Chapter 8, Section 3 Changing the Constitution. The Amendment Process Constitutional Amendments can...
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- Slide 1
- Chapter 8, Section 3 Changing the Constitution
- Slide 2
- The Amendment Process Constitutional Amendments can be proposed
by Congress or a National Convention: 1.2/3 of the House or the
Senate can propose an amendment or... 2.Congress can call a
national convention at the request of 2/3 of the state
legislatures. (This has never happened.)
- Slide 3
- The Amendment Process Amendments can be ratified in two ways:
1.They can be approved by the legislatures of of the states. 2.They
can be approved by a special convention in of the states. This has
happened only once. The 21 st Amendment ended Prohibition, making
alcohol once again legal.
- Slide 4
- The Bill of Rights One of the first acts of Congress was to
pass a Bill of Rights. These 10 Amendments were approved by the
states in 1791. The Bill of Rights protects citizens against abuses
of power by the government.
- Slide 5
- Protecting Individual Liberties The First Amendment of the Bill
of Rights protects your freedom of Religion Speech The press The
right of people to assemble (gather together) peacefully To
petition the government for change. Thanks to this amendment, you
can criticize the government and go to any church you like (or none
at all) but there are limits for example, newspapers cannot
knowingly print lies about someone.
- Slide 6
- Protecting Against Abuses of Power Amendments 2, 3 and 4
reflect the colonists experiences with British abuses of power. The
Second Amendment protects the right of the people to keep and bear
arms (weapons.) The Third Amendment states that Congress cannot
quarter troops in a persons home. The Fourth Amendment protects
citizens from unlawful searches of home and property.
- Slide 7
- Protecting Rights of the Accused The 5 th, 6 th, 7 th and 8 th
Amendments deal with the rights of people accused of crimes. The
Fifth Amendment states that people cannot be forced to incriminate
(give evidence against) themselves. The Sixth Amendment guarantees
the right to a speedy and public trial by a fair jury.
- Slide 8
- Protecting Rights of the Accused The Sixth Amendment also gives
people accused of a crime the right to know the charges against
them and to confront their accuser. The Seventh Amendment provides
for juries for civil (non- criminal) trials. The Eighth Amendment
forbids cruel and unusual punishment and prevents judges from
ordering excessive bail.
- Slide 9
- The 9 th and 10 th Amendments Many people opposed adding a Bill
of Rights because they believed that Americans might lose certain
rights that were not specifically listed in the Constitution. The
Ninth Amendment states that our rights are not limited to those
listed in the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment states that all
powers not given to the national government are reserved for the
states.
- Slide 10
- Later Amendments Since the Bill of Rights, there has only been
17 more Amendments. Most of them relate to the spread of democracy
to other people. The Bill of Rights did not include voting rights.
They would be included in later amendments. The Nineteenth
Amendment gave women the right to vote (1920.)
- Slide 11
- The Civil War Amendments After the Civil War ended, the 13 th,
14 th and 15 Amendments were added to help African Americans. The
Thirteenth Amendment abolished (destroyed) slavery. The Fourteenth
Amendment guaranteed citizenship to former slaves. The Fifteenth
Amendment stated that men of any color had the right to vote.
- Slide 12
- Chapter 8, Section 4 State and Local Governments
- Slide 13
- State Constitutions The Constitution divides power between the
federal government and the states. Each of the 50 states has a
constitution to frame their governments. Though none are the same,
all of them are compatible with the U.S. Constitution.
- Slide 14
- State Constitutions Most state constitutions look a lot like
the U.S. Constitution they start with a preamble and include a bill
of rights and three branches of government. However, they are also
usually longer and more detailed. Which one is followed if there is
a conflict between the two?
- Slide 15
- Changing Constitutions State Constitutions can be changed a
number of ways, but in the most common method the legislature
proposes an amendment to be approved by voters. Citizens can also
propose an amendment by getting signatures of support. The
amendment is then voted on by the legislature or the voters. This
is called a constitutional initiative.
- Slide 16
- States Provide Services State government influences your daily
life more than the federal government does. States maintain law and
order, enforce criminal law, protect property and regulate
business. State governments also supervise education, provide
health and welfare programs, build highways, and operate state
parks and forests.
- Slide 17
- States Provide Services Each state must build and maintain its
own infrastructure, or system of roads, bridges and tunnels. To
maintain high standards, state governments license people who serve
you, like doctors, lawyers and teachers. When you are old enough to
drive (God help us all) the state will test you before giving you
your license. State police also keep highways safe and protect us
from criminals.
- Slide 18
- Local Governments The Constitution doesnt mention local
governments (county, city, town, etc.) Local governments are
created entirely by the states and have only those powers and
functions that states give them. Local governments have the most
impact on us. It is at the local level that we have the greatest
influence on our government. Bud Moran, Tribal Council
Chairman
- Slide 19
- Local Governments and Education The service that local
governments spend the most money on is education. Though the state
sets education standards and guidelines, its the local governments
that run the schools. Education is one area of local government
where citizens have a great deal of control. They may serve on the
school board and vote on the schools budget.
- Slide 20
- Other Services Local governments hire and support firefighters,
police and garbage collectors. They provide sewers and water,
maintain local roads and hospitals and conduct safety inspections.
Local government has also provided more than just basic needs, like
libraries, parks, museums and stadiums.