Essential Question
What are the basic principles of government outlined in the US Constitution?
Why You Should Care
The US Constitution is the supreme law of our country. It defines how our government is formed and your rights within it. There is no other document we will study that more directly affects your life and future.
Constitution Basics
LIMITS the strength of the government by strictly defining the roles and powers it has.
The
Preamble
Introduces the source of power as WE THE PEOPLE and outlines the Govt’s responsibilities.
Popular Sovereignty
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Checks &
Balances
Representative Govt
POPULAR�SOVEREIGNTY
Government power comes from the people whose will is often expressed through voting.
REPRESENTATIVE�GOVERNMENT
Voters are represented by elected officials who are supposed to speak for their constituents.
Constituent – a voting member of a community
Measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority.
-James Madison’s
Head and Upper Torso
WE DO NOT VOTE DIRECTLY! NO MAJORITY RULE HERE!
REPRESENTATIVE�GOVERNMENT
Virginia Plan
Number of reps
based on population
New Jersey Plan
Equal reps for all states
Great Compromise
A bicameral (2 house) system. One based on population, one with equal reps for each state.
Where does power come from in this system of government?
Who is power given to?
Power is divided between the Federal Government and State Governments.
FEDERALISM
Federal/National Powers
FEDERALISM
-War
-Money
-Foreign Policy
State Powers:
-Everything Else (that doesn’t affect other states)
FEDERALISM
The King
The King makes,
enforces, and
Interprets the laws.
How might it work without a king?
I AM THE LAW!!!
Without Separation
UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION
Legislative
Branch -
Makes the
laws.
With Separation
Executive
Branch -
enforces the
laws.
Judicial
Branch -
interprets the
laws.
CHECKS AND�BALANCES
Each branch has a way to check (limit) the power of the other branches.
Executive Branch
(President)
Judicial Branch
(Supreme Court)
Legislative Branch
(Congress)
VETO LAWS
APPOINT JUDGES
IMPEACHMENT
IMPEACHMENT/
Advise & Consent
JUDICIAL REVIEW
JUDICIAL REVIEW
Checks and Balances
What
else is
in it?
The Amendment Process
Has a built-in process to make changes if needed but it is really hard to do (only 27 Amendments in over 200 years.)
Commerce Clause
[Congress shall have power] "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes."
Necessary and Proper
[Congress shall have power] "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers”
Supremacy Clause
I AM THE LAW!!!
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States … shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.