The U.S. The U.S. ConstitutionConstitution

Fill in the blanks on your paper Fill in the blanks on your paper as we go along!as we go along!

Parts of the ConstitutionParts of the Constitution

The The PreamblePreamble

Article 1Article 1

Article 2Article 2

Article 3Article 3

Article 4Article 4

Article 5Article 5Article 6Article 6Article 7Article 7The The AmendmentsAmendments

The PreambleThe Preamble

““We the people…”We the people…”

First paragraph of the First paragraph of the documentdocument

Purpose: Purpose: States 6 goals for States 6 goals for the Constitutionthe Constitution

Article IArticle I

- - Discusses the Discusses the LegislativeLegislative branch of our governmentbranch of our government

- Known as “Congress” and is Known as “Congress” and is divided into two parts:divided into two parts:

The The House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives & the & the SenateSenate

House of Rep’s:House of Rep’s:- Must be Must be 2525 years old years old- Elected by the people Elected by the people for for 22 years per term years per term

- # of Rep’s depends on # of Rep’s depends on populationpopulation of state of state

- The leader of the House The leader of the House of Rep’s is known as the of Rep’s is known as the Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House & & is chosen by members of is chosen by members of the House of Rep’s.the House of Rep’s.

- Based on the Based on the VirginiaVirginia Plan by James MadisonPlan by James Madison

Senate:Senate:- Must be Must be 3030 years old years old- Elected by the people for Elected by the people for 66

years per termyears per term- 22 for every state for every state- Based on the Based on the New JerseyNew Jersey

Plan suggested by William Plan suggested by William PatersonPaterson

Other Stuff:Other Stuff:- Congress must meet at Congress must meet at least once a yearleast once a year

- Members who do not Members who do not show up for meetings are show up for meetings are FINED!FINED!

- Explains how a bill Explains how a bill becomes a becomes a lawlaw

- Congress has the power Congress has the power to establish army & navy, to establish army & navy, create post offices, create post offices, create create courtscourts, declare , declare warwar , regulate commerce , regulate commerce between between statesstates , etc… , etc…

- The “- The “ElasticElastic Clause” Clause” (AKA the Necessary and (AKA the Necessary and Proper Clause)Proper Clause) states states that Congress may pass that Congress may pass any law that is necessary any law that is necessary to carry out the to carry out the previously stated powers.previously stated powers.

Article IIArticle II

- Discusses the Discusses the ExecutiveExecutive Branch of our US gov’tBranch of our US gov’t

- Requirements for Requirements for PresidentPresident & & Vice PresidentVice President

- Discusses how to Discusses how to “impeach” a President“impeach” a President

Presidential Powers:Presidential Powers:- In charge of In charge of militarymilitary & &

national guard, has a national guard, has a cabinetcabinet to aid him, can to aid him, can pardon criminals, makes pardon criminals, makes treaties w/ other nations, treaties w/ other nations, makes sure laws are carried makes sure laws are carried out.out.

Article IIIArticle III- Discusses the - Discusses the JudicialJudicial Branch of our gov’tBranch of our gov’t

--SupremeSupreme Court: Highest court Court: Highest court in the United Statesin the United States

- Judges on the supreme court Judges on the supreme court & lower courts serve & lower courts serve lifelife terms (terms never end!)terms (terms never end!)

Article IIIArticle III

Other Stuff:Other Stuff:- Tells us which cases should Tells us which cases should

be heard by Supreme Court be heard by Supreme Court & lower courts& lower courts

- Guarantees trial by Guarantees trial by juryjury in in criminal courtcriminal court

Article IVArticle IV- Discusses rights that Discusses rights that statesstates

havehave- Says states must recognize Says states must recognize

laws of all other states.laws of all other states.- Criminals who flee must be Criminals who flee must be

returned to state of crimereturned to state of crime- Says power comes from the Says power comes from the

peoplepeople, not a King or Queen, not a King or Queen

Article VArticle V- Discusses the - Discusses the AmendmentAmendment

ProcessProcess- 2 ways to amend Constitution2 ways to amend Constitution

- Majority of members in both Majority of members in both Senate & House of Rep’s must Senate & House of Rep’s must approve, then 3/4ths of states approve, then 3/4ths of states must approvemust approve

- OR just 3/4ths of states must OR just 3/4ths of states must approve approve (never used before!)(never used before!)

Article VArticle VInteresting!Interesting!- At no point does the At no point does the

PresidentPresident have any say-so have any say-so in the Amendment process, in the Amendment process, although he is welcome to although he is welcome to make his opinion clear to the make his opinion clear to the public.public.

Article VIArticle VI

(“(“SupremacySupremacy Clause”) Clause”)

States that no other States that no other document in the nation is document in the nation is more powerful than the more powerful than the

Constitution.Constitution.

Article VIIArticle VII

- Discusses the - Discusses the RatificationRatification ProcessProcess

- For the Constitution to be For the Constitution to be ratified (passed), ratified (passed), ninenine of the of the thirteen states had to thirteen states had to approve it.approve it.

The AmendmentsThe Amendments- ChangesChanges or or additionsadditions to to the Constitutionthe Constitution

- 2727 amendments have amendments have been passed so farbeen passed so far