Overview of the Constitution

1. Overview of the Constitution

2. Warm-up for 1/22 and 1/23 • Imagine 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.

3. 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 states • People were afraid of a strong central government • In 1787, the Constitutional Convention was called in Philadelphia for the purpose of improving the Articles of the Confederation

4. What came out was a new document • A struggle began between the small and large states regarding representation • The Virginia Plan proposed representation based on population • The 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. The Constitution consists of three parts: the Preamble, the Articles, and the Amendments • The Preamble is the purpose • The Articles establish the government • The Amendments protect the rights of the citizens

8. The Preamble • The Preamble is the purpose for the document • Form a more perfect Union • Establish Justice • Insure domestic tranquility • Provide for common defense • Promote general welfare • Secure the Blessings of Liberty

9. The Articles • Article 1- Legislative Branch • Congress shall make the laws • Two parts, called “Houses” • The House of Representatives • The Senate • Article 2- Executive Branch • The President, Vice-President, Cabinet, and Departments • Enforce the laws

10. Article 3- The Judicial Branch • The Supreme Court • Rule on the laws • Article 4- States powers • States can make their own laws • States must respect other states laws • Article 5- Amendments • Constitution can be changed

11. Article 6- Federal Powers • State laws cannot violate federal laws or the Constitution • Article 7- Ratification • Presented on September 17, 1787 • 12 out of the 13 states signed the Constitution

12. The Amendments • The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights • The 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)

13. 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)

14. The Bill of Rights • Revolutionary in their nature • Two groups grew out of the ratification process for the US Constitution • Federalists • 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

15. 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 include • Speech • Religion • Bear arms • Speedy trial • States rights