THE CONSTITUTION SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND It

THE CONSTITUTION

SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND It represents our belief in • Power of govt. comes from the people • Government power is limited • Ordered, organized and structured govt. • Representative democracy • Written, May 1787 to Sept. 1787 • 7, 000 words • Longest lasting constitution in history

Concept 1: Separation of Powers A way of dividing power among three branches of government in which members of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the president, and the federal courts are selected by and responsible to different constituencies.

Cartoon #1 Which constitutional principle is represented in this cartoon? What is the message the cartoonist is trying to get across? What symbols does the cartoonist use?

3 branches Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch 3 Branches are separate, have different powers, co-equal and checks and balances on one another to make sure one branch does not get to powerful Legislative Checks On Executive • Override a veto • Declare war • impeachment On Judicial • Approve judges • Impeachment Executive Checks Judicial Checks On Legislative • Veto a law • Ask for war • Propose laws On Judicial • Appoint judges On Executive and Legislative • Declare an act of President or law of Congress unconstitutional • Appointed for life

Concept 2: Checks and Balances A government structure that gives each of the three branches of government some degree of oversight and control over the actions of the others

Cartoon #2 Which constitutional principle is represented in this cartoon? What is the message the cartoonist is trying to get across? What symbols does the cartoonist use?

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Art 2 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 to ourselves and our Posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article 1 Art 1 Legislative Branch Makes the law • Section 1 --House of Representatives and Senate • Section 2 & 3 ---Qualifications for Congress • Section 4 ---Elections and Meetings • Section 5 ---Rules of Order • Section 6 ---Pay Privileges • Section 7 ---How Bills Become Laws • Section 8 ---Powers of Congress • Section 9 ---Powers Denied to Congress • Section 10 ---Powers Denied to States

Article I: Legislative Branch • Spells out powers & duties of the bicameral legislature • Lists powers given to Congress (Enumerated powers ) • • Right to tax Declare war Regulate commerce Create legislation • “Necessary and proper”a. k. a. elastic clause • Congress is given the right to make all laws that are necessary and proper to the maintenance of the country

Powers congress Article 1 Section 8 • Makes the law • Power to tax • To coin money • Regulate foreign and interstate trade • Raise and maintain armed forces • Declare war • Grant patents and copyrights • Building hydroelectric dams • Interstate highway system • Prohibit racial discrimination

Art 2 Article 2 Executive Branch Signs, carries out or executes the law into action • Section 1 ---Qualifications of President & Vice President • Section 2 ---Presidential Powers • Section 3 ---Presidential Duties • Section 4 ---Impeachment

Article II: Executive Branch • Defines the powers of the President • Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces • “The state of the union” • Authority to make treaties • Appoint officials with the advice and consent of the Senate • “Take care that the laws are faithfully executed” • Implied powers = President is assumed to have powers and responsibilities not specifically mentioned in the Constitution

Art 3 Article 2 Executive Power ·Signs or enforces the law ·Veto power ·Commander in Chief ·Ask for a declaration of war ·Enter into a treaty ·Grants pardons and reprieves ·Appoints ambassadors, judges and cabinet ·Call a special session of Congress President Bush signing a proposed bill of Congress into law Powers of pres

Article 3 Art 3 Judicial Branch Interprets the law (constitution) • Section 1 ---Qualifications of Judges • Section 2 ---Jurisdiction of Courts • Section 3 ---Treason

Article III: Judicial Branch • Establishes a Supreme Court and defines its jurisdiction • Jurisdiction = Authority to hear certain cases • Congress also given the power to create lower courts

Nevada Supreme Court chart

Art 4 Article 4 Concerning the States • Section 1 ---rights and duties of states • Section 2 ---rights and liabilities of citizens • Section 3 ---admitting new states • Section 4 ---guarantee to states

Article 5 Art. 5, 6, 7 Amending the Constitution---adding on or changing the Constitution---27 Amendments Article 6 Constitution, law of the land…. . Supremacy Clause Article 7 Ratification of Constitution by 9 states

How does this political cartoon illustrate the concept of Article VI?

First 10 Amendments to the Constitution in 1791 Rights and freedoms won in the Revolution are preserved and protected… 1. FREEDOM of Religion, Press, Speech, Assembly, Petition 2. RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS 3. No QUARTERING of soldiers in peacetime 4. NO UNREASONABLE SEARCH and SEIZURE 5. PROTECTION of ACCUSED Bill of rights 6. RIGHT TO A SPEEDY, PUBLIC TRIAL BY JURY 7. TRIAL BY JURY IN CIVIL SUITS 8. NO EXCESSIVE FINES or CRUEL PUNISHMENT 9. POWERS RESERVED TO THE PEOPLE 10. POWERS RESERVED TO THE STATES