foundations of united states citizenship lesson 3, chapter 61 the constitution of the united states

Foundations of United States Citizenship

Lesson 3, Chapter 6 1

The Constitution of the United States

The Constitution of the United States


Lesson 3, Chapter 6, The Constitution of the United States

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MotivationMotivation• The framework for

our government is over 200 years old.

• Today, you’ll learn about the Constitution of the United States.



3

Lesson overviewLesson overview• Why is the Constitution of the United

States a remarkable document?

• What is the Preamble to the Constitution?

• What are the articles of the Constitution?



4

Lesson overview (cont’d)Lesson overview (cont’d)• What is the role of the legislative branch of

government?• What is the role of the executive branch of

government?• What is the role of the judicial branch of

government?• What is the subject of Article IV of the

Constitution?



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Lesson overview (cont’d)Lesson overview (cont’d)• What is the subject of Article V of the

Constitution?• What is the subject of Article VI of the

Constitution?• What is the subject of Article VII of the

Constitution?• What are the amendments to the

Constitution?



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Lesson overview (cont’d)Lesson overview (cont’d)• What are the three parts of the

Constitution?

• How do the articles of the Constitution compare to the Articles of Confederation?

• How is the Constitution amended?

• How is the Constitution interpreted?



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Quick WriteQuick WriteHow do you think the Constitution of the United States protects your rights and freedom as an American citizen? Write down five ways the Constitution protects you.



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Why is the Constitution of the United States a remarkable

document?


document?

• One of the first written constitutions in modern history

• Strong central government

• Preserved ideals of the Declaration of Independence



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document? (cont’d)


document? (cont’d)

• Created three branches of government and a process for adding amendments

• Has guided nation’s political leaders for over 200 years

• Symbol of pride and national unity



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What is the Preamble to the Constitution?

What is the Preamble to the Constitution?

• The Preamble• Introduces the Constitution• States reasons why the government was

established• Declares that the power of the government

comes from the people



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What are the articles of the Constitution?

What are the articles of the Constitution?

• The Constitution contains seven divisions called articles.• Each article covers a general topic. • Article I creates the legislative branch.• Article II creates the executive branch.• Article III creates the judiciary branch.

• Most articles are divided into sections.



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What is the role of the legislative branch of

government?


government?• The legislative branch of government

was created by Article I.

• Topics of Article I include• Representation• Electing senators• Impeachment



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government? (cont’d)


government? (cont’d)• Impeach—to accuse government officials of

wrongdoing, put them on trial, and, if necessary, remove them from office

• Senate has sole power to try impeachments.• Two-thirds must vote for conviction.• Conviction results in removal from office.• Person cannot hold another U.S. government

office.• If convicted, person can be held liable under law.



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government? (cont’d)• Congressional salaries• Where tax laws begin• How bills become laws• Powers of Congress• Elastic clause• Habeas corpus• Limitations on states



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What is the role of the executive branch of

government?


government?• The executive branch of government

was created by Article II.

• Topics of Article II include• Change of method for electing a president• Qualifications for office



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• Vacancies—procedures for presidential succession

• Salary• Cabinet• Presidential powers



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What is the role of the judicial branch of government?

What is the role of the judicial branch of government?

• Judicial refers to courts.

• The judicial branch of government was created by Article III.

• Topics of Article III include• Setting up the Supreme Court• Providing for other federal courts



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What is the role of the judicial branch of government? (cont’d)What is the role of the judicial

branch of government? (cont’d)

• Judiciary has two different systems of courts.

• Federal courts: Powers derive from U.S. Constitution and federal laws.

• State courts: Powers derive from state constitutions and laws.



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What is the subject of Article IV of the Constitution?

What is the subject of Article IV of the Constitution?

• Topic of Article IV is relations among the states.• Relationship of states to one another and to

national government• Admission of new states• Guarantee that national government will

protect states



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What is the subject of Article IV of the Constitution? (cont’d)

What is the subject of Article IV of the Constitution? (cont’d)

• Aristotle defined government by asking“Who governs?”• Autocracy—ruled by one person• Oligarchy—ruled by a few• Democracy—ruled by many

• Republic—a form of democracy• Elected representatives make laws and conduct

government.



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What is the subject of Article V of the Constitution?

What is the subject of Article V of the Constitution?

• Topic of Article V is the amendment process.• How the Constitution can be amended, or

changed

• All 27 amendments were proposed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress.



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What is the subject of Article VI of the Constitution?

What is the subject of Article VI of the Constitution?

• Topic of Article VI is national supremacy.• Supremacy clause establishes that the

Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and treaties of the U.S. will be the “supreme Lawof the Land.”

• Constitution and federal laws prevail when in conflict with state laws.



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What is the subject of Article VII of the Constitution?

What is the subject of Article VII of the Constitution?

• Topic of Article VII is the ratification of the Constitution.• The Constitution would take effect after it

was ratified by nine states.



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What are the amendments to the Constitution?

What are the amendments to the Constitution?

• The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution.• Limits the powers of government• Protects civil liberties of individuals• Limits freedoms by consideration of other

individuals’ rights



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What are the amendments to the Constitution? (cont’d)


• Amendment V—Rights of the accused• Protections for people accused of crimes• Due process of law

• Government must follow constitutional procedures in trials and other actions against individuals.



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• Amendment VI—Right to a speedy, fair trial• Jury must hear witnesses and evidence on

both sides before deciding guilt or innocence of person charged with crime.

• Legal counsel must be provided to defendant.• If defendant cannot afford lawyer, one must

be provided by the government.



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• Amendment XII—Elections• Corrects problem in method of electing

president and vice president• Provides for the Electoral College to use

separate ballots in voting for president and vice president



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• Civil War Amendments • Amendments XIII, XIV, and XV• Amendment XIII—Abolition of slavery• Amendment XIV—Rights of citizens

• Originally, intended to protect rights of freed slaves

• Today, protects rights of all citizens



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• Amendment XV—Right to vote

• Amendment prohibits government from denying right to vote based on race.

• Despite law, many states denied African Americans right to vote.

• Stronger laws were later passed to end racial discrimination in voting rights.



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• Amendment XVIII—Prohibition• Prohibited production, sale, or transportation

of alcoholic beverages in the United States• Was difficult to enforce• Was later repealed by Amendment XXI, the

only amendment ever passed to overturn an earlier amendment



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• Amendment XIX—Woman suffrage• Guaranteed women the right to vote• Some women had already won right to vote

in state elections.• Amendment made their right to vote in state

and national elections Constitutional.



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• Amendment XXIV—Abolition of poll tax• Added in 1964• Prohibits poll taxes in federal elections• Before this, some states had used such taxes

to keep low-income African Americans from voting.

• In 1966, the Supreme Court banned poll taxes in state elections as well.



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• Amendment XXV—The vice president• Established process for vice president to

take over leadership when president dies, resigns, or is removed from office.

• Set procedures for filling a vacancy in the office of vice president

• Was used in 1973, when Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned from office



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What are the three parts of the Constitution?

What are the three parts of the Constitution?

• U.S. Constitution has three main parts:• Preamble: opening section• Articles (7): describe structure of

government• Amendments (27): additions and changes



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What are the three parts of the Constitution? (cont’d)


• Preamble—introduction that states the goals and purposes of the government• Tells why the Constitution was written• Consists of a single, concise sentence• States that the power of the government

comes from the people



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• Middle of Preamble: six purposes of government• “To form a more perfect Union”• “To establish Justice”• “To insure domestic Tranquility”• “To provide for the common defense”• “To promote the general Welfare”• “To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our

Posterity”



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• After Preamble, seven articles explain how government is to work.

• Articles I, II, and III—powers and responsibilities of each branch of government



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• Legislative branch of government

• Two houses with all lawmaking authority

• Rules for how members of each house are chosen

• Rules Congress must follow to make laws

• Powers Congress does and does not have



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• Executive branch of government

• Headed by a president and vice president

• How they are to be elected

• How they can be removed from office

• Presidential powers and duties



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• Judicial branch of government

• Interprets laws

• Ensures that laws are fairly applied

• Calls for creation of Supreme Court and lower courts

• Lists powers of federal courts

• Describes kinds of cases they may hear



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• Article IV—Relations among the states

• Article V—How Constitution can be amended

• Article VI—Constitution as the “supreme Law of the Land”

• Article VII—Constitution would take effect after ratified by nine states



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How do the articles of the Constitution compare to the Articles of Confederation?


• Constitution: legislative branch• Two houses of Congress

• Equal representation of states in Senate• Representation according to population in House

of Representatives• Articles of Confederation: legislative branch

• One house of Congress• Equal representation of 13 states



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(cont’d)


(cont’d)• Constitution: executive branch

• President chosen by electors • Has power to enforce laws, make treaties,

command Armed Forces

• Articles of Confederation: no executive branch



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(cont’d)


(cont’d)• Constitution: judicial branch

• Supreme Court and lower federal courts

• Have power to interpret laws• Settle disputes between states

• Articles of Confederation: no judicial branch



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How is the Constitution amended?

How is the Constitution amended?

• Step 1: Proposal• By Congressional action

• Vote of two-thirds of members of both housesof Congress

• By national convention

• As requested by two-thirds of the 50 state legislatures



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How is the Constitution amended? (cont’d)

How is the Constitution amended? (cont’d)

• Step 2: Ratification• Three-fourths of the 50 states must ratify.• Two ways to do this

• By vote of state legislature• By special state convention



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How is the Constitution interpreted?

How is the Constitution interpreted?

• Changes take place to Constitution through interpretation.

• Methods of interpretation• Necessary and proper clause• Court decisions• Congressional and presidential actions• Custom



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Lesson reviewLesson review• The U.S. Constitution is one of the first

written constitutions in modern history. • It is a flexible and strong document that

has guided this nation’s leaders for over 200 years.

• The three parts of the Constitution are the Preamble, the 7 articles, and the 27 amendments.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The Preamble introduces the

Constitution, tells why it was written, and states that the power of government comes from the people.

• The seven articles explain how the national government is to work.

• The first three articles describe each branch of government; the other four articles address more general matters.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Article I gives the legislative branch

(Congress) all lawmaking authority.

• Article I also specifies Congress’s powers, which include collecting taxes, regulating foreign and interstate trade, coining money, and declaring war.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Article II gives the executive branch,

headed by the president and vice president, authority to enforce the law.

• Article II also describes the president’s powers and duties, such as commanding the Armed Forces, dealing with leaders of other countries, and appointing certain government officials.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Article III gives the judicial branch the

authority to interpret the laws and see that they are fairly applied.

• Article III also lists the powers of the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, and describes the kinds of cases they may hear.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Article IV deals with relations among the

states and between the states and the federal government.

• It says that states must respect each other’s laws, court decisions, and records.

• It promises that the federal government will protect and defend the states.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Article V describes the process for

amending the Constitution.• Article VI establishes the Constitution as

the “supreme Law of the Land” and says that federal law prevails over state laws or court decisions.

• Article VII says that the Constitution would take effect after nine states had ratified it.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The articles of the Constitution replaced

the Articles of Confederation.

• The amendments are changes to the Constitution.

• Only 27 amendments have been ratified in our nation’s history.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The first ten amendments, added in

1791, are known as the Bill of Rights.

• Changes have also taken place to the Constitution through interpretation.



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Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Some people believe in a loose

interpretation of the Constitution; others believe in a strict interpretation.

• The Supreme Court has the final authority in interpreting the Constitution.



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SummarySummary• Why is the Constitution of the United

States a remarkable document?

• What is the Preamble to the Constitution?

• What are the articles of the Constitution?



59

SummarySummary• What is the role of the legislative branch of

government?• What is the role of the executive branch of

government?• What is the role of the judicial branch of

government?• What is the subject of Article IV of the

Constitution?



60

Summary (cont’d)Summary (cont’d)• What is the subject of Article V of the

Constitution?• What is the subject of Article VI of the

Constitution?• What is the subject of Article VII of the

Constitution?• What are the amendments to the

Constitution?



61

Summary (cont’d)Summary (cont’d)• What are the three parts of the

Constitution?

• How do the articles of the Constitution compare to the Articles of Confederation?

• How is the Constitution amended?

• How is the Constitution interpreted?



62

NextNextDone— The Constitution of the United

States

Next— The Bill of Rights

foundations of united states citizenship lesson 3, chapter 61 the constitution of the united states

Documents

constitution states

lesson overview contd

branches of government

national unity slide

executive branch of

judicial branch of government

subject of article iv

subject of article vi