Studied by 1 person
The 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 esablish this Constitution for the United States of America
Article I
Legislative Branch: makes laws, gives congress its limits and powers
Article 2
Executive Branch: carries out and enforces federal laws
Article III
Judicial Branch: establishes the Supreme Court, allows Congress to establish shape and structure of judiciary
Article IV
Relationships Between the States: establishes respect between states
Article V
Amending the Constitution: establishes the process to alter Constituton
Article VI
Supreme Law: federal law prevails over state law in conflict
Article VII
Ratification: explains what needs to happen to approve Constitution
Popular Sovereignty
ruled by the people
Limited Government
a political system that states the government is limited to the power given to it by law
Federalism
a system of government that divides the power between central and state governments
Judicial Review
a process that grants the Supreme Court authority to ensure the other branches of government abide by the Constitution
Separation of Powers
powers are separated betwen branches
Checks and Balances
a way for one branch of government to ensure that not one branch is too powerful
Legislative Branch
expressed powers: makes laws, declare war, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, control taxing and spending policies
Executive Branch
enforcing the laws of the land
Judicial Branch
decides the constitutionality of federal laws and resolves dispute over other federal laws
Congress checks the President
override veto, impeachment, power of the purse
Congress checks the judiciary
approves seats in supreme court
President checks Congress
veto power, executive orders
President checks judiciary
appointment of judges, pardons and reprieves
Judiciary checks President/Congress
judicial review
Expressed Powers
the powers that are explicitly stated in the Constitution granted to the government
1. power to tax and spend for the defense and general welfare of the US
2. power to borrow money
3. power to regulate commerce
4. power to coin money and regulate its value
5. power to declare war
Implied Powers
to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the US, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
This allows the government to take actions that are NOT listed in the Constitution to carry out the expressed powers
Reserved Powers
The powers not delegated to the US by the Constitution, nor prohibited by the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people
Supremacy Clause
the federal law takes precedence over any conflicting state law
Necessary and Proper Clause
allows Congress the ability to make laws or to act where the Constitution doesn’t give it authority to actC
Commerce Clause
gives Congress power to regulate commerce between states/restricts states from impairing interstate commerce
Due Process Clause (both 5th and 14th)
guarantees that the government cannot take a person’s basic rights/no one shall be deprived of “life, liberty, or property without due process of law”
Equal Protection Clause (14th)
requires states to practice equal protection and govern impartially
