Drafting the Constitution

Articles of Confederation

Weakn

ess

es

of

the A

rtic

les

A Convention is Called

Shays’ Rebellion

Constitutional Convention

About Slavery

The Constitution of the United States of America

Powers of the Three Branches

Legislative Branch

(Congress)

Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)

Executive Branch (President)

Passes Laws•Can override a President’s veto•Approves treaties and presidential appointments•Can impeach and remove other high officials•Creates lower federal courts•Appropriates money•Prints and coins money•Raises and supports the armed forces•Can declare war•Regulates foreign and interstate trade

Interprets Laws•Can declare laws unconstitutional•Can declare executive actions unconstitutional

Carries Out Laws

•Proposes laws•Can veto laws•Negotiates foreign treaties•Serves as command in chief of the armed forces•Appoints federal judges, ambassadors, and other high officials,•Can grant pardons to federal offenders

System of Checked Powers

Shared Powers

How to Become the President

These men and women ran in the 2008 primary election

John McCain was chosen at the 2008 Republican Party

Convention to run for President, while Barak Obama was chosen at the Democratic Party

Convention Barak Obama

was chosen by

the Electoral

College to be our

President