Separation of Powers

• The Executive Branch
• enforces laws and carries out foreign policy
• The Legislative Branch
• creates laws
• The Judicial Branch
• interprets laws

System of Checks and Balances

• The Framers built in a system of checks and balances
• Each branch has ways to check (limit) the power of the others
• No branch can dominate the government
• This system has kept a balance of power among the branches and has limited abuses
• p. 209 - what are some of these checks and balances?

Debate and Adoption

• 9 of the 13 states had to ratify the Constitution
• Supporters of the Constitution were called Federalists- Included George Washington and Benjamin Franklin
• Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote essays called the Federalist Papers
• People opposes were called Antifederalists- Also wrote essays called the Antifederalist Papers
• Antifederalists argued that the strong national government created by the Constitution would take away American liberties
• Antifederaists favored local government

Protecting Rights

• The biggest criticism about the Constitution was that it lacked a Bill of Rights
• Many states refused to ratify without a Bill of Rights
• Federalists feared disorder without a strong central government
• Antifederalists worried about oppression that might result from a strong central government

Adopting the Constitution

• New Hampshire became the 9^th state to approve on June 21, 1788
• The new government could go into effect, but New York and Virginia had not ratified
• Virginia ratified after being assured a Bill of Rights would be added
• The Bill of Rights was added in 1791
• The final three states (NY, NC, and RI) approved the Constitution by May 1790

Chapter 8, Lesson 1

The Constitution

Preamble

• What is a Preamble?
• An introduction
• Popular Sovereignty
• Popular = by the people
• Sovereignty = government
• Limited Government
• The powers of the government should be strictly defined
• How is this found in the constitution? Why include it?

More Federalism!

• Enumerated Powers
• Powers specifically given to the federal government
• Article 1, section 8
• Concurrent Powers
• Shared by the state and federal government
• Reserved Powers
• 10th amendment
• Implied powers
• Article I, section 8

B. Pass marriage laws

E. Create federal courts

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M. Regulate foreign trade

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G. Establish Schools

H. Regulate trade within state

L. Divorce laws

D. Marijuana Laws

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I. Maintain the armed forces

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J. Drinking Age

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A. Coin money

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K. Tax Citizens

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Place the letters in the correct spot on the Venn Diagram

Enumerated Powers (National)

Concurrent Powers (Shared)

Reserved Powers (State)

N. Borrow money

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F. Provide for public welfare

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C. Carry out criminal justice

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Amending the Constitution

• Article V
• How does congress pass an amendment?
• What needs to happen next?
• How many states need to approve an amendment?
• The first 10 amendments were added in 1791
• What do we call them?
• What do they do?

Bill of Rights

• I will number you off by amendment!
• Come up and write a summary of your amendment on the board.
• Some are trickier than others, just do your best!

Guiding Question

What are the first 4 principles outlined in the Constitution?

What is a Preamble?

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Preamble- An introduction

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*The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution provides an introduction to the Constitution.

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We the People of the United States,

Who are We the People ?

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Every person in the United States

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How is this statement an example of social contract?

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The people agree to live under a government and have that government create laws all will follow.

In return, the people gain the protection of the government…

How is power distributed in the federal government?

Delegated/

Expressed/

Enumerated Powers

Powers outlined in the U.S. Constitution (example: Powers of Congress in Article I, Section 8)

Reserved Powers

Powers reserved to the States and the People

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by the State and Federal government

Main Ideas

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• The Constitution establishes a republican form of government.
• The United States has a federal government, in which the many state governments and the single federal government share some powers and divide up others.
• The Constitution separates the powers of the three branches of government and sets up checks and balances so each branch can check, or limit, the power of the other branches.

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