Overview of the Constitution

Warm-up for 1/22 and 1/23Imagine that you have just declared

independence from Great Britain, if you were in charge of helping to create our new government, what are 5 laws would you create?

Write down your homework. Raise your hand when done.

After the American Revolution, the Articles of the Confederation were enacted

The Articles gave no power to the central government

All the power resided in the statesPeople were afraid of a strong central

governmentIn 1787, the Constitutional Convention was

called in Philadelphia for the purpose of improving the Articles of the Confederation

What came out was a new documentA struggle began between the small and

large states regarding representationThe Virginia Plan proposed representation

based on populationThe New Jersey Plan proposed equal

representation from each state regardless of size

The Great Compromise called for a bicameral (two house legislature), one based on population, one with equal representation

With the Great Compromise, the ratification of the Constitution only had one more hurdle

Many wanted to ensure the Federal Government would not become too powerful

The Constitution was ratified in 1787 with the understanding it would be amended to include a list of citizens rights

The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments, were ratified in 1791

The US Constitution consists of seven articles and 27 amendments

The original seven articles took effect in 1789

The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights

The Constitution consists of three parts: the Preamble, the Articles, and the Amendments

The Preamble is the purposeThe Articles establish the governmentThe Amendments protect the rights of the

citizens

The PreambleThe Preamble is the purpose for the

documentForm a more perfect UnionEstablish JusticeInsure domestic tranquilityProvide for common defensePromote general welfareSecure the Blessings of Liberty

The ArticlesArticle 1- Legislative Branch

Congress shall make the lawsTwo parts, called “Houses”The House of RepresentativesThe Senate

Article 2- Executive BranchThe President, Vice-President, Cabinet, and

DepartmentsEnforce the laws

Article 3- The Judicial BranchThe Supreme CourtRule on the laws

Article 4- States powersStates can make their own lawsStates must respect other states laws

Article 5- AmendmentsConstitution can be changed

Article 6- Federal PowersState laws cannot violate federal laws or the

ConstitutionArticle 7- Ratification

Presented on September 17, 178712 out of the 13 states signed the Constitution

The AmendmentsThe first ten amendments are called the Bill

of RightsThe 13, 14, and 15th amendments ended

slavery, established citizenship and gave Blacks the right to vote (1870)

The 18th amendment was the only amendment repealed, prohibition against the sale of alcohol (1919)

The 19th amendment gave women the right to vote (1919)

The 22nd amendment limited the President to two terms (1951)

The 26th amendment gave 18 year olds the right to vote (1971)

The 27th amendment Congress shall not have a raise until after the next election of the House of Representatives (1992)

The Bill of RightsRevolutionary in their natureTwo groups grew out of the ratification

process for the US ConstitutionFederalists

did not believe in the need for the Bill of Rights Wanted strong Federal Government Members include: Alexander Hamilton and James Madison

Anti-Federalist Distrusted a strong Federal Government

Proposed the Bill of Rights Members include: Thomas Jefferson

Guaranteed the rights of the citizens and could not be infringed by the Federal Government

Freedoms includeSpeechReligionBear armsSpeedy trialStates rights