Constitution NotesConstitution Notes

Title the next page in your notebook Constitution Notes. Title the next page in your notebook Constitution Notes.

Copy the following notes in Cornell style.Copy the following notes in Cornell style.

You will be writing questions at home tonight.You will be writing questions at home tonight. There are 14 slides of information to take notes on.There are 14 slides of information to take notes on.

The ConstitutionThe Constitution

The Constitution is the The Constitution is the

supreme law of the landsupreme law of the land

PreamblePreamble

The introduction to the Constitution is The introduction to the Constitution is called the Preamble.called the Preamble.

The Preamble begins with the phrase The Preamble begins with the phrase “We the people…”“We the people…”

This means that the government is based This means that the government is based on the consent of the people. on the consent of the people.

AmendmentAmendment

A change in the ConstitutionA change in the Constitution There have been 27 amendments to the There have been 27 amendments to the

Constitution.Constitution. The first 10 amendments are called the Bill The first 10 amendments are called the Bill

of Rights.of Rights.

The Branches of GovernmentThe Branches of Government

There are three branches of government:There are three branches of government:

1. The legislative - which makes the laws1. The legislative - which makes the laws

2. The executive - which enforces the laws 2. The executive - which enforces the laws or make sure the laws are carried outor make sure the laws are carried out

3. The judicial - which interprets the laws or 3. The judicial - which interprets the laws or explains the laws and makes sure they are explains the laws and makes sure they are fairfair

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

The legislative branch is called Congress The legislative branch is called Congress and is made up of two Houses (parts): and is made up of two Houses (parts): The House of Representatives and The House of Representatives and the Senate.the Senate.

The House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives

States with the largest populations have States with the largest populations have the most representatives in the House.the most representatives in the House.

House members must be at least 25 years House members must be at least 25 years old or older to serve. old or older to serve.

House members are elected to a two year House members are elected to a two year term.term.

There are 435 members in the House of There are 435 members in the House of Representatives. Representatives.

The SenateThe Senate

The Senate is the other part of the The Senate is the other part of the CongressCongress

There are two senators for each state, There are two senators for each state, which means of course there are 100 which means of course there are 100 Senators.Senators.

Senators must be at least 30 years old.Senators must be at least 30 years old. Senators are elected to a six year term.Senators are elected to a six year term.

The Executive BranchThe Executive Branch

The executive branch is headed by the The executive branch is headed by the president.president.

The president is the commander-in-chief The president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.of the armed forces.

The PresidentThe President

The president is elected to a four year The president is elected to a four year term.term.

The president can only serve two terms.The president can only serve two terms. The president must be a citizen by birthThe president must be a citizen by birth The president must be at least 35 years The president must be at least 35 years

old.old.

The Judicial BranchThe Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch of the federal The Judicial Branch of the federal government is headed by the Supreme government is headed by the Supreme Court.Court.

Supreme Court justices are nominated by Supreme Court justices are nominated by the president and approved by the Senate. the president and approved by the Senate.

There are 9 Supreme Court justices, who There are 9 Supreme Court justices, who are appointed for life. are appointed for life.

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

The framers of the Constitution The framers of the Constitution established a system of checks and established a system of checks and balances to prevent any branch balances to prevent any branch government from getting too powerful. government from getting too powerful.

Example: Congress has the right to pass Example: Congress has the right to pass bills into law, but the president can veto bills into law, but the president can veto them, which means the bill does not them, which means the bill does not become a law.become a law.

More examplesMore examples

If the president vetoes a law, the Congress If the president vetoes a law, the Congress can override his veto by a 2/3 majority. can override his veto by a 2/3 majority.

The Supreme Court can say that any law The Supreme Court can say that any law is unconstitutional. The law no longer is unconstitutional. The law no longer exists. exists.

FederalismFederalism

The power of government is also split The power of government is also split between the states and the federal between the states and the federal government. government.

This is called Federalism.This is called Federalism. If the Constitution does not have a law, the If the Constitution does not have a law, the

states can do what they want. states can do what they want. State law cannot contradict federal law.State law cannot contradict federal law.

Dual SovereigntyDual Sovereignty

Dual Sovereignty means that whatever the Dual Sovereignty means that whatever the federal government does not make a law federal government does not make a law about, the states can act however they about, the states can act however they choose.choose.

That is why there is different state laws That is why there is different state laws regarding the age of drinking alcohol, regarding the age of drinking alcohol, driving, the death penalty, and many more.driving, the death penalty, and many more.