The Constitution Target: I can explain the basic principles of the Constitution

1. The ConstitutionTarget: I can explain the basic principles of the Constitution

2. Dennis the Constitutional Peasant

3. On March 4, 1789, the new Congress convened in the temp capital of NY

4. On March 4, 1789, the new Congress convened in the temp capital of NY • In fact, at this time only 11 of the 13 states had ratified the Constitution

5. On March 4, 1789, the new Congress convened in the temp capital of NY • In fact, at this time only 11 of the 13 states had ratified the Constitution • Our population stood at 3,000,000 whites, and 50,000 free blacks

6. On March 4, 1789, the new Congress convened in the temp capital of NY • In fact, at this time only 11 of the 13 states had ratified the Constitution • Our population stood at 3,000,000 whites, and 50,000 free blacks • The document that had been ratified by the states was now the supreme law governing the United States

7. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Popular Sovereignty – the people are the only source of governmental power

8. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Popular Sovereignty – the people are the only source of governmental power • “We the People of the United States”

9. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Limited Government

10. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Limited Government • Gov’t must be conducted according to the Constitution

11. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Limited Government • Gov’t must be conducted according to the Constitution • Gov’t is not above the law

12. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Limited Government • Gov’t must be conducted according to the Constitution • Gov’t is not above the law • Remember our cartoon from the other day?

13. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Limited Government • Gov’t must be conducted according to the Constitution • Gov’t is not above the law • The Constitution is a list of limitations and guarantees that the gov’t has regarding the people

14. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Separation of Powers

15. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Separation of Powers • Isaiah 33:22, "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King; he will save us." • Judicial, legislative, executive

16. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Separation of Powers • Clearly written in Article I, Section 1 • All legislative powers vested in Congress • Article II, Section 1 • The executive power is vested in a president • Article III, Section 1 • The judicial power is vested in one Supreme Court and several inferior courts

17. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Checks and Balances

18. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Checks and Balances (pg. 58) Approves justices, creates lower courts Legislative Branch Judicial Branch unconstitutional Appoints supreme court, federal judges Veto Life terms, free from executive pressure, can declare executive actions unconstitutional Override Veto, impeach president, approves treaties made by president Executive Branch

19. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Judicial Review

20. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Judicial Review • The power to declare something unconstitutional

21. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Judicial Review • The power to declare something unconstitutional • Marbury v. Madison took this unclear part of the constitution and clarified and establish this power

22. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Federalism

23. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Federalism • The division of power between a central government and several regional governments

24. The 6 Basic Principles of the Constitution • Federalism • The division of power between a central government and several regional governments • Remember the colonists’ complaint about a distant central government

25. Is the Constitution a Christian Document? • Number of times they appear in the constitution: • God: 0 • Creator: 0 • Jesus: 0 • Christian: 0

26. Ten Commandments in the Constitution • First two commandments are contradicted by the 1st amendment • You should have no other gods before me • No graven images • Exodus 20: 2-3

27. Constitution Specifically singles out religion • Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

28. Constitution Specifically singles out religion • Some argue that Article VI says that no "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." • " If the authors of the Constitution did indeed wish to create a document designed to favor Christianity, why would religious tests (common in the colonies at the time) be specifically forbidden? “ • Atheist Austin Cline

29. Founding Fathers and Christianity • Most were Christian • Most had a very good knowledge of the Bible • Not sure how many had a true personal relationship with God • Most were deists • Believed in a God who created the world and the laws the govern it, but He is not active in the world

30. Is it a Christian Document? • No • It is actually quite secular, and extremely secular for the time in whch it was written

31. Downer? • No • While not an out right Christian document, it is based in many Christian principles

32. Foundations of Democracy and Christian Principles (4th time you have seen this) • Fundamental worth of the individual • God desires a personal relationship with everyone • Equality of all persons - God is the creator of all humans, and values every one • Majority Rule with protection of the minority - God loves and protects even those who have not accepted him yet • Necessity of compromise - Jesus…he was sent do die for our sins because we cannot do it on our own • Individual Freedom - Free will, free to make the choice to follow Christ

33. Our calling • What is more important, is that the Constitution allows us to be Christians involved in our Government • We need to participate in electing and being elected to our government to shape it in a Christian worldview

34. Our calling • 2 Chronicles 7:14 • If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land

35. Our calling • The job of the government is to do for the people what they can't do for themselves. And the job of bringing people to faith belongs to the private citizens.

36. Our calling • "Let us look forward to the time when we can take the flag of our country and nail it below the Cross, and there let it wave as it waved in the olden times, and let us gather around it an inscribed for our motto: "Liberty and Union, one and inseparable, now and forever," and exclaim, Christ first, our country next!" -- Andrew Johnson