Basic Information of the Constitution - PC\|MAC



A. The United States Constitution Foldable Notes: Your foldable will have 8 layers. Label the layers as follows: The United States Constitution 1.Preamble: We the People?of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic?Tranquility, provide for the common?defence, 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.2. Basic Information about the Constitution 3. Article I – Legislative Branch 4. Article II – Executive Branch 5. Article III – Judicial Branch 6. The 6 Goals of the Government 7. The 7 Basic Principles of the Constitution 8. The Constitution Web The backside of your notes will be page 9. It will contain information on the Bill of Rights. In the middle of the backside write the title: Page 9 The Bill of Rights Basic Information of the Constitution WHAT – A constitution is a basic plan of how any government is set up. It is like a recipe for government. WHO – James Madison is known as “The Father of the Constitution” WHEN – The U.S. Constitution was ratified, or approved, in June 1788 after the 9th state New Hampshire approved it as our plan of government. Delaware what the first state to approve it in Dec. of 1787 and Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 in May of 1790. WHERE – The Constitution was created in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania WHY – The Constitution was created because our original constitution, The Articles of Confederation, had created a weak national government that had little power to do anything (raise taxes, settle disputes between states, enforce laws, etc.). The need for a more powerful national government was clear. HOW – Our Constitution has three parts (a beginning, a middle, and an end) The Preamble – the opening statement – it identifies the 6 goals of the U.S. Government The Articles – main body – the 7 parts that describe the framework of the U.S. Government The Amendments – changes – there have been 27 amendments to the Constitution The 6 Goals of the Constitution II. Look in your book and write the 6 goals of Preamble of the Constitution as well as an example of each: Form a more perfect union – printing money, interstate highways Establish justice – systems of courts, 14 amendment Ensure domestic tranquility – police officers and firefighters Provide for the common defense – ensuring national security (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard) Promote the general welfare – schools, managing nature, Center for Disease Control Secure the blessings of liberty – protecting the rights of all citizens The 7 Principles of the Constitution III. Look in your book and write the 7 Principles of the Constitution as well as a three to five word summary of each: Popular Sovereignty – people in control of government / people grant government authority Limited Government – government is not all powerful / the government has boundaries Separation of Powers – The Congress, The President, The Courts all have different jobs Checks and Balances – each branch can limit the powers of the others Federalism – Indiana government has certain powers and the U.S. government has certain powers Republicanism – citizens elect people to represent them in government Individual Rights – government does not give you rights, it protects rights Summaries of Articles I, II, III Using Articles one, two, and three of the Constitution write a descriptive paragraph for each branch of the government. Your paragraphs will include: The name of the Constitutional article. The qualifications of the branch. The name of the branch. The terms of service for the branch. The common name of the branch. The names of current members of the branch.The main job of the branch ARTICLE I The name of the branch set up by article 1 is the legislative branch, otherwise known as the congress. The congress has the main job of passing, or making the laws of the country. There are two houses in congress and each has its own qualifications. To be a representative one must be 25 years old and a citizen of the United States for 7 years. To be a senator, one must be 30 years old and a citizen of the United States for 9 years. Senators hold their office for six year terms and Representatives hold their office for 2 year terms. The representative for Coffee County currently is Diane Black. The Senators for Tennessee are Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. ARTICLE II The name of the branch set up by article 2 is the executive branch, otherwise known as the President. The President’s main job is to carryout (or execute) the laws of the country. To become president one must be one must be a natural born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old and have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. The president serves a term of four years in office and can be elected to two terms in a row. ARTICLE III The name of the branch set up by article 3 is the judicial branch, otherwise known as the Supreme Court and the court system. The main job of the Supreme Court and the court system is to interpret the laws of the country and determine if they are in line with the Constitution of the United States. There are no specific qualifications to become a justice of the Supreme Court and justices of the Supreme Court serve for life as long as they maintain good behavior. Bill of Rights FROM The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments in the U.S. Constitution Many more people supported the Constitution after the Bill of Rights was added. The Bill of Rights protects citizens (you) from the government’s abuse of power. A list of the Bill of Rights amendments: Freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, petition Right to bear arms Lodging of troops in private homes search and seizure Rights of the Accused (to due process, no double jeopardy, no self-incrimination) Speedy trial by impartial jury and a lawyer Jury trial in civil cases Bail and Punishment Powers reserved to the People Powers reserved to the States The Constitution Web Write the 6 goals of the Constitution on the Constitution Web page of your foldable: Form a more perfect union 2. Establish justice 3. Ensure domestic tranquility 4. Provide for the common defense 5. Promote the general welfare 6. Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity Write the 7 principles of the Constitution on the Constitution page of your foldable: 1. Limited Government 2. Separation of Powers 3. Checks and Balances 4. Popular Sovereignty5. Federalism 6. Republicanism 7. Individual Rights Write the 7 Articles of the Constitution on the Constitution Web page of your foldable: Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch Relations between states Amending the Constitution 6. The Constitution as the Supreme Law of the land 7. Ratification of the ConstitutionWrite the key amendments to the Constitution on the Constitution Web page of your foldable: There have been 27 Amendments to the Constitution. Bill of Rights Amendments Amendment 1 – protecting individual liberties of Speech, Religion, Press, Petition, Assembly Amendments 2, 3, 4 – protecting against government abuse of power Amendments 5, 6, 7, 8 – protecting the rights of the accused Amendments 9, 10 – ensuring unstated rights to citizens and states Civil War Amendments Amendment 13 – abolishes slavery in the United States except for punishment for a crime Amendment 14 – defines the rights of citizens and the equal protections under the law Amendment 15 – guarantees citizens (including former slaves) the right to vote Voting Rights Amendments Amendment 15 – extends voting rights to former slaves Amendment 19 – extends voting rights to women Amendment 26 – extends voting rights to 18 year olds Write the responsibilities and the duties of a citizen of the United States Responsibilities of a citizen (things we SHOULD do) VOTE, BE INFORMED, SERVE ON A JURY Duties of a citizen (things we HAVE to do) OBEY LAWS, REGISTER FOR MILITARY DRAFT, PAY TAXES ................
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