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THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION BY: Raechel
Alequin
PREAMBLE:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the
common defence, 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.
FULL TEXT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
-The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land
-It was written in 1787 in Philidepahia by the Continental Congress
-Their main objective was to outline the structure of a new, and strong central goverment.
-The people can change the U.S. Constitution
Three Branches of Government:1.) Legislative2.) Executive3.) Judicial
Legislative Branch
• The legislative branch of government is made up of the Congress and government agencies, such as the Government Printing Office and Library of Congress, that provide assistance to and support services for the Congress. Article I of the Constitution established this branch and gave Congress the power to make laws. Congress has two parts, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Executive Branch
• The executive branch of Government makes sure that the laws of the United States are obeyed. The President of the United States is the head of the executive branch of government. This branch is very large so the President gets help from the Vice President, department heads (Cabinet members), and heads of independent agencies
Judical Branch
•The judicial branch of government is made up of the court system. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. Article III of the Constitution established this Court and all other Federal courts were created by Congress. Courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws, how they are applied, and whether they break the rules of the Constitution.
Bill of Rights
-The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights.
-They were adopted in 1791 in order to meet demands for the signature ofMassachutes and other states to the Constitution.
-Confirms the fundamental rights of citizens.
Bill of Rights:
1-freedom of worship, speech, press, right of peaceful assembly, right to petition the government2-right of citizens to bear arms3-troops may not be quartered in private homes without owner's consent4-guards against unreasonable searches, arrests, seizures of property5-requires indictment by a grand jury for major crimes before trial, prohibits repeated trials for the same offense, forbids punishment without process & that you don't have to testify against yourself6-guarantees a speedy public trial for criminal offenses, trial by an unbiased jury, legal counsel for the accused, and that witnesses must attend the trial in the presence of the accused7-guarantees trial by jury in civil cases in anything valued at more than 20 US dollars8-forbids excessive bail or fines and cruel or unusual punishment9-people have other rights than those mentioned in the Constitution10-powers not delegated to the federal government belong to the states or the people
Founding Fathers: All men having power ought
to be distrusted to a certain degree.
-James Madison, speech at the Constitutional Convention,
July 11, 1787
Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy,
wealthy, and wise.
-Benjamin Franklin, Advice to a Young Tradesman,
1748
We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men
are created equal." - Thomas Jefferson
Questions:What impact will this document make on my life?
Will my freedom be restricted?Is equality evenly spread among all?
Does the Bill of Rights encompass all areas of indiviual?
Is this document a fair “law”?How are we protected if we are accused of
crime?
References:
Consent of the Governed: A Study of American Government,
Scott Foresman and Company; Glenview, Illinois; 1987.
http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.htmllhttp://www.usconstitution.com/
