The U.S. ConstitutionThe U.S. Constitution

PowerPoint PresentationPowerPoint Presentation

Pair-SharePair-Share What is a constitution?What is a constitution? Possible Answer: Possible Answer: a body of fundamental a body of fundamental

principles or established precedents principles or established precedents according to which a state or other according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be organization is acknowledged to be governed.governed.

ObjectiveStudents will be able to Students will be able to understand the understand the structure of the U.S. structure of the U.S. Constitution by writing a Constitution by writing a paragraph summary and paragraph summary and playing a review game. playing a review game.

Film Clip: Film Clip: The The ConstitutionConstitution

As you watch the video, write at least 3 interesting facts you learned about the Constitution. Be prepared to share with the class!

We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic

Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, 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.

The Preamble

Pair-Share: Explain 3 reasons that the people of the United States wrote the Constitution.

1.

2.

3.

To set up a stronger government

To ensure peace and justice among the peopleTo make sure that U.S. citizens will

always be free

Pair-Share: Summarize the Preamble in your own

words.We, the citizens of the USA, are writing this constitution to accomplish several goals. Some of these goals are: create fairness; keep peace; and provide a system of defense. Accomplishing these goals will help form a stronger country.

State the main purpose of the Preamble.(Remember, a Preamble is an introduction to something.)

The main purpose of the Preamble is to set forth the goals the Constitution will achieve.

Articles of the Articles of the ConstitutionConstitution

Section Subject Preamble States the purpose of the Constitution

Article I Legislative branch

Article II Executive branch

Article III Judicial branch

Article IV Relations among the States and with the National Government

Article V Amending the Constitution

Article VI National debts, supremacy of national law, and oaths of office

Article VII Ratifying the Constitution

Chart of the Three Chart of the Three Branches of GovernmentBranches of Government

LegislativeLegislative

CongressCongressMakes LawsMakes Laws

House of Representatives

(435 members)1. 2 years Terms2. 25 yrs. old/ 7 yrs. citizen3. propose tax laws4. can impeach the president.

Senate Senate (100 members)(100 members)

5. Senators serve a 5. Senators serve a 66-year term-year term

6. A senator must be 6. A senator must be 3030 years old to be years old to be elected and have been a citizen for elected and have been a citizen for 99 yearsyears

7. Can approve presidential 7. Can approve presidential appointmentsappointments

8. Ratifies 8. Ratifies treatiestreaties with foreign with foreign governmentsgovernments

9. Can 9. Can try try the president after the president after impeachmentimpeachment

Both togetherBoth together

10. Can propose 10. Can propose laws laws

11. Can 11. Can declare wardeclare war

12. Can 12. Can override override the presidentthe president’’s s veto veto with a 2/3 votewith a 2/3 vote

13. Can 13. Can propose amendmentspropose amendments to to the the Constitution with a 2/3 Constitution with a 2/3 votevote

Speaker of the House:Speaker of the House: John BoehnerJohn Boehner

California State SenatorsCalifornia State Senators

Barbara Boxer Dianne Feinstein

ExecutiveExecutive

President, Vice President, Vice President, CabinetPresident, Cabinet

Enforces LawsEnforces Laws

President President Barack ObamaBarack Obama

Vice PresidentVice President Joe BidenJoe Biden

Secretary of StateSecretary of State John KerryJohn Kerry

14. The President serves a 14. The President serves a 44-year term.-year term.

15. The president must be at least 15. The president must be at least 3535 years old, a years old, a 1414- year resident, and - year resident, and native native born born

16. Has power to 16. Has power to approve or veto lawsapprove or veto laws

17. Make 17. Make treatiestreaties with foreign with foreign governments.governments.

18. Nominates 18. Nominates judgesjudges to the Supreme to the Supreme Court Court

19. Appoints 19. Appoints cabinetcabinet members members

20. Is 20. Is Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-Chief of U.S. of U.S. military forcesmilitary forces

JudicialJudicialSupreme and Federal CourtsSupreme and Federal Courts

Interprets LawsInterprets Laws

21. Justices of the Supreme 21. Justices of the Supreme Court serve for Court serve for lifelife

22. Can declare laws 22. Can declare laws unconstitutionalunconstitutional

23. Can settle disputes 23. Can settle disputes involving the involving the United StatesUnited States

24. Can settle disputes 24. Can settle disputes between between statesstates

25. Chief Justice presides over 25. Chief Justice presides over impeachmentimpeachment trial of the trial of the President.President.

Supreme Court JusticeSupreme Court Justice John G. RobertsJohn G. Roberts

A Federal System of A Federal System of GovernmentGovernment

Song: Song: The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

As you listen to the song about the bill of rights, be ready to define and describe the specific rights listed in the Constitution.

Formative Formative AssessmentAssessment

Write a paragraph Write a paragraph summary: summary: PROMPT: PROMPT: What were the issues What were the issues that led to the formation that led to the formation of the constitution and of the constitution and how were they resolved?how were they resolved?