Constitution Cheat Sheet Principles of the constitution Article

Constitution- “Cheat Sheet” • Principles of the constitution • Article I: Legislative Branch • “Quiz” • HW: Due Friday- 7 Hats of the President…

• Following the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked, What have you wrought”. • Franklin answered, “A Republic, if you can keep it” • Who are “YOU”? • What did Franklin mean?

Limited Government Power • the Constitution describes the specific powers and limits on power given to the national and state governments

Separation of Powers: • The Constitution creates three separate branches of government: the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial

Checks and Balances: • The Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances to prevent one branch from dominating the others. Each branch can “check” the power of the other two

Federalism • The Constitution divides power between the national and state governments

Flexibility • The Constitution leaves room for interpretation and allows the government powers that are not specifically granted it. The Amendment process allows future generations to change the document to suit their needs.

Popular Sovereignty: • the source of all power or authority to govern is the people • “We the people”…. .

The 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 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. . .

Legislative Branch • MAIN JOB/ ROLE IN GOVERNMENT: • WRITES THE LAWS

The Legislative Branch is called CONGRESS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESPaul Tonko-Democrat 2009 - present • 435 MEMBERS, – (originally just 65) • BASED ON POPULATION • PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MOST CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THE PEOPLE: – Every member has to run every two years – In original Constitution, only part of government that citizens directly voted for – MOST “DEMOCRATIC” PART OF GOV’T

• Approximately every 700, 000 Americans have one representative in the House of Representatives

SENATE: • 100 MEMBERS: TWO PER STATE • MORE “STABLE” HOUSE OF CONGRESS – 1/3 of Senators run every 6 years – Originally, appointed by state governments Kristen Gillibrand. Democrat House- 2007 Appointed to Senate 2009 Elected 2012 Chuck Schumer. Democrat House- 1981 -1999 - present (re-elected 2004, 2010)

CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT THE SUPREME COURT SENATE The STATE GOVERNMENT VOTERS The PEOPLE

How a Bill becomes a law • A “bill”, or a proposed law, must pass both houses of Congress with over 50% voting for it • It then goes to the President, who signs it into law or vetoes it • If vetoed, Congress can override the veto with 2/3 majority in both houses

KEY POWERS: (DELEGATED POWERS) • Taxation • Can borrow Money • Regulate (make rules for) foreign and interstate commerce • Naturalization (Immigration) laws • Copyrights and Patents • Declaring war/ regulating the military • Print/ coin money

****Elastic clause**** • “Congress has the power to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers” • The first 17 clauses grant Congress very specific powers. This final clause allows the government to • S-T-R-E-T-C-H its powers and do things not specifically listed if they are “necessary and proper”

POWERS DENIED TO CONGRESS: • Can’t suspend habeas corpus- right of prisoners to challenge imprisonment in court – GOV’T has to bring charges

POWERS DENIED TO THE STATES: • States cannot make treaties with other nations • Creating their own money • Tax imports to the state • Maintain an army

KEY CHECKS ON EXECUTIVE BRANCH • Override a presidential veto with 2/3 vote • Approves or rejects Presidential treaties or appointments • Impeach (bring charges against) and try (judge whether he is guilty) the President

KEY CHECKS ON JUDICIAL BRANCH • Approves or rejects nominations for federal judges • Creates the court system • Can remove judges through impeachment

Article 1 (Legislative Branch) Quiz Please answer on any sheet of paper: 1) If the President vetoes a bill, how can it still become law? 2) Which part of the federal government is most “democratic” (most closely connected to “the people”? ) How so? 3) Name 3 powers given to Congress in the Constitution. 4) Why is the “necessary and proper” clause called the elastic clause? 5) Congress may not suspend “habeas corpus”? What does that mean?

Executive Branch- The President • PRESIDENT Chosen by the ELECTORAL COLLEGE (NOT BY POPULAR VOTE) • Each state has an election; the winner of that state gets all its “electoral votes” • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=OUS 9 m M 8 Xbbw

Electoral College- 2000 election

MAIN ROLE IN GOVERNMENT: • Enforce (“execute”) the law

Key Words: • Cabinet- President’s advisors; heads of executive departments • Veto- saying “no” to a law passed by Congress • Electoral College- system of electing our president- not by popular vote

CHECKS BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH: KEY CHECKS ON LEGISLATIVE BRANCH KEY CHECKS ON JUDICIAL BRANCH • Can veto bills passed by Congress • Appoints judges when there is a vacancy • Can grant presidential pardons (forgiveness of a crime)

JUDICIAL BRANCH • MAIN JOB/ ROLE IN GOVERNMENT – INTERPRET THE CONSTITUTION – Lower federal courts- hear federal trials – Supreme Court hears issues of Constitutional interpretation

SUPREME COURT • 9 justices • Appointed by the President; approved by Congress • “independent judiciary”- SERVE FOR LIFE

JUDICIAL REVIEW- KEY CHECKS ON OTHER BRANCHES • COURT CAN DECLARE LAWS PASSED BY CONGRESS AND PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS UNCONSTITUTIONAL KEY CHECKS ON LEGISLATIVE BRANCH JUDICIAL REVIEW: can declare a law passed by Congress unconstitutional if challenged in court KEY CHECKS ON EXECUTIVE BRANCH JUDICIAL REVIEW: can declare an executive action/ order unconstitutional Justices appointed for LIFE

LIMITED GOVERNMENT Separation of powers/ Checks and Balances federalism Popular Sovereignty Flexibility Limi ABFGH ABGIL BFK CEH DJ