1 The United States of America Constitution Separation of Powers

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TheTheUnited States of United States of

AmericaAmerica

ConstitutionConstitution

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers

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VocabularyVocabulary


Power in the Federal Power in the Federal Government that is divided Government that is divided

between the Executive, between the Executive, Judicial and Legislative Judicial and Legislative

BranchesBranches

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Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Each branch of the Each branch of the government checks the government checks the

power of the other power of the other branchesbranches

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LegislativeLegislative

Makes laws to govern our Makes laws to govern our countrycountry

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ExecutiveExecutive

Carries out the laws that Carries out the laws that have been passed by the have been passed by the

LegislatureLegislature

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JudicialJudicial

Interprets or defines the Interprets or defines the laws laws

Headed by the Supreme Headed by the Supreme CourtCourt

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RatifyRatify

To formally approve To formally approve somethingsomething

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AmendAmend

To change or revise To change or revise somethingsomething

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ArticleArticle

One of the sections of a One of the sections of a document (like the US document (like the US

Constitution)Constitution)

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How Should the Powers of How Should the Powers of the Government be the Government be

Divided?Divided?•Who will make the laws?Who will make the laws?

•Who will see that these laws Who will see that these laws are obeyed?are obeyed?

•Who will make sure the laws Who will make sure the laws are “good” laws?are “good” laws?

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American Government American Government Similar to the Structure of Similar to the Structure of

a Treea TreeTrunkTrunk

The ConstitutionThe Constitution

3 Branches3 BranchesLegislativeLegislativeExecutiveExecutiveJudicialJudicial

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American Government American Government Similar to the Structure of Similar to the Structure of

a Treea TreeTrunkTrunk

The ConstitutionThe Constitution

3 Branches3 BranchesLegislativeLegislativeExecutiveExecutiveJudicialJudicial

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Each branch has different Each branch has different responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Checks & BalancesChecks & BalancesEach branch looks out & Each branch looks out &

checks to see if the other 2 checks to see if the other 2 branches are doing their branches are doing their

jobsjobs

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Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

Makes laws to govern the Makes laws to govern the countrycountry

Defined in the Great Defined in the Great CompromiseCompromise

Includes the House of Includes the House of Representative Representative

& the Senate& the Senate

Checks the Judicial & Executive Checks the Judicial & Executive BranchesBranches

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Executive BranchExecutive Branch

Carries out the laws that are Carries out the laws that are passed by the legislaturepassed by the legislature

Creates a chief executiveCreates a chief executive

Discussed having 2 leaders but Discussed having 2 leaders but much concern about lack of much concern about lack of cooperation between the two cooperation between the two

leadersleaders

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Executive Branch (cont.)Executive Branch (cont.)Decided on one leader to be Decided on one leader to be

called “President”called “President”

Checks the Checks the Legislative & Judicial Legislative & Judicial

BranchesBranches

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Judicial BranchJudicial BranchInterprets or defines the lawsInterprets or defines the laws

((makes sure our laws are good)makes sure our laws are good)

Headed by the Supreme CourtHeaded by the Supreme Court

Judges are appointed by the Judges are appointed by the President & approved by the President & approved by the

SenateSenate

Checks the Legislative & Checks the Legislative & Executive BranchExecutive Branch

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Checks & BalancesChecks & Balances• Prevents one branch from becoming too Prevents one branch from becoming too

powerfulpowerful

• Each branch has its own specific Each branch has its own specific responsibilitiesresponsibilities

• Each branch has separate powersEach branch has separate powers

• Each branch checks the other 2 branchesEach branch checks the other 2 branches– Each branch is balancedEach branch is balanced

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September 17, 1787September 17, 1787

Approved Constitution Approved Constitution

of the United Statesof the United States

Sent the Constitution to Sent the Constitution to the states to be ratified the states to be ratified

(approved)(approved)

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June 21, 1788June 21, 1788

New Jersey became the New Jersey became the 99thth state to ratify the state to ratify the

ConstitutionConstitution

The amount required by The amount required by the Articles of the Articles of Confederation Confederation

to become lawto become law

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United States United States began to function began to function

under the under the new government plannew government plan

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Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin

Commented about a Commented about a carved ½ sun on the back carved ½ sun on the back

of his chair:of his chair:

The sun is risingThe sun is rising

Our country is on a fresh Our country is on a fresh start as a new nation!start as a new nation!

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USConstitution

Preamble(Introduction)

Main Body(7 Articles)

Amendments(27 changes)

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Divisions of the Divisions of the ConstitutionConstitution

• The introduction paragraph The introduction paragraph

• We the people . . . We the people . . .

1.1. PreamblePreamble

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• 7 Articles7 Articles

• 11stst 3 articles deal with the 3 3 articles deal with the 3 separate branches of the separate branches of the governmentgovernment

• Last 4 articles deal with the powers Last 4 articles deal with the powers of the states and procedures to of the states and procedures to ratify and amend the Constitutionratify and amend the Constitution

2. 2. Main BodyMain Body

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• Article 1Article 1– Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

• Article 2Article 2– Executive BranchExecutive Branch

• Article 3Article 3– Judicial BranchJudicial Branch



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• Article 4Article 4– Relationships Among StatesRelationships Among States

• Article 5Article 5– Amending the ConstitutionAmending the Constitution

• Article 6Article 6– Supreme Law of the LandSupreme Law of the Land



• Article 7Article 7– Ratifying the ConstitutionRatifying the Constitution

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• Changes to the ConstitutionChanges to the Constitution

• Currently 27 amendmentsCurrently 27 amendments

3. 3. AmendmentsAmendments

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• Amendment 1Amendment 1– Freedom of religion, press, speech, Freedom of religion, press, speech,

assembly and petitionassembly and petition

• Amendment 2Amendment 2– Right to bear armsRight to bear arms

• Amendment 3Amendment 3– Quartering of soldiersQuartering of soldiers


3.3. AmendmentsAmendments

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• Amendment 4Amendment 4– Searches and seizuresSearches and seizures

• Amendment 5Amendment 5– Life, liberty, and propertyLife, liberty, and property

• Amendment 6Amendment 6– Rights of the accusedRights of the accused



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• Amendment 7Amendment 7– Right to trial by juryRight to trial by jury

• Amendment 8Amendment 8– Bail and punishmentBail and punishment

• Amendment 9Amendment 9– Rights of the peopleRights of the people



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• Amendment 10Amendment 10– Rights of the stateRights of the state

• Amendment 11Amendment 11– Suits against statesSuits against states

• Amendment 12Amendment 12– Election of the PresidentElection of the President



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• Amendment 13Amendment 13– Abolition of slaveryAbolition of slavery

• Amendment 14Amendment 14– Civil rights in the statesCivil rights in the states

• Amendment 15Amendment 15– Black suffrageBlack suffrage



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• Amendment 16Amendment 16– Income taxIncome tax

• Amendment 17Amendment 17– Direct election of SenatorsDirect election of Senators

• Amendment 18Amendment 18– ProhibitionProhibition



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• Amendment 19Amendment 19– Women’s SuffrageWomen’s Suffrage

• Amendment 20Amendment 20– ““Lame Duck” periodLame Duck” period

• Amendment 21Amendment 21– Repeal of ProhibitionRepeal of Prohibition



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• Amendment 22Amendment 22– Presidential term of officePresidential term of office

• Amendment 23Amendment 23– Voting in the District of ColumbiaVoting in the District of Columbia

• Amendment 24Amendment 24– Abolition of poll taxesAbolition of poll taxes



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• Amendment 25Amendment 25– Presidential disability and successionPresidential disability and succession

• Amendment 26Amendment 26– Eighteen-year-old voteEighteen-year-old vote

• Amendment 27Amendment 27– Congressional pay raisesCongressional pay raises



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Phrases or Sections in Phrases or Sections in ItalicizedItalicized

Italicized means script Italicized means script writingwriting

Indicates parts of the Indicates parts of the Constitution that are no Constitution that are no longer in effect due to longer in effect due to

passage of time or passage of time or changes made by changes made by

AmendmentsAmendments

Documents

1 The United States of America Constitution Separation of Powers