THE HISTORY OF OUR CONSTITUTION

The Constitution
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land

The Declaration of Independence

Created on July 4th, 1776 (slightly more than a year after the Revolution began). Promoted mainly by John Adams.

Written by Thomas Jefferson.

Declaration of Independence
Continued.

Proclaimed the Natural Rights: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Justification for separation: Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government

Preamble

The introduction to the Constitution is called the Preamble. The Preamble begins with the phrase We the people This means that the government is based on the consent of the people.

The Preamble

The Constitution is divided into 3 main parts: the Preamble (opening statement), Articles, and Amendments. The Preamble defines 6 goals.
Preamble: We the people of the United States, in order to form 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 of the United States of America.

The Goals of the Preamble

To Form a More Perfect Union

Wanted states to be more unified

To Establish Justice

Applied fairly to every American regardless of race, religion, and gender

Peace and order at home (US) Gives the government power to protect citizens

To Insure Domestic Tranquility

To Provide for a Common Defense

To Promote the General Welfare

Promote the well-being of all its citizens (health, happiness)

Freedom and rights for its people

To Secure the Blessings of Liberty

Articles

The main body of the Constitution is divided into 7 sections called Articles, which establish the framework for our government.
Articles I-III - describe the 3 branches of government : legislative, executive, and judicial. Article IV deals with relations between the states. Article V provides a process to amend the Constitution. Article VI states the Constitution is the Supreme law of the land. Article VII sets up a procedure to ratify the Constitution.

Amendment

A change in the Constitution There have been 27 amendments to the Constitution. The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights.

The Branches of Government

There are three branches of government: 1. The legislative - which makes the laws 2. The executive - which enforces the laws or make sure the laws are carried out 3. The judicial - which interprets the laws or explains the laws and makes sure they are fair

Seven Basic Principles

Popular Sovereignty

states that the people have the right to alter or abolish their government Because the colonists wanted to avoid tyranny, they said the government has only the powers that the Constitution gives it The government was split into three branches

Limited Government

Separation of Powers

Legislative makes the laws Executive carries out the laws Judicial explains and interprets the laws

Checks and Balances

Each branch of government has the power to check, or limit, the actions of the other two.

Seven Basic Principles Contd

Federalism

Division of power between the federal government and the states

Federal Examples power to coin money, declare war, regulate trade between states State examples regulate trade within their borders, establish schools Power not clearly given to the federal government belongs to the states.

Republicanism

Citizens elect representatives to carry out their will Protect individual rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to trial by jury

Individual Rights

Checks and Balances

The framers of the Constitution established a system of checks and balances to prevent any branch government from getting too powerful. Example: Congress has the right to pass bills into law, but the president can veto them, which means the bill does not become a law.

Federalism

The power of government is also split between the states and the federal government. This is called Federalism. If the Constitution does not have a law, the states can do what they want. State law cannot contradict federal law.

Dual Sovereignty

Dual Sovereignty means that whatever the federal government does not make a law about, the states can act however they choose. That is why there is different state laws regarding the age of drinking alcohol, driving, the death penalty, and many more.