Chapter 3 The U.S. Constitution Section 1:Ideals of the ConstitutionIdeals of the Constitution...

Chapter 3

The U.S. Constitution

Section 1:Ideals of the Constitution

Section 2:The Three Branches of Government

Section 3:An Enduring Document

Section 1:Section 1: Ideals of the ConstitutionIdeals of the Constitution

The Main IdeaThe Constitution is an agreement between the citizens of

the Untied States and the government that the people will grant powers to the government. In return, the

government is to carry out the goals of the Constitution.

Reading Focus• How did the Pilgrims influence the framers of the

Constitution?• What are the goals of the U.S. government as outlined

in the Constitution?• What are the powers the Constitution gives to the

federal and state governments?

The pilgrims influenced the framers of the Constitution:

November 21, 1620—The Mayflower Compact was written to create a new government of popular sovereignty for the colonists.


The Mayflower Compact: The Birth of Self-Government in America, 1620 [01:13]

Goals of the U.S. Constitution

• To form a more perfect union

• Establish justice

• Insure domestic tranquility

• Provide for the common defense

• Promote the general welfare

• Secure the blessings of liberty


The Constitution establishes federal and state powers.

• Delegated powers give the federal government strength to protect and serve the country.

• Reserved powers are kept for the states to manage their own affairs and to balance the power of the federal government.

• Concurrent powers are held by both state and federal governments.


The Constitution establishes federal and state powers. (continued)

• The federal government is “the supreme law of the land” that all states must defer to.

• Limited government checks the powers of the federal and state governments.

• The Bill of Rights protects the powers of the people.


Question: Why did the Constitution establish separate powers for the state and federal governments?

to keep each from getting

too strong

state government

federal government

SECTION 1

The Main IdeaThe Constitution prevents any person, or any part of the

government, from taking too much power. It does this by creating three separate branches of the federal government and distributing power among them.

Reading Focus• Why does the Constitution provide for the separation of

powers?• What are the main responsibilities of each of the three

branches of government?• How does the system of checks and balances work?

Section 2:Section 2: The Three Branches of GovernmentThe Three Branches of Government

Separation of Powers [01:19]

The Constitution provides for the separation of powers.

• Ensures no person or branch of government is too powerful

• Distributes power among three branches of government: – Legislative– Judicial– Executive


Responsibilities of the three branches of government:

• Legislative—the lawmaking branch

• Executive—executes the country’s laws

• Judicial—interprets laws and punishes law breakers


The system of checks and balances:

• Each branch has powers no other branch can assume.

• Each branch has powers that limit the powers of the other branches.


Question: Why does the Constitution provide for the separation of powers?

SECTION 2

to ensure that no one branch of the U.S. government becomes too powerful

Executive

Legislative Judicial

Separation of Powers [02:26]

The Main IdeaThe Constitution is an enduring document that has

met the needs of a changing country for more than 200 years.

Reading Focus• How did the framers envision change when

writing the Constitution?• What are two ways in which the Constitution

may be changed?

Section 3:Section 3: An Enduring DocumentAn Enduring Document

The Constitution is a living document.

• It was designed to adapt to a growing, changing nation.• There are three ways the Constitution can be adapted to

changing needs:– Amendment—a written change to the Constitution– Interpretation—when the Constitution is interpreted in

a new way– Custom—traditions often referred of as the “unwritten

Constitution”


The flexible Constitution benefits the United States.

• The government adapts to the changing conditions and needs of the country.

• The people can repeal constitutional amendments if necessary.

• Minimum wage laws are an example of flexible interpretation of the Constitution.


Amendments to the Constitution

• Proposal by two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress, or by two thirds of state legislatures calling for a national convention to propose the amendment

• The proposal must be ratified by three fourths of the states.

• Proposals may be sent to the state legislatures or to state conventions for ratification.

• Approved amendments may be repealed by new amendments.


Question: Why is the Constitution called a “living” document?

SECTION 3

Why the Constitution Why the Constitution Is Called a Living Is Called a Living

DocumentDocument

because its provisions enable government to

change to meet changing conditions

Amending the Constitution [02:03]

The Case of Marbury v. Madison: 1803 [01:15]

• What are the six goals of government as stated in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution?

• What are the three branches of the federal government, and what are their primary responsibilities?

• How does the system of checks and balances in the federal government work?

• What makes the Constitution of the United States a living document?

• How can the Constitution be amended?

Chapter 3 Wrap-Up

Chapter 3 The U.S. Constitution Section 1:Ideals of the ConstitutionIdeals of the Constitution...

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