Overview
“The supreme law of the land” that created a stronger federal government
The Constitution
Created the Executive Branch
Article 2
The people hold the government’s power
Popular Sovereignty
A change or addition that becomes part of the written language of the Constitution itself
Formal amendment
Who has the power to make and enforce laws? (Federal, States, Shared)
Shared
The Constitution took effect in this year
1789
Created the legislative Branch
Article I
No government is all powerful
Limited Government
Formal approval
Ratification
Constitution ranks above ALL other forms of law in United States (Article VI, Section 2)
Supremacy Clause
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, 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.”
The Preamble
Created the Judiciary Branch
Article III
Division of responsibilities within a government
Separation of Powers
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution that limit the powers of the Federal Government and protect rights and freedoms of individual citizens
Bill of Rights
Federal powers spelled out in Constitution
Expressed powers
How many articles are there in the Constitution?
7
Legislative house where representation is based on a state's population
House of Representatives
Each branch can check the power of another branch (designed to ensure that one part of government does not grow too powerful and that all are equal)
Checks and Balances
Freedom of speech, religion and the press; rights of assembly and petition
1st Amendment to the Constitution
Federal powers not stated in Constitution, but reasonably suggested
Implied powers
Government must obey the Constitution
Constitutionalism
Legislative house where representation is equally distributed (2 per state)
The Senate
Division of power among a national government and several other governments
Federalism
Unwritten rule that is closely followed by the Senate
Senatorial Courtesy
Powers Constitution does NOT grant to federal government and does NOT deny to the States
Reserved powers