US Constitution Slides Presentation PDF

PREAMBLE – describes the purpose of the Constitution ARTICLES – the body of the Constitution describes the structure of the Federal government and how changes can be made AMENDMENTS – changes to the Constitution  Preamble – Lays out ideals Article 1-Congress Article 2-President Article...

PREAMBLE – describes the purpose of the Constitution ARTICLES – the body of the Constitution describes the structure of the Federal government and how changes can be made AMENDMENTS – changes to the Constitution  Preamble – Lays out ideals Article 1-Congress Article 2-President Article 3-Supreme Court Article 4-Relations Among the States Article 5-Provisions for Amendment Article 6-Public Debts, Supremacy of National Law Article 7-Ratification of Constitution Constitution Rap Amendments  The Constitution established the U.S. as a Representative Democracy (Republic) power of the vote - reelect someone or elect someone new majority rule - more than half approve, then accepted by all minority rights must be protected Democracy – A Short History EXPRESSED POWERS - spelled out expressly in the Constitution (enumerated powers): Congress - to collect taxes, to coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, to raise and maintain an army, to declare war, to fix standards of weights and measure, to grant patents and copyrights, etc. President - commander in chief of the armed forces, grant reprieves and pardons, to make treaties, to appoint major federal officials Supreme Court (and other federal courts) - the judicial power of the US IMPLIED POWERS -The Necessary and Proper Clause (“Elastic Clause”) – Congress has the power “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers…” Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 Under the expressed power to regulate interstate commerce, Congress has created the Interstate highway system, built hydro-electric dams, prohibited racial discrimination in granting access to restaurants, theaters, hotels and motels, etc. INHERENT POWERS - exist and belong to the National Government because they are inherent to a sovereign nation-regulate immigration, acquire new territory, grant diplomatic recognition to other countries, protect the nation from rebellion, etc.  Constitution expressly denies certain powers - tax exports, take private property for public good without just compensation, prohibit freedom of religion, speech, press, etc. Silence of the Constitution - no national school system, no national law regarding marriage and divorce, nor set up local unit of government. Federal system - National Government may not tax a state/local government carrying out their governmental functions - the power to tax is the power to destroy  lawmaking branch (Congress) Article 1 of the Constitution Bicameral-two houses Senate-two senators from every state House of Representatives-based on the population of each state Responsible for all money matters Great emphasis on Congress by the writers of the Constitution - longest article in the Bi-Cameral Crash Course Constitution  Carries out the laws (President) Article 2 of the Constitution President is the Chief Executive Includes the executive departments Vice President is second in line to the President Powers of the President Crash Course  judges laws and sets penalties/punishment for law breakers (Supreme Court) Article 3 of the Constitution Supreme Court is the highest court in the country Supreme Court has the power of Judicial Review (although not stated in the Constitution, Marbury v. Madison) Supreme Court has power to declare a law/executive action unconstitutional Congress has the power to establish all lower Federal Courts Judicial Review Crash Course 3 Branches of Government Rap  Writers of the Constitution wanted to protect the rights and freedoms of the people - they did not want another King They created a Constitution with 3 branches of government, each with their own separate powers To make sure that no one branch becomes too powerful, the powers of each branch are checked and limited by the other two branches  Congress can override a President’s veto by 2/3 vote Congress can impeach and remove the President or Supreme Court Justices Congress has to approve all treaties Congress has to approve all presidential appointments including Supreme Court Justices  President may veto legislation President must appoint Supreme Court Justices and other federal judges  Supreme Court may declare acts of Congress or the President unconstitutional Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life Separation of Powers Crash Course  Lasted for over 200 years Can be amended (written change in the Constitution, 27 total amendments thus far) PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT 2/3 vote in Congress (both houses) 2/3 of state legislatures can ask Congress to call for a National Convention to propose an amendment  An amendment must be approved by ¾ of the state legislatures or ¾ of special state conventions called to vote on the proposed amendment The amendment must state which way it will be ratified  Once an amendment is approved, it can only be repealed (done away with, taken back) by another amendment (18th 🡪 21st Amendment) BY CONGRESS may interpret part of the Constitution dealing with the responsibilities of Congress (the “necessary and proper clause) 🡪Judiciary Act of 1789 Expansion of executive departments, agencies, offices by act of Congress BY PRESIDENT Executive Action President is the Commander in Chief Executive Agreement with other countries BY SUPREME COURT Judicial Review has the final authority on interpretation of the Constitution BY POLITICAL PARTY PRACTICES Nominate candidates for office Most elected officials conduct business along party lines BY CUSTOM AND TRADITION not written, the way things are done President meeting with his cabinet before making an important decision Bill of Rights Song Bill of Rights Song #2 Why We Need a Bill of Rights Song  Religion Congress may not establish a religion Congress may not prohibit the free exercise of religion Free Speech Freedom of the press Right to peacefully assemble Right to petition the government for redress of grievances 1st Amendment Song Right to keep and bear arms Ben Carson 2nd Amendment Interview Repeal the 2nd Amendment Video Right not to quarter soldiers 3rd Amendment Explained Protection from illegal search and seizure (police must have a proper warrant) Search and Seizure Crash Course  Indictment by a grand jury before a trial Protection from self-incrimination Double Jeopardy-cannot be tried for the same crime twice Due process of law before punishment is invoked (federal government) Right to own private property – “eminent domain” government may not take private property unless it serves a legitimate public purpose and it must pay a fair price for the property seized 5th Amendment  Right to a speedy, public trial with an impartial jury Right to have witnesses and to cross-examine hostile witnesses Right to have an attorney at every stage in the criminal process 6 Amendment th Right to trial by jury in civil cases heard by federal courts 7th Amendment  No excessive bail No cruel or unusual punishment 8th Amendment “unenumerated rights” – reserves rights to the people that are not listed in the Constitution th 9 Amendment Reserves power to the states 10th Amendment