Warm Up Activity(To Learn The Preamble)

We the people of ___ United States, in order to ____ a more perfect union, ________ justice, insure domestic tranquility, _______ for the common defense, ________ the general welfare, and ______ the blessings of liberty to __________ and our posterity, do ______ and establish this Constitution ___ the United States of America.

Answers

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.

Structure and Principles of the United States Constitution

Objectives Be able to understand how the seven

Articles of the Constitution are arranged.

Be able to list and explain the six major principles of government that are found within the Constitution.

Begin to understand the concept of Checks and Balances.

Review: How is the Constitution arranged?

Branches of Government

Governmental power and functions in the United States rest in 3 branches of government:

Legislative Branch: Article I of the Constitution

Executive Branch: Article II of the Constitution

Judicial Branch: Article III of the Constitution

Six Major Principles of the Constitution

1. Popular Sovereignty

2. Federalism

3. Separation of Powers

4. Checks and Balances

5. Judicial Review

6. Limited Government

Popular Sovereignty

People are the source of governments power.

Our government is elected by the people; therefore, it has to gain its power from the people. How Do The People

Choose?

Federalism The power of

government is divided between national and state governments.

Some powers are shared. (Concurrent Powers)

The National Government has the “Supreme Power.”

Separation of Powers

Each of the three branches of government has its own set of powers

This way, no branch holds “too much” power.

Checks and Balances Each Branch of

government holds some form of power over the other two.

Each branch has the power to “check” another. Thus, this “balances” power.

Prevents the abuse of power in government

Judicial Review

Courts (at all levels) have the power to declare laws and actions of Congress and the President Unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison

Limited Government Government is limited

to the power it was given by the Constitution.

Certain individual rights cannot be altered or taken away.

The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed. How can leaders be

removed?