Post on 08-Jan-2018
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US Constitution Handbook
The constitution is a living document with timeless ideas and changes with the times.
• Preamble – opening words that state the purpose
•We The People ……..
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.
7 Principles of the Constitution• 1. Popular sovereignty – people rule• 2. Republicanism – people vote for
representatives• 3. federalism – power is shared between
national and state government• 4. separation of powers – government is
divided into 3 branches• 5. checks and balances – each branch of
government has control over the other• 6. limited government – ALL must obey laws
– govt. is not ALL powerful• 7. individual rights – all people have basic
rights
7 Principles
• Popular Sovereignty• Republicanism• Federalism• Separation of Powers• Checks and Balances• Limited Government• Individual Rights
3 Branches of Government
Legislative Executive Judicial
Congress Vice President
Supreme Court
President
House of Representatives
# based on State population
Equal representation
2 per state
JOB = MAKE LAWS
JOBS = COMMAND MILITARY, MAKE TREATIES & FOREIGN POLICY AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP
Federal Courts
JOB = INTERPRET LAWS
JOB =ENFORCE LAWS
SENATE
Article 1 – Section 2• House of Representatives
• Term is 2 yrs. – no term limits• Number per state is based on state
population (census every 10 years)• Census = count
• There are currently 435 reps.• Qualifications = at least 25 yrs. Old
• Citizen of the U.S. for 7 yrs • Resident of the state that elects you
Salary = $136,700
Article 1 – Section 3• Senate• Term – 6 years• Number per state = 2 (equal representation),
currently 100• Qualifications:• At least 30 years old• Citizen for 9 years• Resident of the state that elects you• Salary $136,700• The Vice-President is the President of the
Senate and ONLY votes in the case of a tie!
Article One (write on back of Senate notes)
• The power to declare war belongs to the Congress
• A quorum is a majority of the members of the House or Senate and is required if voting on a bill.
• If the President or a member of Congress is accused of wrongdoing, the House brings up the charges and the Senate acts as the jury
How a Bill Becomes a Law?
• Put these steps in order:• Floor Action• Final Approval• Introduction• Enactment• Committee Action
How a Bill Becomes a Law?
• What is a Bill?• Who introduces it?• What is a veto?• Is a veto final?• How can a veto be overridden?• Which house of the Legislative Branch is
the only one who can introduce revenue (tax bills)?
Article 2 – The Executive Branch• President and Vice President• Main role is to enforce laws• Terms = 4 yrs. (limit 2 terms)• Chosen by electoral college – not a direct
vote of the people. # of electors for a state = total # of senators and representatives. Ks. has 6 – see p. 256
• Qualifications:• 35 years old• Natural born citizen• US resident for 14 years
Article 2, continuedSALARY = $200,000
Benefits:
1. Live in White House
2. Vacations
3. Use Air Force One
4. $100,000 in travel expenses
Section 2 – Powers
1. Command Military
2. Make treaties and appointments with Senate approval
3. Convene (call together) Congress
Section 3 - Duties –
State of the Union Address
Section 4 – Impeachment
Treason
Bribery
Other high crimes
Tried by the SENATE
Article 3 – The Judiciary• Supreme Court – highest and most powerful
court • Other inferior (lower) federal courts• Job – interpret (evaluate or make decisions
about) laws• Authority over all cases – Sec. 2• Original jurisdiction (they hear it first) Ex.
Cases involving states or public officials OR• Appellate = power to review lower court
decisions (ex. Roe vs Wade)
Article 3 - continued• Trial by jury in state crime is committed• Section 3. defines treason – must have
testimony of witnesses or confess• Must be an open act of treason• Punishment – Congress sets
Article 3 - continued• Supreme Court qualifications:
• Appointed by President, approved by the Senate.
• Term = unlimited• No age, residency or citizenship
requirements
Article 4• Main idea – states must honor one
another’s laws, records and court rulings.
• When you move from one state to another, your rights remain the same.
• New States may be admitted if approved by Congress.
Article 5• Main idea – The Constitution can be
amended.• It takes 2/3 of Congress or state
legislatures to propose and ¾ of state legislatures to ratify (pass or approve) an amendment. (p. 263)
Article 6• Main idea: The Constitution, national
laws and treaties are the supreme (highest) law of the land. All government officials must support them.
Article 7
• 9 of 13 states had to ratify (pass or approve) the Constitution before it could go into effect.
Amendments 1 – 10 = Bill of Rights
• 1st = Five freedoms…..freedom of• 1. religion• 2. speech• 3. the press• 4. of assembly• 5. to petition
Bill of Rights, cont.• 2nd – Right to bear arms
• 3rd – no soldier shall be quartered without consent of the owner
• 4th – right to privacy and ensures no unreasonable or illegal searches or seizures
Bill of Rights, cont.• 5th – protects the rights of the accused• 1. No person can be forced to testify
against himself• 2. No person can be found guilty of
a crime without due process of law (fair treatment)
Bill of Rights, cont.• 6th – Right to a speedy public trial. This
led to the Miranda rights:• Right to remain silent• Anything you say can be used against
you• You have the right to an attorney
Bill of rights, cont.• 7th – right to a trial by jury in civil cases –
civil law = wrongs between people• 8th – limits fines and punishments• 9th – rights of people – simply to say that the
rights included in the constitution are not the only rights we have
• 10th – Any powers not given to the national government by the Constitution are reserved for the states.
Other Important Amendments• 12th – called for separate ballots for
President and Vice-President• 13th – Ended slavery in the United
States (1865)• 14th – Defined citizenship, promised
equal protection of the laws (1868)• 15th – Designed to protect African
Americans right to vote (1870)
Other Imp. Amendments, cont.
• 16th – gave Congress the authority to collect income tax (1913)
• 18th – Prohibition (1919) prohibited alcohol production and consumption
• 21st – repealed Prohibition• 19th – Gave women the right to vote –
the BEST amendment…yeah!! (1920)
Other Important Amendments, cont.
• 20th - Lame Duck sessions – shortened the time before new officials take office – a lame duck is an elected official whose time in office ends soon.
• 22nd – Limited President’s terms to 2• 24th – Abolished poll taxes – a poll tax
was a fee paid to vote• 26th – gave 18 yr. olds the right to vote
Teenage Bill of Rights
• Your assignment is to write a Teenage Bill of Rights. Here’s your chance to write down all the rights you WISH you had! Your bill of rights must have a least 10 rights.