The U.S. Constitution Civics Mr. Growdon. Contents What is the Constitution? What is the Constitution? Background and origin Background and origin Organization

The U.S. The U.S. ConstitutionConstitution

Civics

Mr. Growdon

ContentsContents

What is the Constitution?What is the Constitution? Background and originBackground and origin Organization and Organization and

componentscomponents Follow-up QuestionsFollow-up Questions

What is the Constitution?What is the Constitution?

Supreme Law of the Supreme Law of the USUS

Basic source of legal Basic source of legal authorityauthority

Organizes the Organizes the government into 3 government into 3 branchesbranches

Defines rolesDefines roles Guarantees rightsGuarantees rights

OathOath of the Office of the of the Office of the PresidentPresident

“ “I do solemnly swear I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully that I will faithfully execute the Office of execute the Office of President of the President of the United States, and United States, and will to the best of my will to the best of my ability, preserve, ability, preserve, protect and defend protect and defend the Constitution of the Constitution of the United States.”the United States.”

Article 2, Section 1, Clause 8Article 2, Section 1, Clause 8

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are needed to see this picture.

The US ConstitutionThe US Constitution

Signed by 39 men Signed by 39 men (Delegates) (Delegates) representing 12 of representing 12 of the 13 states (not the 13 states (not R.I.)R.I.)

Is the oldest written Is the oldest written Constitution in use Constitution in use in the world todayin the world today

Preserved in the Preserved in the National Archives in National Archives in Washington, DCWashington, DC



Origin of the ConstitutionOrigin of the Constitution Replaced the Replaced the Articles of Articles of

ConfederationConfederation Completed at the Completed at the

Constitutional Convention Constitutional Convention in Philadelphiain Philadelphia

Authored by many Authored by many Delegates to the Delegates to the ConventionConvention

Adopted on Sept. 17, 1787 Adopted on Sept. 17, 1787 - - “Constitution Day”“Constitution Day”

Ratified in 1788Ratified in 1788



James Madison

RatificationRatificationRatification of the Constitution

Date State Votes

Yes No

1 December 7, 1787 Delaware 30 0

2 December 11, 1787 Pennsylvania 46 23

3 December 18, 1787 New Jersey 38 0

4 January 2, 1788 Georgia 26 0

5 January 9, 1788 Connecticut 128 40

6 February 6, 1788 Massachusetts 187 168

7 April 26, 1788 Maryland 63 11

8 May 23, 1788 South Carolina 149 73

9 June 21, 1788 New Hampshire 57 47

10 June 25, 1788 Virginia 89 79

11 July 26, 1788 New York 30 27

12 November 21, 1789 North Carolina 194 77

13 May 29, 1790 Rhode Island 34 32

Required 9 Required 9 of 13 statesof 13 states

WhenWhen was was it ratified?it ratified?

By which By which state?state?

How many How many states states ultimately ultimately ratified it?ratified it?

Parts of the ConstitutionParts of the Constitution

Organization of the Constitution:Organization of the Constitution: Preamble (Statement of purpose)Preamble (Statement of purpose) 7 Articles (Body)7 Articles (Body)

Within Articles are Sections and ClausesWithin Articles are Sections and Clauses 27 Amendments (additions and 27 Amendments (additions and

changes)changes) First 10 Amendments = “Bill of Rights”First 10 Amendments = “Bill of Rights” Bill of Rights were ratified in 1791; 27th Bill of Rights were ratified in 1791; 27th

Amendment was ratified in 1992Amendment was ratified in 1992


Articles 1 – 3: Balance of powerArticles 1 – 3: Balance of power 1. Legislative (Congress)1. Legislative (Congress) 2. Executive (Presidency)2. Executive (Presidency) 3. Judicial (Courts)3. Judicial (Courts)

Article 4: States’ Powers and LimitsArticle 4: States’ Powers and Limits Discusses relationship between state Discusses relationship between state

and federal governmentand federal government Article 5: AmendmentsArticle 5: Amendments

Process for Amending the Constitution Process for Amending the Constitution Article 6: Federal PowerArticle 6: Federal Power

Establishes the Constitution and federal Establishes the Constitution and federal laws as the “supreme law of the land”laws as the “supreme law of the land”

Article 7: RatificationArticle 7: Ratification Acceptance of the ConstitutionAcceptance of the Constitution


Questions???Questions???

Q: What preceded the Q: What preceded the Constitution?Constitution?

A: The Articles of A: The Articles of ConfederationConfederation


Q: What was the problem with the Q: What was the problem with the Articles of Confederation? Why Articles of Confederation? Why was the Constitution needed?was the Constitution needed?

A: Under the Articles of A: Under the Articles of Confederation the U.S. was a Confederation the U.S. was a weak grouping of states with weak grouping of states with no President or federal no President or federal legislaturelegislature


Q: What does the Oath of the Q: What does the Oath of the Presidency say regarding the Presidency say regarding the Constitution?Constitution?

A: A: “I do solemnly swear that I “I do solemnly swear that I will…preserve, protect and will…preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the defend the Constitution of the United States.”United States.”


Q: What was required to ratify the Q: What was required to ratify the Constitution? When was it Constitution? When was it ratified?ratified?

A: Required 9 states to A: Required 9 states to ratify.ratify.

Was ratified on June 21, Was ratified on June 21, 1788 1788

(by New Hampshire)(by New Hampshire)


Q: How many people signed the Q: How many people signed the Constitution? Can you name Constitution? Can you name any?any?

A: Signed by A: Signed by 3939 Delegates Delegates

George Washington, Ben Franklin,George Washington, Ben Franklin,

James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, etc.etc.


Q: Where is the Constitution Q: Where is the Constitution today?today?

A: National ArchivesA: National Archives

in Washington, DCin Washington, DC


Q: What are the 3 basic Q: What are the 3 basic components of the Constitution?components of the Constitution?

A: PreambleA: Preamble

ArticlesArticles

AmendmentsAmendments


Q: How many Articles are there? Q: How many Articles are there? What are the subsections called?What are the subsections called?

A: A: 77 Articles total Articles total

Broken into Broken into SectionsSections and and ClausesClauses


Q: What does Q: What does eacheach of the first 3 of the first 3 Articles of the Constitution define Articles of the Constitution define (in order)?(in order)?

A: Article 1 = LegislatureA: Article 1 = Legislature

Article 2 = Executive BranchArticle 2 = Executive Branch

Article 3 = Judiciary Article 3 = Judiciary


Q: In which Article and Section is Q: In which Article and Section is the Oath of the Office of the the Oath of the Office of the Presidency spelled out?Presidency spelled out?

A: Article 2, Section 1A: Article 2, Section 1


Q: How many Amendments are there? Q: How many Amendments are there? When was the last Amendment When was the last Amendment ratifiedratified

A: A: 2727 Amendments total Amendments total

The 27th Amendment was The 27th Amendment was submitted in 1789 and ratified in submitted in 1789 and ratified in

1992 1992


Q: What are the first 10 Q: What are the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution Amendments to the Constitution called? called?

Can you identify any of them?Can you identify any of them?

A: First 10 Amendments = A: First 10 Amendments =

““The Bill of Rights” The Bill of Rights”


Q: What are the exact words of Q: What are the exact words of the the PreamblePreamble??

A: “We the people….” A: “We the people….”


Q: What would the U.S. be like if Q: What would the U.S. be like if we didn’t have the Constitution?we didn’t have the Constitution?

A: ??????? A: ???????

Documents

The U.S. Constitution Civics Mr. Growdon. Contents What is the Constitution? What is the Constitution? Background and origin Background and origin Organization