Transcript Chart of the Three Branches of Government

Lecture:
The U.S. Constitution
Copyright © 2012 Chalk-Dust-Diva
Pair-Share
 What
were the issues that led to
the formation of the
constitution and how were they
resolved?
Objective
 Students
will be able to
understand the structure of
the U.S. Constitution by
writing a paragraph summary
and playing a review game.
The Articles of Confederation
After winning the American Revolution,
colonists set up a “confederation”, or loose
union, of INDEPENDENT states.
 Under the Articles of Confederation, the
national government was very weak.
 State governments did not want to give up
power to a strong national government.

Problems of the national
government:
no executive branch to carry out laws
 no power to raise money (could not tax)
 no power to regulate commerce
 no person to represent the country for
international affairs

Summary:
 After
the American Revolution, a new
government was formed by the
Articles of Confederation. This
government had many problems which
will lead to the creation of a new
government under the Constitution.
Film Clip: The Preamble
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
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.
Pair-Share:
Explain 3 reasons that the people of the United States
wrote the Constitution.
1.
2.
3.
To set up a stronger government
To ensure peace and justice among the people
To make sure that U.S. citizens will always be
free
Pair-Share:
Summarize the Preamble in your own words.
We, the citizens of the USA, are writing this
constitution to accomplish several goals. Some
of these goals are: create fairness; keep peace;
and provide a system of defense. Accomplishing
these goals will help form a stronger country.
State the main purpose of the Preamble.
(Remember, a Preamble is an introduction to something.)
The main purpose of the
Preamble is to set forth the
goals the Constitution will
achieve.
Articles of the Constitution
Section
Preamble
Subject
States the purpose of the Constitution
Article I
Legislative branch
Article II
Executive branch
Article III
Judicial branch
Article IV
Relations among the States and with the National
Government
Amending the Constitution
Article V
Article VI
Article VII
National debts, supremacy of national law, and oaths of
office
Ratifying the Constitution
Chart of the Three Branches of
Government
Film Clip: Checks & Balances
Legislative
Congress
Makes Laws
House of Representatives
(435 members)
1. 2 years Terms
2. 25 yrs. old/ 7 yrs. citizen
3. propose tax laws
4. can impeach the president.
Senate
(100 members)
5. Senators serve a 6-year term
6. A senator must be 30 years old to be
elected and have been a citizen for 9 years
7. Can approve presidential appointments
8. Ratifies treaties with foreign
governments
9. Can try the president after impeachment
Both together
10. Can propose laws
11. Can declare war
12. Can override the president’s veto
with a 2/3 vote
13. Can propose amendments to the
Constitution with a 2/3 vote
Speaker of the House:
John Boehner
California State Senators
Barbara Boxer
Dianne Feinstein
Executive
President, Vice President,
Cabinet
Enforces Laws
President
Barack Obama
Vice President
Joe Biden
Secretary of State
John Kerry
14. The President serves a 4-year term.
15. The president must be at least 35 years
old, a 14- year resident, and native born
16. Has power to approve or veto laws
17. Make treaties with foreign governments.
18. Nominates judges to the Supreme Court
19. Appoints cabinet members
20. Is Commander-in-Chief of U.S. military
forces
Judicial
Supreme and Federal Courts
Interprets Laws
21. Justices of the Supreme Court serve
for life
22. Can declare laws unconstitutional
23. Can settle disputes involving the
United States
24. Can settle disputes between states
25. Chief Justice presides over
impeachment trial of the President.
Supreme Court Justice
John G. Roberts
Film Clip: Federalism
A Federal System of Government
Film Clip: The Bill of Rights
Essential Question
 What
were the issues that led to
the formation of the
constitution and how were they
resolved?