Transcript AP_US_Government_files/1 Constitutional Overview

Goals of the
Constitution
The Preamble, or opening
statement of the
Constitution states six
goals for the Constitution.
1. To form a more perfect union.
The Articles of Confederation had created a
loose alliance of independent states. The
Constitution was written to make the union
better.
2. To establish justice.
Another flaw in the Articles of Confederation
was the lack of a judicial branch to settle
disputes. The Constitution was created to
correct this flaw.
3. To insure domestic tranquility.
A goal of the Constitution was to maintain
peace and order in the United States.
4.To provide for the common defense.
The national government has the power
to maintain a military force to defend all of
the states. But the control of the military
remains in civilian hands.
5. To promote the general welfare.
The national government has the
responsibility to support the well-being of
citizens throughout the United States.
6. To secure the blessings of liberty.
Protecting the freedoms of Americans is
also a goal of the national government.
Articles
The main body of the Constitution
contains seven Articles, or sections,
that establish our government.
Articles of the Constitution (briefly)
Establishes the legislature and lists the
powers and limits on that branch.
II.
Establishes the executive and lists the powers
and limits on that branch.
III. Establishes the judicial branch and lists the
powers and limits for it.
IV.
Describes relationships between states.
V.
Provides a process for amending, or changing,
the Constitution.
VI.
Is the Supremacy Clause.
VII. Describes the process of ratifying the
Constitution.
I.
Seven Principles of
Our Government
Principles, or main beliefs, are
outlined in the Constitution.
They described the relationship
between the government and
the people.
Seven Constitutional Principles
1. Popular sovereignty, or the idea that the
government gets it’s authority from the people.
2. Limited government means that everyone must
obey the laws outlined in the Constitution. The
Constitution does not give the national
government unlimited power and authority.
3. Separation of powers limits the government by
establishing three branches of government and
giving each branch defined powers.
4. Checks and balances assist the concept of
separation of powers by giving each branch the
power to limit the actions of the other two
branches.
Seven Constitutional Principles
5. Federalism means that powers are divided between
the national government and state governments.
Some powers are given to the national government
only. Some powers are shared. And powers not
clearly granted to the national government belong
to the states. This further reduces the power of the
national government.
6. Republicanism creates a system in which citizens do
not have direct control of the government (like
direct democracy). Instead, people elect
representatives who are responsible to speak and
act for the people.
Seven Constitutional Principles
7. Individual rights are protected by the
Constitution. Powers not granted to the
state or national government belong to
individual citizens of the United States.
Checks and Balances
According to the Constitution, each
branch of the government can check,
or limit, the power of the other
branches.
Checks and Balances
Framers of the Constitution took the advice of
the Baron de Montesquieu and created a
government that would have limited power.
The President can veto, or reject, a bill that
Congress has passed.
Congress can check the President by
overriding, or overruling, the veto.
Checks and Balances
Congress must also approve the
President’s appointments to government
offices, as well as treaties made by the
President.
The House of Representatives may
impeach the President. This means the
House charges the President with doing
something seriously wrong. It resembles
an indictment for a crime.
Checks and Balances
If the House impeaches the President, the
Senate conducts a trial.
If 2/3 of the Senate votes to convict the
President, then the President must leave
office.
The Supreme Court can check the
President or Congress by declaring laws
unconstitutional.
Adding the Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments, or changes to
the Constitution, are known as the Bill of
Rights.
Adding the Bill of Rights
The creators of the Constitution wanted
it to be difficult to make changes to the
document.
James Madison wrote 12 amendments
to the Constitution.
By December of 1791, ¾ of the states
had ratified 10 of the amendments.
Adding the Bill of Rights
James Madison said that the Bill of Rights did not
create rights for the people.
He said that by listing the rights, the government
could not take the rights from the people.
Many of the rights listed were listed because of the
way that the British behaved in the American
colonies.