A Little Wordy
This is the framework for the government.
What is the Constitution?
The president can veto bills passed by the chambers of this branch.
What is the Legislative Branch?
These two branches work together to turn bills into laws.
What are the Legislative and Executive branches?
This type of government has the power to declare war.
What is the federal government?
This line in the Preamble (below) shows that they were approving the Constitution, and declaring it to be the guideline for the government.
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
What is "do ordain and establish?"
The president can do this if he does not approve of a bill.
The Judicial branch checks the Legislative branch by doing this.
What is judicial review?
The Judicial Branch is made of this group (that Ms. Gardner jokes comes with sour cream and tomatoes).
What is the Supreme Court?
This type of government has power over licenses.
What is the state government?
This line in the Preamble (below) shows that they will use laws and courts to protect people's rights.
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
What is "establish justice?"
This is the separation of powers between the federal and state governments.
The president can check the powers of the Judicial branch by doing this.
What is appointing justices to the Supreme Court?
The Legislative Branch is made up of these two parts.
What are the Senate and House of Representatives?
This type of government has power over roads.
What is BOTH federal and state government?
This line in the Preamble (below) says that the rights given will apply to future generations.
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
What is "and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity?"
When someone is approving of establishing something, they are doing this rodent-sounding word.
What is ratifying?
Congress needs this amount of votes to check the Executive branch and override a veto from the president.
What is 2/3?
This branch of government reviews and interprets laws.
What is the Judicial branch?
This is another way of saying "federal" government.
What is "national" government?
This line in the Preamble (below) says that we will be protected from foreign threats.
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
What is "provide for the common defense?"
This is the process in which the Supreme Court declares laws or actions unconstitutional.
What is judicial review?
The Congress confirms the members of this branch, after they are appointed by the president.
What is the Judicial Branch?
This branch of government enforces laws.
What is the Executive branch?
The power to run elections belongs to this type of government.
This line in the Preamble (below) was a response to the concerns that came after Shays' Rebellion.
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
What is "ensure domestic tranquility?"