Goals of the Goals of the ConstitutionConstitution

The The PreamblePreamble, or , or opening statement of opening statement of the Constitution the Constitution

states six goals for states six goals for the Constitution.the Constitution.

1. To form a more perfect union.1. To form a more perfect union.

The Articles of Confederation had The Articles of Confederation had created a loose alliance of created a loose alliance of independent states. The Constitution independent states. The Constitution was written to make the union better.was written to make the union better.

2. To establish justice.2. To establish justice.

Another flaw in the Articles of Another flaw in the Articles of Confederation was the lack of a Confederation was the lack of a judicial branch to settle disputes. judicial branch to settle disputes. The Constitution was created to The Constitution was created to correct this flaw.correct this flaw.

3.3. To insure domestic tranquility.To insure domestic tranquility.

A goal of the Constitution was to A goal of the Constitution was to maintain peace and order in the United maintain peace and order in the United States.States.

4.4. To provide for the common defense.To provide for the common defense. The national government has the The national government has the power to maintain a military force to power to maintain a military force to defend all of the states. But the defend all of the states. But the control of the military remains in control of the military remains in civilian hands.civilian hands.

5.5. To promote the general welfare.To promote the general welfare. The national government has the The national government has the responsibility to support the well-responsibility to support the well-being of citizens throughout the being of citizens throughout the United States.United States.

6.6. To secure the blessings of To secure the blessings of liberty.liberty.

Protecting the freedoms of Americans Protecting the freedoms of Americans is also a goal of the national is also a goal of the national government.government.

ArticlesArticles

The main body of the The main body of the Constitution contains seven Constitution contains seven Articles, or sections, that Articles, or sections, that establish our government.establish our government.

I.I. Establishes the legislature and lists Establishes the legislature and lists the powers and limits on that branch.the powers and limits on that branch.

II.II. Establishes the executive and lists the Establishes the executive and lists the powers and limits on that branch.powers and limits on that branch.

III.III. Establishes the judicial branch and Establishes the judicial branch and lists the powers and limits for it.lists the powers and limits for it.

IV.IV. Describes relationships between states.Describes relationships between states.V.V. Provides a process for amending, or Provides a process for amending, or

changing, the Constitution.changing, the Constitution.VI.VI. Is the Supremacy Clause.Is the Supremacy Clause.VII.VII. Describes the process of ratifying the Describes the process of ratifying the

Constitution.Constitution.

Articles of the Articles of the Constitution (briefly)Constitution (briefly)

Seven Principles Seven Principles of Our Governmentof Our Government Principles, or main beliefs, Principles, or main beliefs,

areare

outlined in the outlined in the Constitution.Constitution.

They described the They described the relationshiprelationship

between the government andbetween the government and

the people.the people.

1.1. Popular sovereigntyPopular sovereignty, or the idea that the , or the idea that the government gets it’s authority from the government gets it’s authority from the people.people.

2.2. Limited governmentLimited government means that everyone means that everyone must obey the laws outlined in the must obey the laws outlined in the Constitution. The Constitution does not Constitution. The Constitution does not give the national government unlimited give the national government unlimited power and authority.power and authority.

3.3. Separation of powersSeparation of powers limits the limits the government by establishing three branches government by establishing three branches of government and giving each branch of government and giving each branch defined powers.defined powers.

4.4. Checks and balancesChecks and balances assist the concept of assist the concept of separation of powers by giving each separation of powers by giving each branch the power to limit the actions of branch the power to limit the actions of the other two branches.the other two branches.

Seven Constitutional Seven Constitutional PrinciplesPrinciples

5.5. FederalismFederalism means that powers are divided means that powers are divided between the national government and state between the national government and state governments. Some powers are given to the governments. Some powers are given to the national government only. Some powers are national government only. Some powers are shared. And powers not clearly granted to shared. And powers not clearly granted to the national government belong to the the national government belong to the states. This further reduces the power of states. This further reduces the power of the national government.the national government.

6.6. RepublicanismRepublicanism creates a system in which creates a system in which citizens do not have direct control of the citizens do not have direct control of the government (like direct democracy). government (like direct democracy). Instead, people elect representatives who Instead, people elect representatives who are responsible to speak and act for the are responsible to speak and act for the people.people.

Seven Constitutional Seven Constitutional PrinciplesPrinciples

Seven Constitutional Seven Constitutional PrinciplesPrinciples

7.7. Individual rightsIndividual rights are protected are protected by the Constitution. Powers not by the Constitution. Powers not granted to the state or national granted to the state or national government belong to individual government belong to individual citizens of the United States.citizens of the United States.

Checks and Checks and Balances Balances

According to the According to the Constitution, each branch of Constitution, each branch of the government can check, or the government can check, or limit, the power of the other limit, the power of the other

branches.branches.

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Framers of the Constitution took Framers of the Constitution took the advice of the Baron de the advice of the Baron de Montesquieu and created a Montesquieu and created a government that would have limited government that would have limited power. power.

The President can veto, or reject, The President can veto, or reject, a bill that Congress has passed.a bill that Congress has passed.

Congress can check the President Congress can check the President by overriding, or overruling, the by overriding, or overruling, the veto.veto.

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Congress must also approve the Congress must also approve the President’s appointments to President’s appointments to government offices, as well as government offices, as well as treaties made by the President. treaties made by the President. The House of Representatives may The House of Representatives may impeachimpeach the President. This the President. This means the House charges the means the House charges the President with doing something President with doing something seriously wrong. It resembles seriously wrong. It resembles an indictment for a crime.an indictment for a crime.

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

If the House impeaches the If the House impeaches the President, the Senate conducts a President, the Senate conducts a trial.trial.If 2/3 of the Senate votes to If 2/3 of the Senate votes to convict the President, then the convict the President, then the President must leave office.President must leave office.The Supreme Court can check the The Supreme Court can check the President or Congress by President or Congress by declaring laws unconstitutional. declaring laws unconstitutional.

Adding the Bill of Adding the Bill of RightsRights

The first ten amendments, or changes to the Constitution, are known as the Bill of Rights.

The creators of the Constitution wanted it to be difficult to make changes to the document.

James Madison wrote 12 amendments to the Constitution.

By December of 1791, ¾ of the states had ratified 10 of the amendments.

Adding the Bill of Adding the Bill of RightsRights

James Madison said that the Bill of Rights did not create rights for the people.

He said that by listing the rights, the government could not take the rights from the people.

Many of the rights listed were listed because of the way that the British behaved in the American colonies.

Adding the Bill of Adding the Bill of RightsRights