Transcript The United States Constitution

The United States
Constitution
Lee Farrar
Napier Elementary
What is the Constitution
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The United States Constitution is the
“highest law of the land.”
The constitution organizes our
government into 3 sections or branches
The constitution lists “rights” or some
things that all people are entitled to.
Our Constitution’s History
• The people in the colonies fought the
British in the American Revolution to
become a new country, the U.S.A.
• They knew our new country needed rules
or laws so to be successful
• Our first set of laws were called the
Articles of Confederation, but these were
weak and did not work
Our Constitution’s History
• Each state sent representatives to meet in
Philadelphia to improve the Articles of
Confederation.
• After meeting, discussing, arguing during
the hot summer of 1787 they decided to
start over & create a new government w/ 3
parts or branches.
What are the 3 Branches of government?
• Executive: This is the office of the president
and his cabinet
• Legislative: This is congress. Congress has
2 parts, the House of Representatives and
the Senate.
• Judicial: This is the Supreme Court and our
country's court system.
3 Branches of government
(Who’s watching who)
Congress
Courts
President
Constitution Amendments
• The constitution can be changed.
Changes are called amendments.
• Before all the states would agree to
sign the constitution, 10 amendments
had to be made.
How many amendments have been made?
Discussion
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Do we have rules in school and why?
What are laws.
What branch of government creates laws?
What branch of government decides what a
law means?
• What are the first 10 amendments to the
constitution called?
• Why does congress have 2 parts?