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Constitution Day

Constitution Day. What is the Declaration of Independence?. Founding or Charter document of the United States declaring their separation from England July 4, 1776 Was 1,400 words long Written by Thomas Jefferson

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Constitution Day

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  1. Constitution Day

  2. What is the Declaration of Independence? • Founding or Charter document of the United States declaring their separation from England • July 4, 1776 • Was 1,400 words long • Written by Thomas Jefferson • Lays out the intentions of the United States government as a representative republic

  3. What is the U.S. Constitution? • Creates a government that puts the power in the hands of the people • Separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative branch, which makes the laws; the executive branch, which executes the laws; and the judicial branch, which interprets the laws • Sets up a system of checks and balances that ensures no one branch has too much power • Divides power between the states and the federal government • Describes the purposes and duties of the government • Defines the scope and limit of government power • Prescribes the system for electing representatives • Establishes the process for the document’s ratification and amendment • Outlines many rights and freedoms of the people

  4. Where is the Constitution? The original signed, handwritten Constitution is at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

  5. What does the Constitution contain? 4,000 of the 4,500 words describe how the 3 branches of government work. 400 words describe the relationship between the states and the process for making amendments to the Constitution

  6. The Great Compromise • Virginia Plan – after the delegates met for 4 days, Edmund Randolph of VA presented this plan which would give supreme power to the central government. The legislature would be bi-cameral and chosen on the basis of state populations. Larger states would have more power than smaller states. • New Jersey Plan – NJ delegate William Paterson presented the New Jersey Plan which called for a one-house legislature which would give each state an equal number of votes. • Great Compromise – Created a 2-house legislative branch where each state would have 2 senators and a number of representatives based on state’s population

  7. The Three-Fifths Compromise Southern delegates wanted enslaved Africans to count as part of state populations. Northerners wanted the slaves to determine taxes but not representation. The delegates agreed to the Three-Fifths Compromise which said only 3/5 of a state’s slave population would count when determining representation.

  8. The Preamble of the Constitution We the People of the United States, in Order to from a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. • To form a more perfect union • To establish justice • To ensure domestic tranquility • To provide for common defense • To promote the general welfare • To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity

  9. ARTICLES • ARTICLE I Legislative Branch» • ARTICLE II Executive Branch» • ARTICLE III Judicial Branch» • ARTICLE IV States, Citizenship, New States» • ARTICLE V Amendment Process» • ARTICLE VI Debts, Supremacy, Oaths, Religious Tests» • ARTICLE VII Ratification»

  10. What are the 3 branches of our government? • Legislative • Congress • House of Representatives • Senate • Judicial • Supreme Court • Executive • President

  11. THE BILL OF RIGHTS • AMENDMENT 1 Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition» • AMENDMENT 2 Right to Bear Arms» • AMENDMENT 3 Quartering of Soldiers» • AMENDMENT 4 Search and Seizure» • AMENDMENT 5 Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process, Takings» • AMENDMENT 6 Right to Speedy Trial by Jury, Witnesses, Counsel» • AMENDMENT 7 Jury Trial in Civil Lawsuits» • AMENDMENT 8 Excessive Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishment» • AMENDMENT 9 Non-Enumerated Rights Retained by People» • AMENDMENT 10 Rights Reserved to States or People»

  12. Other Amendments 13. Slavery banned 15. All races can vote 19. Women get the right to vote 26. 18 year olds can vote

  13. In November 1789, North Carolina became the 12th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution

  14. Extension Questions: • If the 1787 Constitution were presented today, would it be ratified? Why or why not? • What issues are the same now as in 1787? What issues are different?

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