Articles of Confederation

• Problems with the A.O.C.– Congress lacked the

power to ______– ________ central

government– Power resided with the

__________– No power to _______

(____________) commerce (trade)

tax

weak

states

regulatecontrol

Articles of Confederation

• Problems with the A.O.C. (cont.)– Each state had ______

vote regardless of size– No common _______

(_________)– No power to

____________ laws– No _________ or

__________ branches

one

currencymoney

enforce

executivejudicial

Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

• ____________ to the U.S. Constitution.

• States six _______ of the U.S. government.

• Establishes the __________ as the power behind the government and the constitution- “We the __________”

Introduction

purposes

citizens

People

Purposes of the government according to the Preamble

– Form a more _________ Union• allow the states to

operate as a single country for the good of all

– Establish ________• Make sure all

citizens are treated fairly and equally

Perfect

Justice

Purposes of the government according to the Preamble

• Insure _________ tranquility– Keep the peace among

the citizens

• Provide for the common __________– Maintain armed forces

to protect the country and its citizens

Domestic

defense

• Promote the _________________– Help provide for the well-

being of the citizens• Secure the Blessings of

________ to _________ and our posterity– Ensure that all citizens,

now and in the future, maintain their basic rights

Purposes of the government according to the Preamble

General Welfare

Liberty ourselves

Federalism

• Established by the ______________

• Principle of federalism is the __________ of power between the _________ and the ____________ government

Constitution

division

states

national

How?

• The Constitution gives some ___________ to the ____________ government, some to the __________, and some to _______

powernational

states

both

Separation of Power

• U.S. Constitution created three _______

• _________ was split between these three branches to ________ one branch from becoming too ____________ (___________________)

LegislativeJudicialExecutive

branchesPower

prevent

powerfulLimited Government

Branches of Government• _____________

– Congress (House of Representatives and the Senate)

– ___________ laws

• ____________– President– __________ laws

• _____________– Supreme Court– __________ laws (determines

if laws in agreement with the Constitution)

Legislative

MakesExecutive

EnforcesJudicial

Interprets

Checks and Balances• Each branch has

powers to limit the powers of the other two branches

Amendment Process for U.S. Constitution

• Action by _______ or national convention– Requires ______

approval of ______ houses of Congress or

– 2/3 of the state ____________ must request a __________ convention (never been done)

Congress

2/3both

legislaturesnational

Amendment Process (cont.)

• Requires ___________ (_____________) of ¾ of states (____)

• States may _________ by a vote in the state legislature or by special state conventions

• Very ____________ process – Only ____ amendments in

Constitution

ratificationapproval

38ratify

difficult

27

Bill of Rights

• The first _______ amendments to the Constitution

• Guaranteed certain __________ to the citizens

ten

rights

Rights (1st Amendment)

• Religion- Government may not _________ an official religion, nor _________, or unduly _______ with the free exercise of religion

• Speech- Individuals are free to ________ their opinions and beliefs

establish

endorse

interfere

express

Rights (1st Amendment) (cont.)

• Press- The press has the right to gather and _____________ information, including that which _________ the government

• Assembly- Individuals may ____________ gather

publish

criticizes

peaceably

Rights (cont.)

• Petition- Individuals have the right to make their _______ known to _________ officials

viewspublic

Due Process

• Due process– Before individuals are

________ their rights, ________ established by law and guaranteed by the Constitution must be _______ (5th and 14th)

deniedprocedures

followed

Enumerated Powers

• The Constitution gives powers to the _______ government, such as maintaining an _____, maintaining a _______ service, and making _________

national

armypostal

money

Reserved Powers

• Powers _______ given to the national government are ___________ for the __________

• Examples-Establishing _________, regulating __________ within the state, conducting ____________

not

reservedstates

schoolstrade

elections

Concurrent Powers

• Powers _________ by the national government and the states

• Examples- collecting _______, borrowing money, establishing _______ and _______

shared

taxes

courts prisons

Supremacy Clause

• According to the Constitution, if there is any __________ between state and national laws, the laws of the ____________ government are _________. The national law is the law of the ________.

conflict

nationalsupreme

land

Primary responsibilities of national and state government

• National – Conducts ________

policy and regulates ____________

• State– Promotes public

__________, safety, and __________

– ____________– Conduct ___________

foreign

commerce

healthwelfare

Educationelections

Powers denied to National and State Governments

• Art 1, section 9 & 10 of Constitution

• National Gov (sec.9)- no titles of nobility granted, cannot tax goods moved from one state to another

• State Gov (sec. 10)- cannot maintain army or go to war, cannot tax imports or exports

Legislative Checks

• Over the Executive Branch– Override veto

• 2/3 of both House of Rep. And Senate must approve

– Impeach (remove from office) the president• House must approve the

charges by a majority• Senate can convict by 2/3

vote

• Over the Judicial branch– Approves

appointment of Federal judges

– Impeaches judges

Executives Checks

• Over the Legislative Branch– Vetoes acts of Congress– Calls Congress into

special sessions

• Over the Judicial branch– Appoints judges– Grants reprieves

and pardons

Judicial Checks

• Over the Legislative Branch– Declares laws

unconstitutional

• Over the Executive branch– Declares executive

acts unconstitutional