Transcript The Constitution - Crawford`s History In The Making

The Constitution
Parts of the Constitution



Preamble
Article 1-7
Amendments 1-27
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 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 I. Legislative Branch

Makes the laws

• 100 members
• All states get 2
representatives
• Congress is made up
of 2 houses:

House of
Representatives
• 435 members
• based on state
population

Qualifications:
• 25 years old
• US citizen for at least
7 years
• Live in the state
elected by
Senate

Qualifications:
• 30 years old
• US citizen for at least 9
years
• Live in the state elected
by
What does the Constitution say?












Make laws
Taxing & spending
Borrow money
Establish bankruptcy laws
Coin, print, & regulate money
Punish counterfeiters
Regulate foreign & interstate commerce
Establish laws of naturalization
Establish post offices & post roads
Grant copyrights & patents
Create lower federal courts
Govern Washington, D.C.
What does the Constitution say?









Declare War
Raise, support, & regulate an army & navy
Provide, regulate, & call into service a
militia (National Guard)
Punish acts committed on international
waters & against the laws of nations
Choose the President if a majority cannot
be determined
Impeachment proceedings
Confirm Presidential appointments
Ratify treaties
Amend the Constitution
What does the Constitution
say?

Elastic Clause: Provide for laws
“necessary & proper” for carrying out
all other listed powers
• Article 1 Sc. 8
• Example:


power to establish laws of naturalization –
IMPLIES the power to limit the number of
immigrants to the US
Power to call up militia – IMPLIES the right
to draft people into service
Article II. Executive Branch

Enforce the laws
• President & his cabinet
 Cabinet – a group of advisors that
help the president make decisions in
certain areas.
 President:
• Qualifications:
 35 years old
 natural born citizen
 must live in the U.S. for at least
14 years
Article III. Judicial Branch

Interpret the laws
• Courts, judges, etc.

Constitution only talks about the Supreme
Court which is made up of 9 Justices.
• Justices are selected by the President & approved
by the Senate.
 Cannot be removed unless they do something
illegal.
Supreme Court
Article IV

Relations between the States
• “full faith and credit clause” – states
must honor the laws, court decisions, &
records of other states.
Article V

Amending (changing) the
Constitution
• Step 1: Proposal
• Step 2: Ratification
Article VI

National Supremacy
• “Supremacy clause” – recognizes that
the Constitution, laws passed by
Congress, & treaties entered into by the
US are the “supreme law of the land.”
Article VII

Ratification
• Explains the ratification of the
Constitution by 9/13 of states
Major Principles of the U.S.
Constitution







popular sovereignty
republicanism
limited government
federalism
separation of powers
checks & balances
individual rights