The Constitution

1
The Constitution

• Chapter 3

2
Structure

• Preamble
• 7 Articles
• 27 amendments

3
Article 1

• Deals with congress
• Longest and most detailed
• It is their greatest achievement
• Creates two legislatures
• The House responsive
• The Senate deliberative

4
Article 2

• Creates the Presidency
• 3 sections
• How he is elected
• His job
• State of the Union

5
Article 3

• Creates the Judiciary
• Shortest and least defined of the three branches

6
Characteristics

• Brief
• 7,000 words
• Checks and Balances
• Federalism

7
Six Basic Principles

• Popular Sovereignty
• We the people. from the preamble
• Power is drawn from the will of the people
• Bears the effects of John Locke and other
  Contracts Theorists

8
Six Basic Principles

• Limited Government
• Government may do only those things that the
  people have given it power to do
• Rule of Law The government and its officials are
  never above the law but subject to it.

9
Six Basic Principles

• Separation of Powers
• 3 Branches of government
• Duties are assigned by the constitution

10
Six Basic Principles

• Checks and Balances
• Restraint from other branches
• See the chart on page 68
• Divided government increases the checks and
  balances
• 1954-1994 Democrats
• 1992-1994 Divided Gov. (Republican in House)
• 2000- Republicans take over

11
Six Basic Principles

• Judicial Review
• Courts may decide if the government is acting in
  accordance with the constitution.
• Established by Marbury vs. Madison

12
Six Basic Principles

• Federalism
• The division of powers between the central
  government and other layers of government

13
How to Amend

• First Method
• 2/3 of the house and senate must vote for it
• ¾ of the state legislatures
• 26 of the 27 amendments were done this way

14
How to Ratify

• Second Method
• Congress may propose an amendment and have states
  call conventions
• Only the 21st Amendment was done this way
  (Prohibition).