Ch. 9 The Constitution: A More Perfect Union

• States need to approve (ratify) the Constitution

• Procedures for changing the Constitution

• “A Living Document”

Preamble: The Goals of the Government

• We the People

• Popular Sovereignty – the power comes from the people.

Form a more perfect Union

• Country can take advantage of the strengths of the states by working together.

Establish Justice

• Be ruled by laws and not pushed around by soldiers.

• Laws should apply to everyone.

Insure Tranquility

• Peace and order among everyone.

Provide for common defense

• National Government responsible for protecting Americans from foreign invaders.

Promote general welfare

• An economy and society in which people can be successful

Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our

POSTERITY.• Americans to

enjoy their freedoms now and in future generations.

Fear of a Strong Central Government

• Create a balanced framework of government that people could trust.

Branches of Government

Legislative Executive Judicial

Congress

Senate House of Representatives

PresidentVice

PresidentSupreme Court

U.S. CapitolThe White House

Supreme Court

U.S. Constitution

Legislative Branch

• Has the power to make the laws. • Bicameral – two lawmaking parts • Congress – Senate / House

The Senate

• Senators serve 6 year terms

• Each state has 2 Senators

• Senators must be 30 years old

• US Citizen for 9 years

• Elected by the people

House of Representatives

• Representatives serve 2 year terms

• Number of Reps determined by states population

• Reps must be 25 years old.

• US citizen for 7 years• Currently there are 435

Representatives

How Congress Passes Laws

• Senate or House can propose a new law called a BILL.

• ONLY House can propose new taxes.• If a majority in one house approves the bill it is

sent to the other house for approval• Both the Senate AND House must approve a

bill.• President can sign or VETO (reject) the law.• Congress can override President’s VETO.• They must have 2/3 vote.

Powers of Congress

• Congress decides how to spend $ from taxes

• Raise an army and navy• Declare war• Pay government debts • Grant citizenship• MAKE ALL LAWS WHICH SHALL BE

NECESSARY AND PROPER.

• Strong Framework for Government but…

• Gives Congress flexibility to do it’s job.

• It is able to do things that are not listed among it’s powers in the Constitution

Executive Branch

• Executes (carries out) the laws.• Example: Congress approves a tax. The Executive

Branch collects the tax.• The President is the head of this branch. Chief Executive.

Electing the President

• Elected by Electors

• Four year Term• Reelected only

ONCE• Must be a Natural-

Born Citizen• 35 years old

Powers of the President

• Commander in Chief of military• Make Treaties with other nations• Nominates: Supreme Court Judges

and Ambassadors• Grant Pardons to convicts

Removing the President

• Impeach – accuse an official of a crime related to official duties

• The House of Representative can vote to impeach the President

• The Senate would serve as the jury

Judicial Branch

• Made up of Supreme Court and lower federal courts

• Interprets the laws

Federal Court System

• Supreme Court• Appellate Courts• District Courts

Supreme Court

• 9 Justices (judges)• Appointed by President for life• Review cases after the case has

been reviewed in the lower courts• Case only goes directly to SC if it

involves a state or an ambassador from another country.

Judicial Review

• The power to decide whether laws and actions by the Legislative and Executive branches conflict with the Constitution.

Under Article V of the Constitution, there are two ways to propose amendments to the Constitution

and two ways to be ratified by the states.To Propose Amendments

• Two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to propose an amendment, OR

• Two-thirds of the state legislatures ask Congress to call a national convention to propose amendments. This version has not yet been used.

To Ratify Amendments• Three-fourths of the state legislatures approve it,

OR • Ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states

approve it. This method was used only once -- to ratify the 21st Amendment (repealing Prohibition).