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The story of the U.S. Constitution

The story of the U.S. Constitution. Liberty Tree. Continental Congress. Articles of Confederation. Town Hall Meetings. House of Burgesses. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. Mayflower Compact. English Bill of Rights. Magna Carta. Liberty Tree. U.S. Constitution. Structure and Function.

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The story of the U.S. Constitution

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  1. The story of the U.S. Constitution Liberty Tree

  2. Continental Congress Articles of Confederation Town Hall Meetings House of Burgesses Fundamental Orders of Connecticut Mayflower Compact English Bill of Rights Magna Carta Liberty Tree U.S. Constitution

  3. Structure and Function At the Constitutional Convention, the delegates created a new plan for the U.S. government that focused on two things.

  4. Structureis the framework of our government. Structure

  5. What do you notice about the structure of a tree? structure limbs branches leaves tree bark root system

  6. Legislative Executive Judicial The government structure has three branches. three

  7. Legislative Branch: Structure Structure • Senate • 2 per state • 6-year terms • House of Representatives • based on population • 2-year terms Bicameral = made of two houses Elected by the people

  8. Executive Branch:Structure Structure • President (4-year term) • Vice-President • Cabinet Members • Appointees

  9. Executive Branch:Structure Structure President Secretary of State Vice-President Joe Biden Barak Obama Hillary Clinton

  10. Judicial Branch: Structure Structure • U. S. Supreme Court (life-terms) • District Courts (appointed) • County and Local Courts (elected)

  11. What is the function of a tree? function home for some animals providesshade holdssoilinplace

  12. The preamble to the Constitution tells the function or WHAT the government does for the people. • ensure domestic tranquility • provide for the common defense • promote the general welfare • establish justice • secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves, and our posterity

  13. Legislative Branch: Function • Makes laws Idea may become a bill (proposed law) in House of Representatives or Senate People discuss ideas and tell representatives in Congress Bill becomes a law if approved by both houses and signed by the President U.S. Congress • Electedbythepeople

  14. Ensures that the laws are carried out • Elected by the people and electoral college system Executive Branch:Function The White House

  15. Judicial Branch: Function • Interpretsthe laws (decides if laws are fair) • Tries civil and criminal cases in lower courts • Nine justices on U.S. Supreme Court • AppointedbyPresidentandapprovedbyCongress Supreme Court

  16. Supreme Court Congress President Each branch checks and balances the other branches. = =

  17. Checks and Balances Judicial branch can declare a law unconstitutional Legislative branch can override presidential veto with a 2/3 vote Legislative branch makes laws Legislative branch can remove judges from office Executive branch can veto law

  18. Executive branch appoints Supreme Court justices Legislativebranch hastoapprovetheappointmentofthejustices

  19. Legislative branch can remove president from office House of Representatives brings charges against the President (impeach) Senate holds a trial and 2/3 vote needed to remove President from office

  20. The U.S. Constitution has sevenarticles that explain the structure and function of the government.

  21. Article 1: Legislative Branch Article 2: Executive Branch Article 3: Judicial Branch Article 4: Relations Among States Article 5: Amending the Constitution Article 6: National Supremacy Article 7: Ratification

  22. The structure and function of our government are based on five basic principles.

  23. Federalism Checks and balances Popular sovereignty Separation of powers Limited government Indivivual Rights Five Basic Principles of the Constitution Republicanism

  24. “Popular” means people.. “Sovereignty”comes from “sovereign” which means ruler. Popular sovereignty =people choose

  25. = = Separation of powersdivides the operation of government into three equal branches.

  26. Each branch of the government checks and balances, or monitors, the power of the other two branches.

  27. Since King George III had unlimited power, the writers of the U.S. Constitution wanted “we the people” to put limits on the government. The Constitution outlined exactly what the government could do.

  28. Federalism is the division and sharing of powers between the state and national government. • State Powers • maintain schools • conduct elections • provide public safety • regulate trade in state • National Powers • maintain armed forces • coin money • declare war • make foreign policy

  29. Powers Shared by National and State Governments • raise taxes • administer criminal justice • provide for public welfare • charter banks • borrow money

  30. Republicanism • A nation where the people elect representatives to make laws for them.

  31. Individual Rights • Personal freedoms protected from the government. Example: Bill of Rights – Freedom of Religion, Right to Bear Arms, etc.

  32. Rooted in these five principles, the U.S. Constitution has endured since 1787. This living document protects the rights of the individuals by limiting the power of the government.

  33. Visual Metaphor: How is the U.S. government like a tricycle? Handle bars =Constitution Platform =Separation of powers

  34. Label the parts of the tricycle with these other words. The People Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch President Congress Supreme Court Checks and Balances

  35. The Tree of Liberty The foundation of our government and the supreme law of the land

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