The United StatesConstitution

Preamble

Article I – The Legislative Branch

Article II – The Presidency

Article III – The Judiciary

Article IV – The States

Article V –The Amendment Process

Article VI – The Legal Status of USC

Article VII – Ratification

Amendments

Sets out the goals of the Constitution.

Q. Where does the Preamble say that it is going to fix the Articles of Confederation.

R. . . . More perfect Union.

S. Explain what problem is being addressed with: “ Establish Justice and insure domestic tranquility.”

A. Shay’s Rebellion

Article IThe Legislative Branch

http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution/lesson3.htm#Article%20I

Article IThe Legislative Branch

http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution/lesson3.htm#Article%20I

Article IThe Legislative Branch

http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution/lesson3.htm#Article%20I

Article IThe Legislative Branch

http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution/lesson3.htm#Article%20I

Article IIThe Executive Branch

Article II- The Executive Branch

     The executive branch of the federal government carries out or executes the laws made by Congress.  The chief executive is the President.  The Vice President takes the place of the president when necessary.      

The executive branch is the largest branch of government and employs the most people.  It includes the Cabinet, the 14 large executive departments of the Cabinet, and many other agencies and organizations, such as the Post Office, the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the FBI and the CIA. (http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution/lesson4.htm)

Article IIThe Executive Branch

 (http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution/lesson4.htm)

Article IIThe Executive Branch

The Electoral College 

Electors in the Electoral College actually elect the president and vice president of the United States (538 electors)

The numbers of electors in each state is equal to that state’s number of representatives in both houses of Congress, CA = 55Electors typically cast their votes for the candidate that receives the plurality of votes in that state. (not what framers envisioned)The first Monday after the second Tuesday in Dec.Ballots are counted and certified by Congress in Jan.Because of the winner-take-all system of the electoral college, it typically serves to exaggerate the popular margin of victory(http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:_jn7Sv8d6mAJ:www.csus.edu/indiv/b/billecic/chapter_8.ppt+how+a+president+is+elected+slides&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=7)

 

Electoral College

What if no candidate receives a majority of the nationwide electoral votes cast? 

•The U.S. Constitution sets forth special procedures:•The U.S. House of Representatives chooses the next President.•The U.S. Senate chooses the next

    Vice-President.(http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:kMoNG5ywt9cJ:www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/

the_electoral_college.ppt+Tie+in+the+electoral+college+slide&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2)

Article IIIThe Judicial Branch

http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution/lesson3.htm#Article%20I

Article IVThe States

(http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution/lesson4.htm)

Article VAmending the Constitution

(http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution/lesson4.htm)

Article VIThe Supremacy Clause

(http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution/lesson4.htm)

Article VIIRatification

(http://www.southwestern.cc.il.us/adultbasiced/constitution/lesson4.htm)

http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/cons/features/0405_03/us.gif

http://www.library.unt.edu/govinfo/law/tutorial/images/branches.gif

Bill To Law

http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/911report/congress/images/bill_to_law.gif

Checks and Balances

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_13_Notes.htm

Rights and Privileges

The difference is critical--the roots of America. The American revolution was fought violently and non-violently to rid ourselves of the privileges of the Divine Right of Kings, and substitute the rights of individual liberty. Privileges are something granted by an authority; unalienable rights are our natural heritage. It was and is a revolutionary idea. http://www.stormy.org/rights.htm

Protections Afforded Fundamental Rights and Freedoms •Amendment 1: Freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly; the right to petition the government.

Protections Against Arbitrary Military Action •Amendment 2: Right to bear arms and maintain state militias (National Guard). •Amendment 3: Troops may not be quartered in homes in peacetime.

Bill of Rights

Protection Against Arbitrary Police and Court Action

•Amendment 4: No unreasonable searches or seizures.

•Amendment 5: Grand Jury indictment required to prosecute a person for a serious crime. No "double jeopardy" -- being tried twice for the same offense. Forcing a person to testify against himself or herself prohibited. No loss of life, liberty or property without due process.

•Amendment 6: Right to speedy, public, impartial trial with defense counsel, and right to cross-examine witnesses.

•Amendment 7: Jury trials in civil suits where value exceeds 20 dollars.

•Amendment 8: No excessive bail or fines, no cruel and unusual punishments.

Protections of States' Rights and Unnamed Rights of the People

Amendment 9: Unlisted rights are not necessarily denied. Amendment 10: Powers not delegated to the United States

or denied to states are reserved to the states or to the people.