Principles, the Preamble and Article IPrinciples, the Preamble and Article IMr. CalellaMr. CalellaConstitutional LawConstitutional Law

U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution

Opening Discussion QuestionsOpening Discussion Questions What is a constitution? Purpose?What is a constitution? Purpose? Why are constitutions written?Why are constitutions written? How should institutions of govHow should institutions of gov’’t be t be

organized?organized? Why has the U.S. Constitution Why has the U.S. Constitution

endured?endured?

Constitutional Constitutional PrinciplesPrinciples

Limited GovernmentLimited Government 11stst and oldest written constitution in and oldest written constitution in

the worldthe world Designed to prevent tyranny Designed to prevent tyranny

experienced under British rule, which experienced under British rule, which had an unwritten, open-ended had an unwritten, open-ended constitutionconstitution

You limit the the governmentYou limit the the government’’s s powers by stating its powerspowers by stating its powers

Show YouTube video from Bill of Show YouTube video from Bill of Rights Institute – “The Rule of Law”Rights Institute – “The Rule of Law”

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances Prevents one branch from becoming Prevents one branch from becoming

more powerful than the othersmore powerful than the others Branches have ways of checking and Branches have ways of checking and

balancing the power of the othersbalancing the power of the others

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers Government divided Government divided

into 3 branches: into 3 branches: legislativelegislative (Art. I), (Art. I), executiveexecutive (Art. II), (Art. II), and and judicialjudicial (Art. III) (Art. III)

Each branch has Each branch has specific powers but specific powers but must work with must work with others for others for government to government to functionfunction

Watch YouTube Watch YouTube video-”3 Branches”video-”3 Branches”

FederalismFederalism Divides power between national and Divides power between national and

state governmentstate government States needed to sacrifice some of States needed to sacrifice some of

their sovereignty for the sake of their sovereignty for the sake of national unitynational unity

Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty Preamble of the Preamble of the

Constitution Constitution expresses idea that expresses idea that source of power source of power rests with the rests with the peoplepeople

ExamplesExamples Vote for Vote for

representativesrepresentatives Indirect vote for Indirect vote for

presidentpresident Amendment processAmendment process

The U.S. ConstitutionThe U.S. Constitution

Preamble to the ConstitutionPreamble to the Constitution Access the U.S. Constitution on your Access the U.S. Constitution on your

iPads and read the PreambleiPads and read the Preamble Why do you think a preamble was Why do you think a preamble was

included? Purpose?included? Purpose? What does it mean today? What does it mean today? In pairs In pairs

come up with modern day examples for come up with modern day examples for the following: 1)establish justice, 2) the following: 1)establish justice, 2) ensure domestic tranquility, 3)provide ensure domestic tranquility, 3)provide for common defense, 4)promote the for common defense, 4)promote the general welfare, 5)secure blessings of general welfare, 5)secure blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. liberty to ourselves and our posterity. Use Ipads!Use Ipads!

Watch YouTube video-”The Preamble”Watch YouTube video-”The Preamble”

Article I (Congress)Article I (Congress)

Art. I, Sec. 1: CongressArt. I, Sec. 1: Congress 11stst article to stress importance article to stress importance Branch that directly Branch that directly

represents/responds to the peoplerepresents/responds to the people Show video on Show video on

YouTube-”Representative YouTube-”Representative Government”-Government”-See next slide for See next slide for activityactivity

Dialectical JournalDialectical Journal 1 quote or scene 1 quote or scene

you want to you want to expand onexpand on

1 quote or scene 1 quote or scene you want to you want to expand onexpand on

Analyze, Evaluate, Analyze, Evaluate, or Interpret itor Interpret it

Personal Personal connection, ask a connection, ask a High Level High Level question, or make question, or make a predictiona prediction

Two Houses of CongressTwo Houses of Congress

Art. I, Sec. 2: House Art. I, Sec. 2: House of Representativesof Representatives Elected every 2 yearsElected every 2 years Reflect concerns and Reflect concerns and

feelings of the peoplefeelings of the people Representation Representation

depends on population depends on population (at least 1)(at least 1)

Power to impeach Power to impeach (bring charges)(bring charges)

Art. I, Sec. 3: SenateArt. I, Sec. 3: Senate

Elected every 6 yearsElected every 6 years Provide stability in this Provide stability in this

branch of governmentbranch of government Each state has 2 Each state has 2

SenatorsSenators

Becomes the jury for Becomes the jury for an impeachment trial an impeachment trial (removal)(removal)

Activity: Who are your Reps?Activity: Who are your Reps? In pairs, choose one of your Senators or the In pairs, choose one of your Senators or the

rep in your district and answer the rep in your district and answer the following questions by visiting their websitefollowing questions by visiting their website

1)Name? 2)Party? 3)When elected? 4)Is he 1)Name? 2)Party? 3)When elected? 4)Is he more likely than not to agree with the more likely than not to agree with the President’s policies, explain? 5)Choose 3 President’s policies, explain? 5)Choose 3 issues affecting the country and/or New issues affecting the country and/or New Jersey and explain his stance on each. 6) Jersey and explain his stance on each. 6) Based on what you found out, explain in 1 Based on what you found out, explain in 1 paragraph why you would or would not paragraph why you would or would not vote this person next election.vote this person next election.

Art. I, Sec. 7: How a bill Art. I, Sec. 7: How a bill becomes lawbecomes law

Watch YouTube video-”Just a Bill”Watch YouTube video-”Just a Bill” See flow chart on wiki pageSee flow chart on wiki page(gcalella.wikispaces.com)(gcalella.wikispaces.com)

Art. I, Sec. 9: Powers Denied to Art. I, Sec. 9: Powers Denied to Congress Congress

CONGRESS MAY CONGRESS MAY NOTNOT Suspend Writ of Habeas CorpusSuspend Writ of Habeas Corpus Pass Bills of AttainderPass Bills of Attainder Pass Ex Post Facto LawsPass Ex Post Facto LawsACTIVITYACTIVITY*In pairs, go to wiki and then to Law Dictionary *In pairs, go to wiki and then to Law Dictionary

linklink*Find and write the definition for each of the 3 *Find and write the definition for each of the 3

terms terms *Write a hypothetical scenario for each of the 3*Write a hypothetical scenario for each of the 3

Art. I, Sec. 8: Powers of CongressArt. I, Sec. 8: Powers of Congress Taxation (pay for “common defense” Taxation (pay for “common defense”

and to ensure “general welfare”)and to ensure “general welfare”) CreditCredit Interstate and international commerceInterstate and international commerce NaturalizationNaturalization Patents and copyrightsPatents and copyrights Lower federal courtsLower federal courts Declare warDeclare war Maintain militaryMaintain military Elastic ClauseElastic Clause

Activity: SOPAActivity: SOPA Go to Wiki page and click on link for Go to Wiki page and click on link for

SOPA ActivitySOPA Activity In pairs, read the articles (all linked In pairs, read the articles (all linked

to the site) and answer the 6 to the site) and answer the 6 questions that followquestions that follow

We will have a class discussion on We will have a class discussion on these issues in 30 minutesthese issues in 30 minutes