The American Constitution: The American Constitution and the Party System

Mr. TulperGovernment

Mr. TulperGovernment

Objectives

11.1 Students analyze the significant events in the founding of the nation and its attempts to realize the philosophy of government described in the Declaration of Independence.

11.1.2. Analyze the ideological origins of the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers' philosophy of divinely bestowed unalienable natural rights, the debates on the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, and the addition of the Bill of Rights.

11.1.3. Understand the history of the Constitution after 1787 with emphasis on federal versus state authority and growing democratization.

11.1 Students analyze the significant events in the founding of the nation and its attempts to realize the philosophy of government described in the Declaration of Independence.

11.1.2. Analyze the ideological origins of the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers' philosophy of divinely bestowed unalienable natural rights, the debates on the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, and the addition of the Bill of Rights.

11.1.3. Understand the history of the Constitution after 1787 with emphasis on federal versus state authority and growing democratization.

Political Vocabulary

Ratify: To agree to, To sign Amend: To add toVeto: To refuse to signBill: Proposed lawSuffrage: Right to voteBicameral: Two house congressImpeachment: Removal from officeCabinet: Advisors to the President

Ratify: To agree to, To sign Amend: To add toVeto: To refuse to signBill: Proposed lawSuffrage: Right to voteBicameral: Two house congressImpeachment: Removal from officeCabinet: Advisors to the President

The American Constitution

Constitution divided into two partsArticles--rights of

government (7 Articles)

Amendments--rights of individual (27 Amendments)

Constitution divided into two partsArticles--rights of

government (7 Articles)

Amendments--rights of individual (27 Amendments)

Government and Man

Articles I-IIISeparates power into three branches

of governmentArt. I-Leg.; Art. II-Exec.; Art. III-Judic.

Articles IV-VIIPower of LawPower of Constitution

Articles I-IIISeparates power into three branches

of governmentArt. I-Leg.; Art. II-Exec.; Art. III-Judic.

Articles IV-VIIPower of LawPower of Constitution

Amendments I-X Bill of Rights

Amendment XI-XII Organization of Government

Amendment XIII-XV Civil Rights Amendments Slave Amendments

Amendments XVI-XIX Progressive Amendments

Amendments XX-XXI New Deal Amendments

Amendments XXII-XXVII Great Society Amendments

Amendments I-X Bill of Rights

Amendment XI-XII Organization of Government

Amendment XIII-XV Civil Rights Amendments Slave Amendments

Amendments XVI-XIX Progressive Amendments

Amendments XX-XXI New Deal Amendments

Amendments XXII-XXVII Great Society Amendments

Article I: The LegislatureA.K.A. Congress, The

Legislative Branch, The Lawmakers

Bicameral Upper House=Senate (2 per

state, 100 total)6 year termLed by Speaker of the

House Lower House=House of

Representatives (proportional to population, 435 total--CA has 54)

2 year termLed by Speaker of the

House President of Congress=Vice

President of the United States of America

A.K.A. Congress, The Legislative Branch, The Lawmakers

Bicameral Upper House=Senate (2 per

state, 100 total)6 year termLed by Speaker of the

House Lower House=House of

Representatives (proportional to population, 435 total--CA has 54)

2 year termLed by Speaker of the

House President of Congress=Vice

President of the United States of America

The U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.

Legislative Powers Make laws Collect taxes Borrow and coin money Establish immigration

policy Declare war and raise

armies Approves treaties Control interstate

activities (trade, marriage, etc)

****To do ANYTHING NECESSARY AND PROPER (The Elastic Clause)

Make laws Collect taxes Borrow and coin money Establish immigration

policy Declare war and raise

armies Approves treaties Control interstate

activities (trade, marriage, etc)

****To do ANYTHING NECESSARY AND PROPER (The Elastic Clause)

Congress works at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.

Why is the power to “do anything necessary and proper” called the Elastic Clause?

What are the benefits and problems of this power?

Why is the power to “do anything necessary and proper” called the Elastic Clause?

What are the benefits and problems of this power?

How YOU can be a Congress-person!

Age 25 (H. of R.); 30 (Senate)Live 7 years (H. of R.); 9 years

(Senate) in your stateHave a lot of money for campaign

Be independently wealthyHave people contribute

money/support campaign

Age 25 (H. of R.); 30 (Senate)Live 7 years (H. of R.); 9 years

(Senate) in your stateHave a lot of money for campaign

Be independently wealthyHave people contribute

money/support campaign

What would make you run for a political office?

Article II: The Executive

A.K.A. The President, The Commander-in-Chief, The Pres.

Term: 4 years, 2 term limit

President Vice PresidentCabinet (Sec. of

State, etc.)

A.K.A. The President, The Commander-in-Chief, The Pres.

Term: 4 years, 2 term limit

President Vice PresidentCabinet (Sec. of

State, etc.)

Executive Power

Commander-in-Chief of American military

Execute law, sign/veto law

Make treatiesAppoint judges

Commander-in-Chief of American military

Execute law, sign/veto law

Make treatiesAppoint judges

How YOU can be the Pres.

Be at least 35 years oldBe a natural born citizenLive in the U.S. for at least 14

yearsHave even more money for

campaign than Congress-person

Be at least 35 years oldBe a natural born citizenLive in the U.S. for at least 14

yearsHave even more money for

campaign than Congress-person

What other qualifications should their be to be a president? Think of as many attributes/abilities as possible with the person sitting next to you.

What would it take for you to take the job of being president?

What other qualifications should their be to be a president? Think of as many attributes/abilities as possible with the person sitting next to you.

What would it take for you to take the job of being president?

Article III: The JudicialA.K.A. The Bench,

The Courts, The Judiciary

Term: LifeOrganization:

ConstitutionSupreme CourtFederal CourtsState Courts

A.K.A. The Bench, The Courts, The Judiciary

Term: LifeOrganization:

ConstitutionSupreme CourtFederal CourtsState Courts

Judicial Power

Interprets lawReviews

“constitutionality” of laws

Reviews lower court cases

Preserves balance against political parties

Interprets lawReviews

“constitutionality” of laws

Reviews lower court cases

Preserves balance against political parties

Interpretation

“Loose Interpretation” A.K.A. “Loose Construction of

Constitution” Interpretation of

Constitution must be flexible

People change, society changes, technology changes-->Constitution must adapt

What the Constitution doesn’t say EXPLICITY, the branches of government can do

“Federalists” “Liberals”

“Loose Interpretation” A.K.A. “Loose Construction of

Constitution” Interpretation of

Constitution must be flexible

People change, society changes, technology changes-->Constitution must adapt

What the Constitution doesn’t say EXPLICITY, the branches of government can do

“Federalists” “Liberals”

“Strict Interpretation” A.K.A. “Strict Construction of

Constitution” Constitution should remain

the constant The Constitution must be

the measure of social, ethical, and moral change

Government can ONLY do what the Constitution EXPLICITLY says

“Anti-Federalists” “Conservatives”

“Strict Interpretation” A.K.A. “Strict Construction of

Constitution” Constitution should remain

the constant The Constitution must be

the measure of social, ethical, and moral change

Government can ONLY do what the Constitution EXPLICITLY says

“Anti-Federalists” “Conservatives”

Separation of Power

The United States Government

Sub-Committee

Committee

House of Representatives

Sub-Committee

Committee

Senate

Legislative Branch

Vice President Cabinet Advisors

President

Executive Branch

Courts of Appeals District Courts U.S. Bankruptcy

Supreme Court

Judical Branch

Federal Government"Federalism"

Checks and Balances

The Political Spectrum