools. Federalism
13. Citizens elect representatives to carry out their own will. Once in office, representatives vote according to their own judgment. They must remain open to the opinions of the people they represent. As a result, members of Congress maintain offices in their home districts. Republicanism
14. The Constitution protects individual rights such as: Freedom of Religion Freedom of Speech Right to Trial by Jury Individual Rights

15. Chapter 8, Section 2

    How the Federal Government Works
16. The first and longest article of the Constitution deals with the Legislative Branch. Article I sets up the Congress to make the nation’s laws. Congress is made up of two bodies: The House of Representatives The Senate The Legislative Branch
17. Larger of the two bodies with 435 members. Representation is based on population. Every state has at least one representative. The House of Representatives
18. The election process: Representatives are elected by the people. Their term consists of two years. They can run for reelection as many times as they want. House of Representatives continued
19. The leader of the House is called the Speaker. One of the most powerful people in the federal government. Regulates debates and controls the agenda. Third inline to be the president. Speaker of the House
20. Based on equal representation. Two Senators for each state. 6 year terms. 17th Amendment: made senators directly elected by the people. The Senate
21. Makes the Nation’s laws. Laws start as proposals called Bills. A new bill may be introduced to the House or Senate. Powers of Congress
22. An apportions bill, which is a bill designed to raise money for the government, must be introduced to the House. If both the House and Senate approve a bill, it is then sent to the President, who must sign it before it becomes a law. Powers of Congress
23. Other powers granted to Congress are: Levy or collect taxes Borrow money Coin money Establish Post Offices Fix standard weights and measures Declare War Powers of Congress cont.
24. Not all the powers of Congress are specifically listed. Article I, Section 8, Clause 18, states Congress “can make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” for carrying out their duties. This was known as the elastic clause, because it enables Congress to stretch its powers to deal with the changing needs of the nation. The Elastic clause
25. More than 10,000 bills are introduced to Congress each year! Congress relies on committees to deal with the bills. Each committee deals with a specific topic such as agriculture, banking, business, defense, education, science, and transportation. Committees
26. Article II of the Constitution sets up the Executive Branch. The Executive Branch sets out the laws and runs the affairs of the National Government. The President is head of the Executive Branch. The Executive Branch
27. Highest elected official. Enforces the Laws. Directs foreign policy. Make treaties with other nations. Appoint ambassadors. Roles of the President
28. Commander and Chief of the armed forces. Suggests new laws. Grant pardons and call special sessions of Congress. Make Speeches to commemorate national Holidays. Give medals to national heroes. The President continued
29. The President is elected for a four year term. The 26nd amendment, which was adopted in 1951, states no President may be elected to more than two complete terms. Electoral College- a system for electing the President. Electing the President
30. Americans do not vote for the President directly. Instead they cote for a group of electors who are pledged to the candidate. The number of electors depends on the number of Senators and Representatives. Electoral College
31. After election day, the electors meet to cast their vote. The elector who wins the majority vote in that state, receives all that states electoral votes. The elector who wins the majority of the votes nationwide becomes the President. Electoral college continued.
32. Supreme Court- highest court in the nation which was created by the Constitution. Judiciary Act 1789 - set up the system of federal courts. The Supreme Court
33. Most federal cases begin in district courts. A party that disagrees with a judge or jury may appeal it. Ask that the decision be reviewed by a higher court. The next court is the appellate court. Judges in this court review the decision and determine whether or not the judge in the lower court interpreted and applied the law correctly. The Lower Courts
34. The highest part of the judicial system. Made up of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. The President appoints them, but Congress must approve of them. Supreme Court
35. It is the highest court of appeals in the nation. Justices serve for life. The main job of the Supreme Court is to serve as the nation’s final court of appeals. Decisions rest on a majority vote of at least five justices. The Supreme court
36. The system of checks and balances allows each of the three branches of government to check, or limit, the power of the other two. The President can veto, or reject actions of Congress. Congress can override, or overrule, the veto. The Supreme court can check both the President and Congress by declaring laws unconstitutional. Checks and Balances
37. Congress’s most extreme check on the President is…….. Impeachment- bring charges of serious wrong doings against the President. The Senate conducts the trial. If two thirds of the Senate votes to convict the President must leave office. Checks and Balances continued.
38. Only two presidents have been impeached throughout our history. President Andrew Jackson President Bill Clinton Both have been impeached by the House. Neither was convicted by the Senate. Impeachment continued

39. Chapter 8, Section 3

    Changing the Constitution
40. The framers did not want to make it easy for Americans to change the Constitution. Article V outlines two ways to propose an amendment. Maybe be proposed by two thirds of both the House and Senate. National convention called by Congress at the request of two thirds of the state Legislatures. The Amendment Process
41. An amendment may be ratified in two ways. 3/4ths of the states legislatures must approve the amendment. An amendment may be approved by special conventions in 3/4ths of the states. Ratification of an Amendment
42. Congress drafted a series of amendments in 1789. In 1791, the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments, became part of the Constitution. The Bill of Rights
43. 1st Amendment- protects the freedom of speech, religion, and the press. Guarantees the right to assemble peacefully and protest the government. There are limits to the 1st Amendment: The press cannot knowingly publish lies about someone. Protecting Individual Liberties
44. 2nd Amendment- the right to bear arms. 3rd Amendment- ended the quartering of troops. 4th Amendment- protects against unlawful search and of home or property. Protecting Against Abuse of Power
45. 5th amendment- people cannot be forced to incriminate, or give evidence against themselves. 6th amendment- guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial, or fair jury. 7th Amendment- provides juries for civil, or noncriminal, trials. Protecting Rights of the Accused.
46. 9th Amendment- stated that citizen’s rights are not limited to those listed in Congress. 10th states that all powers not given to the national government or denied to the states are reserved for the states or for the people. Amendments Nine and Ten
47. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment are known as the Civil War Amendments. 13th – abolished slavery Civil War Amendments
48. 14th Amendment- Guaranteed citizenship to former slaves. 15th Amendment- declared that states may not deny the vote to any citizen on the basis of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” This guaranteed African American men the right to vote. Civil War Amendments
49. 19th Amendment- ratified in 1920, gave women the right to vote. 26th Amendment- lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18. Later Amendments

50. Chapter 8, Section 4

    State and Local Governments
51. The Constitution divides power between the federal government and the states. Federal Government deals with national issues. States deal with more local needs. State Constitutions
52. Each state has its own constitution. Each constitution may vary but they must all conform to the Constitution of the United States. If a conflict arises, the national Constitution prevails. A Frame of Government.
53. Resemble the national Constitution. States constitutions have a preamble and a Bill of Rights. They are longer and more detailed than the national constitution. The state governments also have three branches of government similar to the national government. State Constitutions
54. State constitutions can be changed in multiple ways. Amendments are proposed by the state legislature and approved by the people in the election. Almost half of the states citizens can act directly to change the constitution. Changing Constitutions
55. Constitutional Initiative – sponsors of an amendment gather signatures on a petition. When enough signatures are attained, the petition goes to the legislature or the voters for approval. A state can rewrite the constitution with the approval of the legislature or the people, the state may call a Constitutional convention. Changing Constitutions continued
56. State Governments provide a wide range of services such as…. Maintain law and order Enforce Criminal Law Protect Property Regulate trade. Supervise Public Education States Provide Service
57. Provide public healthcare and welfare programs. Build and Maintain highways. Operate state parks and forests. regulate use of state owned land. Services continued
58. States are responsible for public education . Public schools are paid for and overseen by the state. The states set standards for schools and established recommended course of study. Each state must also build and maintain its own infrastructure, system of roads, bridges, and tunnels. Schools and Infrastructure
59. Local Governments- government on the city, town, county, parish, village, and district level. They are created by entirely by the states and are given only the power the states grant them. Local Government has the greatest impact upon our daily lives. Local Governments
60. State Government sets standards for schools. Local governments such as cities and school districts run the schools. Education is one area where citizens exert a great deal of control. Voters can turn down a school budget. Local Governments and Education
61. Local governments also: Hire police officers, firefighters, and garbage collectors. Provide sewers and water, maintain roads and hospitals, and conduct safety inspections on buildings and restaurants. Other Services

62. Chapter 8, Section 5

    Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
63. Citizen – a person owes loyalty to a particular nation and is entitled to all its rights and protections. To become a citizen of the U.S, you must fulfill three requirements.. What is a Citizen?
64. Born in the U.S (or if one parent is a U.S citizen.) Naturalized- completed the official legal process of becoming a citizen. If you were 18 or younger when your parents were naturalized. What is a Citizen?
65. Immigrant- a person who enters another country in order to settle there. Resident Alien – non citizen living in the country. A Naturalized citizen enjoys every right of a natural-born citizen except one. Only natural born citizens can become President. Becoming a Citizen
66. Civic Virtue - willingness to work for the good of the nation or community even at great sacrifice. The Founding Fathers looked at the Romans as models such as Cincinnatus. “He gave up a peaceful life as a farmer to lead Rome.” Civic Virtue and Democratic Values
67. Patriotism – a feeling of love and devotion toward one’s country. A sense of patriotism inspires Americans to serve their country whether it is.. Respecting property and the laws of the nation. serving in office or even in the military. Patriotism
68. As citizens who live in a republic, it is our duty and responsibility to vote. Obey the laws. Defend the Nation- at age of 18, all men must register for the draft. Serving on a Jury – ( trial by jury) Jury Duty – citizens must take time out from their work and personal lives to decide the fate of others. Responsibilities of a Citizen
69. Serving the Community: Volunteering in hospital, fire departments, or officers. On 9/11/01 MILLIONS of citizens aided in rescue efforts, donated blood, or gave money and supplies. Responsibilities of a Citizen continued