CICERO 2010 1 Constitution The United States. CICERO 2010 2 What Is a Constitution? Pronunciation: kon-sti- too -shuh-n Part of Speech: noun Definitions:

History Beyond The TextbookCICERO


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ConstitutionThe United States



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What Is a Constitution?Pronunciation: kon-sti-too-shuh-n

Part of Speech: nounDefinitions:• a document• a document that states the laws and

creates a government• the way something is established• the beliefs and laws of a country that

establish the powers and roles of the government and guarantees that the nation’s people maintain their rights



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What Is the United States Constitution?

• It is the fundamental law of the United States.

• It was framed and composed at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787.

• The original thirteen states later ratified it.

• It went into effect on March 4, 1789.



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Definitions Mean?What Do These



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The United States Constitution is the highest law of the United States.

It explains the structure of the United States government.

The Constitution names and explains the three branches of the United

States government. It also explains their powers.



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The Three Branches of the United States Government



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Legislative Branch

House of

Representatives

Congress is the first branch, the legislative branch. Congress is

made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Three Branches of the United States

Government

Senate



Executive Branch

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PresidentThe President of the United States leads

the executive branch.


Government



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Judicial Branch

Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court heads the judicial

branch.


Government



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What We Know About the United States Constitution

WHO? the Constitutional Convention

WHAT? a document that states the laws and beliefs of the

United States.

WHEN? September 17, 1787

WHERE? Philadelphia, Pennsylvania



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Contents of the

Constitution

The Preamble

Article One: the Legislative Branch

Article Two: the Presidency

Article Three: the Judiciary

Article Four: the States

Article Five: the Amendment Process

Article Six: the Legal Status of the Constitution

Article Seven: Ratification

Signatures

Twenty-Seven Amendments



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Vocabulary BoosterThe United States Constitution …

• What is an article?• What is a section?• What is an amendment?



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An article is a separate part of a document that deals with a single subject. Articles are divided into sections.

A section is one of several parts.

An amendment is the act or process of changing something for the better.

Vocabulary BoosterThe United States Constitution …



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a document

a document that states the laws and establishes the government

the way something is established

the beliefs and laws of a country that create the powers and role of the government and guarantee the nation’s people maintain their rights.

Does the United States Constitution Fit the

Definition of a Constitution?



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Did You Know That … The United States Constitution has been

amended twenty-seven times.

The first ten amendments are the Bill of Rights.

You can see the original United States Constitution in Washington, D.C., on display at the National Archives and Records Administration.



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What About

thePreamble?



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What Is a Preamble?Pronunciation: pree-am-buhl

Part of Speech: noun

Definition:• an introduction that often gives the

reasons for what follows



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It is an introduction to the United States Constitution.

It informs people that the federal government has authority over what is amended in the Constitution.

What Is the Preamble?



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The Preamble States

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.

“

”



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Does the Preamble Fit the Definition of a Preamble?

It is an introduction.

It gives the reasons for what follows in the document.

Laws and other parts of the Constitution follow it.



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The PreambleWe 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.

“

”

Documents

CICERO 2010 1 Constitution The United States. CICERO 2010 2 What Is a Constitution? Pronunciation: kon-sti- too -shuh-n Part of Speech: noun Definitions: