The United States Constitution

The Preamble

An introductory statement gives the reasons for and intent of (purpose) government

what does the preamble do (6)

• Form a more perfect union

• Establish justice

• Ensure domestic tranquility

• Provide for the common defense

• Promote the general welfare

• Secure the blessings of liberty

what does the phrase We the People

indicates the principle of popular sovereignty

Article 1

Establishes the Legislative Branch

Article 2

Establishes the Executive Branch

Article 3

Establishes the Judicial Branch

Article 4

Establishes the Rights of the States

Article 5

Provides a process for future amendment

Article 6

Sets forth the Constitution as the Supreme Law of the land

Article 7

Sets forth a process for ratification (approval) of the Constitution

Amendments 1-10

The Bill of Rights: limits on government to protect and ensure important individual and state rights

Amendment 11-27

reflect societal change

Constitutional Principles

• Separation of Powers

• Checks and Balances

• Federalism

• Limited Government

Separation of Powers

• powers of government are distributed among three distinct and independent branches of government:  legislative, executive, and judicial

• Congress (legislative) makes laws

• President (executive) enforces laws

• Court (judicial) interprets laws

Checks and Balances

• each branch of government has its own authority but each is subject to constitutional checks or restraints by the other branches

  • Congress makes the laws but the President can veto them

  • Congress can override the President’s veto

  • The Supreme Court can rule that a law is unconstitutional

Federalism

• Governmental power is divided between the national and state governments

  • The national government coins money, makes treaties, and declares war

  • State governments oversee education, licenses, and policing

limited power

Government is limited by the Bill of Rights and the will of the people, especially through their power to choose their representatives

Issues at the Constitutional Convention:

• Federalists

• Anti Federalists

• The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Federalists

• Large landowners, wealthy merchants, professionals favored the US Constitution

• Stressed weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation; wanted a strong national government to protect nation and solve domestic problems

• Believed that separation of powers/checks and balances/federalism would protect against abuses

Anti Federalists

• Small farmers, shopkeepers, laborers (common man) who opposed the US Constitution

• Wanted strong state governments; feared a strong national government and strong executive 

• Wanted a Bill of Rights to protect citizens against government and to protect individual liberties

The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

• Effort to find a compromise between the positions of the large (Virginia Plan) and small states (New Jersey Plan)

• Congress would be a bicameral (two house) legislature:

  •  Representation in the House of Representatives based on the population of the state

  • Equal representation of the states in the Senate